Auxiliary transportation vehicle, auxiliary transportation system, and operating method of auxiliary transportation vehicle

Abstract

An auxiliary transport vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a drive unit and an attachment placed on the drive unit, wherein the drive unit includes only two wheels having a common axis of rotation and each wheel has an electric drive, an electronic control device, and an electrical energy storage device, and wherein the control device is implemented to actuate the drives in such a way that the auxiliary transport vehicle remains in an upright position and to automatically drive the auxiliary transport vehicle to a specifiable destination and to follow an external control device. The present disclosure also relates to an auxiliary transport system and a method for operating an auxiliary transport vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an auxiliary transport vehicle, an auxiliary transport system, and a method for operating an auxiliary transport vehicle. Background Art

[0002] In many towns, the passage of motor vehicles is restricted. Thus, for example, many town centers are at least partially identified as pedestrian areas, in which usually only certain authorized vehicles are allowed to travel. In addition, there are few available parking spaces in many towns. On the other hand, when visiting the city center, for example, during a shopping trip, it is often necessary to transport goods or even, for example, children. This also applies, for example, to a picnic in the park, where transport independent of motor vehicles is also required. Depending on the weight of the load to be transported, carrying it in a bag or backpack is uncomfortable or impossible. Manually operated transport tools with wheels, such as shopping carts or baby carriages, also require considerable effort in terms of force and attention, especially if heavy goods are to be transported and / or gradients are to be overcome.

[0003] In US2015 / 0006005A1, an autonomous unmanned road vehicle that can be used as a carrier is known. The road vehicle has a control system for autonomous driving, a detection system for detecting objects around it, and one or more loading platforms for transporting goods to be transported.

[0004] In US2014 / 0277841A1, a motorized suitcase is disclosed, which includes a plurality of wheels, at least one of the plurality of wheels being electrically driven, and at least one wheel including a steering mechanism. The suitcase includes one or more batteries and a controller, and the controller can be arranged such that the suitcase complies with a wireless remote controller carried by the user at a distance.

[0005] Furthermore, an electrically driven single-person transport tool is known, which includes only two wheels located on the same axis, and each person carried stands between the wheels and is kept balanced by an electronic drive controller. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an auxiliary transport vehicle, an auxiliary transport system, and a method for operating an auxiliary transport vehicle, whereby a user (especially a user walking in an urban environment) can conveniently carry goods and / or children with them.

[0007] This object is achieved by the auxiliary transport vehicle, the auxiliary transport system, and the method for operating an auxiliary transport vehicle provided in the independent claims.

[0008] An auxiliary transport vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a drive unit and an attachment that is placed and fixed to the drive unit and is configured to hold or receive the goods to be transported and / or the child to be transported. In order to fix the attachment to the drive unit, the top of the drive unit and the bottom of the attachment may be configured to match each other and include corresponding fastening means.

[0009] The drive unit includes only two wheels by which the drive unit can be driven on a surface. The two wheels have a common axis of rotation, or the axes of rotation of the two wheels are arranged substantially coaxially. A respective electric drive is associated with each of the two wheels, and the wheel associated with the electric drive can be driven, in particular, independently of the respective other wheel. In addition, the drive unit includes an electronic control device for actuating the electric drives of the two wheels. The drive unit further includes an electrical energy storage device for supplying electrical energy to the drives of the wheels and the electronic control device. The electrical energy storage device is preferably configured as a rechargeable energy storage device and may include, for example, one or more accumulators.

[0010] According to the present disclosure, the electronic control device is configured to actuate the drives such that the auxiliary transport vehicle remains in at least approximately upright or vertical position. The electronic control device may include a suitable sensor device and a suitably arranged processor for this purpose. This type of controller for dynamically stabilizing a vehicle having only two adjacent wheels is known.

[0011] In addition, the electronic control device according to the present disclosure is arranged to automatically drive the auxiliary transport vehicle to a specifiable destination; this type of operating mode of the auxiliary transport vehicle going to a specified destination is hereinafter referred to as the first operating mode. The electronic control device is also configured to operate the auxiliary transport vehicle in a second operating mode in which the auxiliary transport vehicle follows an external control device. The auxiliary transport vehicle also operates autonomously in the second operating mode, but is restricted in other respects except for determining the speed and direction of travel of the auxiliary transport vehicle while taking into account at least the position of the external control device, and as a result, the auxiliary transport vehicle follows the movement of the external control device.

[0012] Controllers for autonomously going to a destination or following an external control device are also known. The electronic control device of the auxiliary transport vehicle may include suitable sensors, processors, and communication devices for automatically driving and operating the auxiliary transport vehicle in the first and second operating modes. The external control device may be, for example, a user's smartphone equipped with a suitable application or a special remote controller, where the electronic control device of the auxiliary transport vehicle wirelessly receives information about the position of the external control device or the user. The information may be specified relative to the position of the auxiliary transport vehicle or, for example, in terms of geographical coordinates, where the auxiliary transport vehicle may be configured to determine its own position, for example, by means of a GPS receiver.

