MOBILITY SYSTEM

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a mobility system. The mobility system has at least one driven exoskeleton for a person. The at least one driven exoskeleton has at least one electronic unit that controls and/or regulates an operating state of the exoskeleton. At least one vehicle has a passenger compartment and at least one mechanical coupling station, which is arranged in the passenger compartment. The exoskeleton can be mechanically coupled to the mechanical coupling station. The vehicle has at least one electronic device, wherein the electronic unit is connectable, via at least one communication connection, to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A vehicle mobility system comprising: at least one driven exoskeleton having at least one electronic unit configured to control and regulate an operating state of the exoskeleton; a passenger compartment having at least one coupling station disposed in the passenger compartment configured to mechanically couple the exoskeleton to the at least one coupling station; and at least one electronic device connectable via at least one communication connection to the at least one electronic unit.

2. The vehicle mobility system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic unit for the at least one driven exoskeleton is configured to control and regulate the operating state such that the exoskeleton, being coupled or uncoupled to the coupling station, is transferred from an upright walking state into a seated state that at least partially forms a seat.

3. The vehicle mobility system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one driven exoskeleton includes at least one electrical energy source and a first electrical terminal that is connected to the energy source.

4. The vehicle mobility system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one coupling station includes a second electrical terminal that is connected to a vehicle energy supply system such that the at least one driven exoskeleton is coupled to the coupling station when the first electrical terminal is connected to the second electrical terminal.

5. The vehicle mobility system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one driven exoskeleton includes a first communication terminal that is connected to the electronic unit.

6. The vehicle mobility system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the coupling station includes a second communication terminal that is connected to the electronic device such that the exoskeleton is coupled to the coupling station when the first communication terminal is connected to the second communication terminal.

7. The vehicle mobility system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exoskeleton includes at least one weather protection unit that is transferable from an idle position into an active position such that the weather protection unit shields a person from above in the active position.

8. The vehicle mobility system as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one heads-up display is arranged on the weather protection unit.

9. A vehicle comprising: a coupling station, disposed in a passenger compartment, that mechanically couples an exoskeleton to the passenger compartment; a control unit configured to change an exoskeleton operating state that moves the exoskeleton between seated and upright states, defined by the exoskeleton being coupled and uncoupled to the coupling station, respectively; and an electronic device connectable, via a vehicle communication connection, to the control unit to communicate the operating state to the electronic device.

10. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9 further comprising energy source connected to a first electrical terminal of the exoskeleton.

11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a vehicle energy supply system connected to a second electrical terminal of the coupling station such hat the exoskeleton is coupled to the coupling station when the first electrical terminal is connected to the second electrical terminal.

12. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a first communication terminal defined on the exoskeleton that is connected to the control unit.

13. The vehicle as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a second communication terminal that is connected to the electronic device such that the exoskeleton is coupled to the coupling station when the first communication terminal is connected to the second communication terminal.

14. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a protection unit attached to the exoskeleton that is transferable from an idle position into an active position.

15. A mobility system comprising: a vehicle having a passenger compartment with an exoskeleton coupling station, and an electronic device configured to control an interface; and an exoskeleton including an electronic control unit to control an exoskeleton operating state that moves the exoskeleton between an upright walking state defined by the exoskeleton being uncoupled to the coupling station, and a seated state defined by the exoskeleton being coupled to the coupling station, wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to communicate the exoskeleton operating state to the electronic device via a vehicle communication network to display the operating state on the interface.

16. The mobility system as claimed in 15, wherein the exoskeleton includes an energy source connected to a first electrical terminal.

17. The mobility system as claimed in 16, wherein the coupling station includes a second electrical terminal that is connected to an energy supply for the vehicle such that the exoskeleton is coupled to the coupling station when the first electrical terminal is connected to the second electrical terminal.

18. The mobility system as claimed in 15, wherein the exoskeleton includes a first communication terminal that is connected to the electronic control unit.

19. The mobility system as claimed in 18, wherein the coupling station includes a second communication terminal that is connected to the electronic device such that the exoskeleton is coupled to the coupling station when the first communication terminal is connected to the second communication terminal.

20. The mobility system as claimed in 15, wherein the exoskeleton includes a protection unit that is transferable from an idle position into an active position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of an exoskeleton of an exemplary embodiment of a mobility system according to the disclosure in a coupled seated state;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of an exoskeleton of a further exemplary embodiment of a mobility system according to the disclosure in a coupled seated state;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of an exoskeleton of a further exemplary embodiment of a mobility system according to the disclosure in a decoupled walking state;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a mobility system according to the disclosure; and

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of an operation of an exemplary embodiment of a mobility system according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0047] Various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are described hereafter on the basis of the appended figures. For the sake of simplicity, and exoskeleton without arm parts is shown in the figures, however, the disclosure is not restricted thereto. Instead, the exoskeleton can also have arm parts.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of a driven exoskeleton 1 of an exemplary embodiment of a mobility system 2 according to the disclosure in a coupled seated state. The driven exoskeleton 1 comprises at least one electronic unit (not shown) that controls and/or regulates an operating state of the exoskeleton 1. For this purpose, the electronic unit is connected to actuators (not shown) of the exoskeleton. The mobility system 2 additionally comprises a schematically indicated vehicle 3 having a passenger compartment 4 and a mechanical coupling station 5, which is arranged in the passenger compartment 4, and to which the exoskeleton 1 is mechanically coupled.

[0049] The coupling station 5 comprises a back shell 6 and a seat shell 7, wherein each shell forms a receptacle. The exoskeleton 1 comprises a back part 8, which is inserted into the receptacle formed on the back shell 6 and forms a vehicle seat surface, on which the person (not shown) can lean. Furthermore, the exoskeleton 1 comprises, for each leg of the person, a thigh part 9 articulated with the back part 8, a lower leg part 10, which is folded downward in FIG. 1 and is articulated with the thigh part 9, and a foot part 11, which is folded forward in FIG. 1 and is articulated with the lower leg part 10. The thigh parts 9, the lower leg parts 10, and the foot parts 11 are inserted into the receptacle formed on the seat shell 7. The thigh parts 9 form a vehicle seat surface, on which the person (not shown) can sit. Fixing belts 12 are arranged on the back part 8 and on the thigh parts 9, which can be extended from the back part 8 or the thigh parts 9, respectively, to buckle in or harness the person on the exoskeleton 1.

[0050] The electronic unit (not shown) of the exoskeleton 1 is configured to control and/or regulate the operating state of the exoskeleton 1 such that the exoskeleton 1, which is not yet coupled to the coupling station 5, is transferred from an upright walking state into the seated state shown, wherein the exoskeleton 1 partially forms a seat for the person wearing the exoskeleton 1 in the seated state. Subsequently, the exoskeleton 1 is fixed on the coupling station 5.

[0051] The vehicle 3 comprises an electronic device 13. The electronic unit of the exoskeleton 1 is connectable via at least one communication connection to the electronic device 13. For this purpose, the exoskeleton 1 comprises a first communication terminal 14, which is connected to the electronic unit, and the coupling station 5 comprises a second communication terminal 15, which is connected to the electronic device 13. When the exoskeleton 1 is coupled to the coupling station 5, as shown in FIG. 1, the two communication terminals 14 and 15 are connected to one another.

[0052] The exoskeleton 1 can have at least one electrical energy source (not shown) and at least one first electrical terminal (not shown), which is connected to the energy source. The coupling station 5 can have at least one second electrical terminal (not shown), which is connected to an energy supply system (not shown) of the vehicle 3. When the exoskeleton 1 is coupled to the coupling station 5, the two electrical terminals are connected to one another. The two electrical terminals can be arranged on the communication terminals 14 and 15.

[0053] The exoskeleton 1 can have at least one heating unit (not shown) and/or at least one cooling unit (not shown), using which at least one section of the exoskeleton 1 that is in contact with the person can be heated or cooled, respectively. Furthermore, the exoskeleton 1 can have at least one massage unit (not shown) and/or at least one adjustable back support unit (not shown). In addition, the exoskeleton 1 can have at least one adjustment unit (not shown) that adjusts a seat position.

[0054] The exoskeleton 1 can additionally have at least one weather protection unit (not shown), which is transferable from an idle position into an active position, and vice versa, wherein the weather protection unit shields the person at least from above in the active position and does not shield the person in the idle position. Furthermore, at least one heads-up display and/or at least one human-machine interface of the exoskeleton 1 can be arranged on the weather protection unit or separately therefrom.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of an exoskeleton 16 of a further exemplary embodiment of a mobility system 17 according to the disclosure in a coupled seated state. The driven exoskeleton 16 for a person (not shown) comprises at least one electronic unit (not shown) that controls and/or regulates an operating state of the exoskeleton 16. For this purpose, the electronic unit is electrically connected to actuators (not shown) of the exoskeleton 16. The mobility system 17 additionally comprises a schematically indicated vehicle 3 having a passenger compartment 4, and a mechanical coupling station 18, which is arranged in the passenger compartment 4 and to which the exoskeleton 16 is mechanically coupled.