[0013] The first and second operating modes are preferably executed alternately or alternatively, and other operating modes can be provided, such as operating modes for loading and unloading, operating modes for charging an electrical energy storage device, or operating modes for maintenance status. The operating mode can be manually selected, for example, by an external control device transmitting a suitable signal to the electronic control device of the auxiliary transport vehicle, or even automatically changed, for example, in the case where the auxiliary transport vehicle has reached a specified destination in the first operating mode.

[0014] Since the drive unit of the auxiliary transport vehicle only includes two wheels by which the auxiliary transport vehicle can be driven on a surface, where the two wheels are arranged adjacent to each other, and the auxiliary transport vehicle is always kept in an upright position by the electronic control device, the auxiliary transport vehicle can be loaded, unloaded, and can control goods in a manner similar to, for example, a shopping cart or a baby stroller during operation. Since the control unit includes a first operating mode in which the auxiliary transport vehicle can autonomously drive to a specifiable destination, it further enables the auxiliary transport vehicle to move from a parked position to a usage location. Thus, for example, a user can call such an auxiliary transport vehicle when needed by, for example, sending the geographical coordinates of the user's location to the electronic control device of the auxiliary transport vehicle via a smartphone and specifying the destination as the coordinates. Finally, since the electronic control device includes a second operating mode in which the auxiliary transport vehicle follows an external control device, such as the user's smartphone, a further advantage is that the auxiliary transport vehicle accompanies the user without the user having to exert force or attention for this purpose. Thus, the auxiliary transport vehicle can facilitate, for example, transporting shopping goods during a shopping trip or even carrying a small child.

[0015] Preferably, the attachment is reversibly placed on the drive unit. This enables the replacement of the attachment or the drive unit. In particular, the attachment or the drive unit can be automatically replaced, and for this purpose, an automatically operated fastening or connecting device can be provided.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the attachment is implemented in the form of a frame or a housing and is designed to accommodate an insert, which is, for example, manually inserted into the attachment and can be fixed there. The insert can be implemented, for example, as a transport container, a baby seat, or even a cold bag or a cooler. Since the frame-shaped or shell-shaped attachment is implemented to accommodate a replaceable insert, the loading and unloading of the auxiliary transport vehicle can be further facilitated, and the usage range of the auxiliary transport vehicle can be extended.

[0017] Preferably, the attachment and / or insert includes a holding and / or fixing device for holding or fixing a load to be transported or a person to be transported. The holding or fixing device can for example be implemented as a mountable housing or a holding strap. This increases the safety during operation of the auxiliary transport vehicle.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the attachment or insert includes a slotted lid made of an elastic material. The attachment or insert can for example be implemented as a container having an interior space for receiving goods to be transported, wherein the lid is fixedly connected to the respective walls of the container on three sides and is separated from the lid starting from the fourth side by a slot in the lid, such that by bending the lid open along the slot, access to the interior space of the container can be obtained. In this way, receiving, holding, fixing and removing the load to be transported is achieved in a particularly simple manner.

[0019] Furthermore, according to an advantageous embodiment, a drive unit is provided, which drive unit includes an electrical connector for supplying electrical energy to an external load, for example for supplying electrical energy to a cooling device of a refrigerated box or a cold bag inserted into the attachment. In this case, the electrical energy of the load is provided by the electrical energy storage device of the drive unit. This enables the application range of the auxiliary transport vehicle to be additionally extended.

[0020] For example, by storing the coordinates of a service station or a parking lot in the memory of the electronic control device, a specifiable destination to which the auxiliary transport vehicle drives automatically in a first operating mode can be fixedly specified. Instead of this or in addition preferably provided is that the destination can be specified by means of a wireless transmission device. According to the described embodiment of the present disclosure, for example the coordinates of the user's location can be wirelessly transmitted to the electronic control device, and then the electronic control device can automatically drive to the user's location.

[0021] Even more preferably, it can be provided that in a second operating mode, the electronic control device actuates the drive of the wheels in such a way that the auxiliary transport vehicle maintains a specified distance or a specified distance range from an external controller device, for example maintains a specified distance or a specified distance range from a user carrying the external control device. The distance or the distance range can for example be determined in such a way that the minimum distance still guarantees the safety and unhindered movement of the user, and the maximum distance ensures the safe following of the auxiliary transport vehicle and generally enables the auxiliary transport vehicle to be directly observed by the user. This enables the auxiliary transport vehicle to follow a user carrying an external control device such that the user always keeps the auxiliary transport vehicle within visual monitoring but is not hindered by the auxiliary transport vehicle.

[0022] An auxiliary transportation system according to the present disclosure includes at least one auxiliary transportation vehicle, which is implemented as described above and includes a first drive component and an accessory. In addition, the auxiliary transportation system includes at least one second drive component, which is implemented according to the first drive component and may, for example, be part of another auxiliary transportation vehicle implemented as described above, and includes at least one service station. The service station is implemented for charging the first drive component and / or replacing the first drive component with the second drive component. For charging the drive component, the drive component can be connected to a suitable charging connector of the service station, preferably automatically. For replacing the first drive component with the second drive component, for example, the accessory can be automatically removed from the first drive component and placed on the second drive component, where the corresponding fastening or connection means can also be automatically disconnected or connected. Such an auxiliary transportation system enables the user of the auxiliary transportation vehicle to set the charging electrical energy storage device of the drive component to maximize the range.

[0023] With a method for operating an auxiliary transportation vehicle implemented as described above according to the present disclosure, the auxiliary transportation vehicle is initially located in a parking lot or a service station. The electronic control device of the auxiliary transportation vehicle is in a first operating mode. If the user calls the auxiliary transportation vehicle by sending his coordinates, for example, through a suitable application on his smartphone, the auxiliary transportation vehicle automatically drives to the sent destination. When the auxiliary transportation vehicle reaches or approaches the position of the user carrying an external control device (such as a smartphone with a suitable application), the electronic control device manually or automatically switches to a second operating mode, in which the auxiliary transportation vehicle follows the user.

[0024] If the user's use of the auxiliary transportation vehicle ends, it can be switched to the first operating mode by a termination signal manually generated and sent, for example, by the electronic control device, and the auxiliary transportation vehicle automatically drives back to the parking lot or the service station. If the state of charge of the electrical energy storage device is below a specifiable level, an automatic drive to the service station can also be provided during the user's use; in this case, the electrical energy storage device can be recharged or the drive unit can be replaced in the service station, and the auxiliary transportation vehicle can be returned to the user together with the fully charged electrical energy storage device. Description of the Drawings

[0025] The present disclosure will be described in detail below by way of example with reference to the drawings. In the figures:

[0026] Figures 1a to 1c An exemplary embodiment of an auxiliary transportation vehicle according to the present disclosure is shown;

[0027] Figure 2a and 2b Two exemplary embodiments of an auxiliary transportation vehicle according to the present disclosure are shown, with the auxiliary transportation vehicle having luggage items;

[0028] Figure 3 Two possible inserts and a suitable auxiliary transport vehicle are shown by way of example;

[0029] Figure 4 Another exemplary embodiment of an auxiliary transport vehicle according to the present invention is shown;

[0030] Figure 5 An auxiliary transport vehicle and a service station according to the present disclosure are shown symbolically; and

[0031] Figure 6 The replacement of the drive unit of an auxiliary transport vehicle according to the present disclosure is shown by way of example. Detailed Description

[0032] In Figure 1a the auxiliary transport vehicle 1 is shown in separate components and in Figure 1b and 1c in the assembled state. The auxiliary transport vehicle 1 includes a drive unit 2 and an attachment 3 placed thereon. The drive unit 2 includes two adjacent wheels 4, 4' arranged on the same axis and a housing 5, and other components of the drive unit are accommodated in the housing 5, in particular an electronic control device with suitable sensor means and a communication device for data transmission, as well as a driver for the wheels 4, 4' and one or more energy accumulators as an electrical energy storage device. The driver can have a power of about 2 kW, for example. As Figure 1a shown, the attachment 3 can be implemented as a frame opening backward, or in the form of a housing as Figure 1c shown which may have a padded rear wall 6. In addition, the attachment 3 includes four holes 7 for fastening a holding device.

[0033] As Figure 2a shown, luggage items to be transported, such as a bag 8, can be fixed by a lid 9 inserted into the holes 7. Figure 2b It is shown that the bag 8 can alternatively be fixed by a holding strap 10 pulled through the holes 7.

[0034] Figure 3 Inserts of different designs that can be alternately inserted into the attachment 3 and fixed therein are shown by way of example. As an example of possible inserts, Figure 3 an inflatable baby seat 11 and a cooler bag 12 are shown in

[0035] In Figure 4Shown is an auxiliary transport vehicle 1 of another embodiment with an insert. The insert 13 is implemented as a container of flexible material, the container of flexible material including a front slot 14 and a top flap 15. In order to load the insert 13, the flap 15 can be pulled upwards and / or the slot 14 can be opened. Due to the elasticity of the material, the slot 14 closes itself after loading, such that the inserted goods are firmly held in the insert 13. In order to unload, the corresponding process can be carried out.

[0036] In Figure 5 it is symbolically shown that a charging station 16 can be automatically controlled to drive the auxiliary transport vehicle 1 to the charging station 16 for charging the electrical energy storage device of the drive unit 2. Charging of the energy storage device can be carried out by automatically electrically connecting with a charging connector of the charging station 16 using a cable or even inductively, for example.

[0037] As Figure 6 symbolically shown, an attachment 3 (possibly including a load such as a bag 8) can be lifted by the drive unit 2 and placed on another drive unit 2'. This enables the drive unit 2 (if its energy storage device is substantially discharged) to be replaced by another drive unit 2' whose energy storage device is fully charged. The process can also be carried out automatically.

[0038] For the sake of clarity, not all reference numerals are shown in all the figures. Reference numerals not explained for the figures have the same meaning as in other figures.

[0039] List of reference numerals

[0040] 1 Auxiliary transport vehicle

[0041] 2, 2' Drive unit

[0042] 3 Attachment

[0043] 4, 4' Wheel

[0044] 5 Housing

[0045] 6 Rear wall

[0046] 7 Eyelet

[0047] 8 Bag

[0048] 9 Lid

[0049] 10 Retaining strap

[0050] 11 Baby seat

[0051] 12 Cooler box

[0052] 13 Insert

[0053] 14 Slot

[0054] 15 vanes

[0055] 16 charging stations

Claims

1. An auxiliary transport vehicle, comprising: A drive unit, wherein the drive unit comprises: At least one first drive component; At least one second drive component; and At least one service station for charging the at least one first drive component and / or for repositioning the at least one first drive component with respect to the at least one second drive component; and An accessory placed on the drive unit, Wherein the drive unit includes two wheels, an electronic control device, and an electrical energy storage device, the two wheels having a common axis of rotation and each wheel having an electric drive, wherein the electronic control device is configured to actuate each electric drive such that the auxiliary transport vehicle remains in an upright position and to automatically drive the auxiliary transport vehicle to a specifiable destination and to follow an external control device.

2. The auxiliary transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the accessory is reversibly placed on the drive unit.

3. The auxiliary transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the accessory is a frame or housing configured to receive an insert.

4. The auxiliary transport vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the accessory and / or the insert includes holding and / or fixing means for holding or fixing a load to be transported or a person to be transported.

5. The auxiliary transport vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the accessory or the insert includes a slotted lid of elastic material.

6. The auxiliary transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit includes an electrical connector for supplying electrical energy to an external load.

7. The auxiliary transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the specifiable destination is specified by wireless transmission.

8. The auxiliary transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control device is configured such that the auxiliary transport vehicle follows the external control device at a specifiable distance or within a specifiable distance range.

9. A method for operating an auxiliary transport vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary transport vehicle is located in a parking lot or a service station, the method comprising: Autonomously driving the auxiliary transport vehicle to the user's location after a request is input by a user carrying an external control device; And Following the user after arriving at the user's location.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein after receiving a termination signal, the auxiliary transport vehicle autonomously drives back to the parking lot or the service station.

11. An auxiliary transport vehicle, comprising: A drive unit, wherein the drive unit comprises: At least one first drive component; At least one second drive component; and At least one service station for charging the at least one first drive component and / or for repositioning the at least one first drive component with respect to the at least one second drive component; The drive unit includes two wheels having a common axis of rotation, an electronic control device, and an electrical energy storage device, wherein each of the two wheels includes an electric drive; and An accessory configured to be reversibly attached to the drive unit, wherein the electronic control device is configured to: actuate the electric drive to keep the auxiliary transport vehicle in an upright position; automatically drive the auxiliary transport vehicle to a specifiable destination; and follow an external control device, and wherein the electronic control device is configured to control the auxiliary transport vehicle to follow the external control device at a specifiable distance or within a specifiable distance range.

12. The auxiliary transport vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the attachment is a frame or a housing configured to receive an insert.

13. The auxiliary transport vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the attachment and / or the insert includes holding and / or fixing means for holding or fixing a load to be transported or a person to be transported.

14. The auxiliary transport vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the attachment or the insert includes a slotted lid of elastic material.

15. The auxiliary transport vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the drive unit includes an electrical connector for supplying electrical energy to an external load.

16. The auxiliary transport vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the specifiable destination is specified by wireless transmission.

17. An operating method of an auxiliary transport vehicle, comprising: providing an auxiliary transport vehicle, the auxiliary transport vehicle including a drive unit, the drive unit including: at least one first drive component; at least one second drive component; and at least one service station for charging the at least one first drive component and / or for repositioning the at least one first drive component with respect to the at least one second drive component; autonomously driving the auxiliary transport vehicle to a user location after a user input request carried by an external control device; and following the user after arriving at the user location.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: receiving a termination signal; and automatically driving the auxiliary transport vehicle back to a parking lot or a service station.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the auxiliary transport vehicle includes an attachment placed on the drive unit.

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