[0056] The exoskeleton 1 comprises a back part 19, which forms a vehicle seat surface, on which the person can lean. Furthermore, the exoskeleton 1 comprises, for each leg of the person, a thigh part 20, which is articulated with the back part 19, a lower leg part 21, which is folded downward in FIG. 1 and is articulated with the thigh part 20, and a foot part 22, which is folded forward in FIG. 1 and is articulated with the lower leg part 21. The thigh parts 20 form a vehicle seat surface, on which the person (not shown) can sit down. Fixing belts (not shown) are arranged on the back part 19 and on the thigh parts 20, which can be extended from the back part 19 or the thigh parts 20, respectively, to buckle in or harness the person on the exoskeleton 16.

[0057] The electronic unit (not shown) of the exoskeleton 16 is configured to control and/or regulate the operating state of the exoskeleton 16 such that the exoskeleton 16, which is coupled to the coupling station 18, is transferred from an upright walking state into the seated state shown, wherein the exoskeleton 16 completely forms a seat for the person wearing the exoskeleton 16 in the seated state.

[0058] The exoskeleton 16 is fixed to the coupling station 18. The vehicle 3 comprises an electronic device 13. The electronic unit (not shown) of the exoskeleton 16 is connectable via at least one communication connection to the electronic device 13. For this purpose, the exoskeleton 16 comprises a first communication terminal 14, which is connected to the electronic unit, and the coupling station 18 comprises a second communication terminal 15, which is connected to the electronic device 13, wherein when the exoskeleton 16 is coupled to the coupling station 18, as shown in FIG. 2, the two communication terminals 14 and 15 are connected to one another.

[0059] The exoskeleton 1 can have at least one electrical energy source (not shown) and at least one first electrical terminal (not shown), which is connected to the energy source. The coupling station 18 can have at least one second electrical terminal (not shown), which is connected to an energy supply system (not shown) of the vehicle 3. When the exoskeleton 16 is coupled to the coupling station 18, the two electrical terminals are connected to one another. The two electrical terminals can be arranged at the communication terminals 14 and 15.

[0060] The exoskeleton 16 can have at least one heating unit (not shown) and/or at least one cooling unit (not shown), using at least one section of the exoskeleton 16, which is in contact with the person, which can be heated or cooled, respectively. Furthermore, the exoskeleton 16 can have at least one massage unit (not shown) and/or at least one adjustable back support unit (not shown). Moreover, the exoskeleton 16 can have at least one adjustment unit (not shown) for adjusting a seat position.

[0061] The exoskeleton 16 can additionally have at least one weather protection unit (not shown), which is transferable from an idle position into an active position, and vice versa, wherein the weather protection unit shields the person at least from above in the active position and does not shield the person in the idle position. Furthermore, at least one heads-up display and/or at least one human-machine interface of the exoskeleton 16 can be arranged on the weather protection unit or separately therefrom.

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of an exoskeleton 23 of a further exemplary embodiment of a mobility system according to the disclosure in a decoupled walking state, wherein only the exoskeleton 23 is shown of the mobility system. The exoskeleton 23 is designed substantially corresponding to FIG. 2, because of which reference is made to the above description of FIG. 2 to avoid repetitions. Alternatively, the exoskeleton 23 could be designed corresponding to FIG. 1.

[0063] The exoskeleton 23 thus differs, on the one hand, from the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in that the exoskeleton 23 has a weather protection unit 24, which is transferable from an idle position into the active position shown in FIG. 3, and vice versa. The weather protection unit 24 shields the person 25 from above and partially from the front in its active position, and does not shield the person 25 in its idle position (not shown). On the other hand, the exoskeleton 23 differs from the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in that a heads-up display 26 and/or at least one human-machine interface (not shown) is arranged on the weather protection unit 24. A carrying section 27 to carry loads is arranged on the rear of the exoskeleton 23.

[0064] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a mobility system 28 according to the disclosure. The mobility system 28 comprises at least three driven exoskeletons 16 for people 25, wherein the exoskeletons 16 each have an electronic unit (not shown) that controls and/or regulates an operating state of the respective exoskeleton 16. In addition, the mobility system 28 comprises at least one vehicle 29 in the form of public transit having a passenger compartment 30 and at least three mechanical coupling stations 31, which are arranged in the passenger compartment 30 and, to each, an exoskeleton 16 can be mechanically coupled. The exoskeleton 16 is designed corresponding to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, because of which reference is made to the above description of FIG. 2 to avoid repetitions.

[0065] The electronic unit (not shown) of each exoskeleton 16 is configured to control and/or regulate the operating state of the exoskeleton 16 such that the exoskeleton 16 coupled to the respective coupling station 31 is transferred from an upright walking state into a seated state, wherein the exoskeleton 16 at least partially forms a seat for the person wearing the exoskeleton 16 in the seated state. Such a seated state is visible in the case of the exoskeleton 16 shown on the right in FIG. 4. The two remaining exoskeletons 16 are coupled in the upright walking state thereof to the respective coupling station 31.

[0066] Each exoskeleton 16 can have at least one electrical energy source (not shown) and at least one first electrical terminal (not shown), which is connected to the energy source. Each coupling station 31 can have at least one second electrical terminal (not shown), which is connected to an energy supply system (not shown) of the vehicle 29, wherein when the exoskeleton 16 is coupled to the respective coupling station 31, the two electrical terminals are connected to one another, as described above.

[0067] The vehicle 29 can have at least one electronic device (not shown), to which the electronic unit of the exoskeleton 16 is connectable via at least one communication connection. For this purpose, each exoskeleton 16 can have at least one first communication terminal (not shown), which is connected to the electronic unit, and each coupling station 31 can have at least one second communication terminal (not shown), which is connected to the electronic device, wherein when the exoskeleton 16 is coupled to the respective coupling station 31, the two communication terminals are connected to one another.

[0068] Moreover, each exoskeleton 16 can have at least one heating unit and/or at least one cooling unit, using which at least one section of the exoskeleton 16 that is in contact with the person 25 can be heated or cooled, respectively. Furthermore, each exoskeleton 16 can have at least one massage unit (not shown) and/or at least one adjustable back support unit (not shown). Moreover, each exoskeleton 16 can have at least one adjustment unit (not shown) that adjusts a seat position.

[0069] The exoskeleton 16 can have at least one weather protection unit (not shown), which is transferable from an idle position into an active position, and vice versa, wherein the weather protection unit shields the person 25 at least from above in the active position, and does not shield the person 25 in the idle position. The weather protection unit can be designed corresponding to FIG. 3. At least one heads-up display (not shown) and/or at least one human-machine interface (not shown) can be arranged on the weather protection unit.

[0070] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of an operation of an exemplary embodiment of a mobility system according to the disclosure. Firstly, a user of the mobility system, while using an exoskeleton in a walking mode 100, can walk to a vehicle, wherein at least a section of a journey is to be carried out. Next, the user of the exoskeleton, for example, by actuating an operating element, can indicate that he wishes to enter the vehicle. If the vehicle is at a standstill, the vehicle can indicate whether it is in a state to couple the exoskeleton to a free coupling station in its passenger compartment.

[0071] After entering the vehicle, the exoskeleton can be transferred from the walking mode 100 into a coupling mode 200 automatically, or by a manual activation by the user. The coupling mode 200 comprises a sitting-down sub-mode 210, a standing-up sub-mode 220, a fixing sub-mode 230, and an unharnessing sub-mode 240, which are described above.

[0072] If the coupling of the exoskeleton to the coupling station in the passenger compartment of the vehicle is completed, the exoskeleton can automatically change into a travel mode 300, in which electrical energy and/or data can be exchanged between the exoskeleton and the vehicle.

[0073] The user of the exoskeleton can, for example, by actuating an operating element, indicate his intention of wanting to disembark from the vehicle. If the vehicle is at a standstill and the vehicle indicates that decoupling from the coupling station can be carried out safely, the exoskeleton can be transferred from the travel mode 300 into a decoupling mode 400 automatically, or via a user-side manual actuation of an operating element. The decoupling mode 400 comprises a harnessing sub-mode 410, a disengagement sub-mode 420, and a disembarking sub-mode 430. The harnessing sub-mode 410 and the disengagement sub-mode 420 are described above. The disembarking sub-mode 430 is assumed by the exoskeleton when the exoskeleton is disengaged from the coupling station. The exoskeleton can be transferred directly from the coupling mode 200 into the decoupling mode 400, and vice versa, if the user of the exoskeleton indicates by a manual actuation of an operating element that he has changed his intention.

[0074] After completion of the decoupling mode 400, the user leaves the vehicle together with the exoskeleton and the exoskeleton is transferred back into the walking mode 100 automatically or manually by the user.

[0075] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the disclosure. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosure.