METHOD FOR THE RETURN OF A SMALL VEHICLE TO A BASE STATION BY A USER OF THE SMALL VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for returning a small vehicle to a base station by a user of the small vehicle.

[0002] Currently, a large number of rental e-scooters and e-bikes are left unattended in public spaces. They are returned without a mechanical lock to a designated base station; instead, they are immobilized with a locking mechanism to prevent further use. These vehicles are frequently parked improperly, often found in trees or bodies of water, or obstructing traffic. It is expected that some municipalities will significantly tighten regulations on this type of rental service. Furthermore, due to improper handling during charging and parking, the average lifespan of such vehicles is sometimes limited to just a few months.

[0003] Improperly parked small vehicles also pose an immediate danger. In particular, visually impaired people can easily trip over vehicles lying on the ground.

[0004] WO 2019 / 148123 A1 discloses a rental system in which a rented surfboard can be returned to a stationary docking station. The docking station has a reader that can identify an individual surfboard, for example, using RFID. A locking mechanism allows the surfboard to be mechanically locked to the docking station to prevent misuse.

[0005] US patent 2019 0071143 A1 reveals a rental bicycle equipped with a locking system. This includes a type of steering lock.

[0006] US 2019 0071144 A1 and US 2015 / 0074004 A1 disclose a bicycle rental system in which the bicycles are mechanically connected to a base station.

[0007] German patent application DE 10 2016 204 295 A1 discloses a system for determining the location of a rental vehicle, comprising a fixed station and a signal transmitter. The signal transmitter receives a request signal sent by the rental vehicle and transmits a station identifier that identifies the fixed station.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide an improved method for parking small vehicles, particularly in public spaces. This is achieved by a method according to the main claim; embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and the description.

[0009] When returning the small vehicle, an initial identifier must be scanned at the base station. This ensures that at least the user is present at the base station.

[0010] The identifiers at the base station and on the vehicle are scanned. This must be done within a specific time frame. This ensures that the vehicle is at least at the base station at the time of return.

[0011] In one configuration, the vehicle interacts mechanically with the base station. This interaction can take many forms. However, this interaction is a prerequisite for the first identifier on the base station to become scannable. Without this interaction, the first identifier remains hidden and cannot be scanned.

[0012] Overall, a suitable base station can operate without a power supply. This means that such base stations can be deployed cheaply in large quantities.

[0013] Without scanning the first identifier, a return is specifically impossible.

[0014] The vehicle can be returned without a mechanical lock. Unauthorized removal or movement can be made more difficult by an alarm mechanism. This alarm can be triggered as soon as vehicle movement is detected. This movement can be triggered, for example, by an accelerometer. Alternatively, vehicle movement can be detected by a location tracking system, particularly a GPS unit. During periods when unauthorized movement of the vehicle is prevented, the vehicle's brakes can be activated.

[0015] The term "small vehicle" may be replaced in particular by the following: vehicle intended for use by exactly one person, and / or two-wheeled vehicle.

[0016] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures; here it shows Figure 1 a return station arrangement suitable for the claimed method; Figure 2 a mobile phone with two identifiers of the return station arrangement; Figure 3 schematic details of the return station arrangement during a return process, wherein the interior of the base station is visible; Figure 4 schematic details of the return station arrangement during the return process, wherein the interior of the base station is concealed.

[0017] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a return station arrangement 1 comprising a base station 2 and an electric micro-vehicle 3. The electric micro-vehicle 3 includes a rechargeable battery 5. The electric micro-vehicle 3 can be a scooter or a bicycle. However, the invention is also applicable to micro-vehicles that are operated without an electric motor and thus without a battery. The following description is representative of all such vehicles.

[0018] A first machine-readable identifier 11 is attached to base station 2. Such an identifier can be a QR code.

[0019] The electric micro-vehicle 3 has been rented by a user and is now to be returned to base station 2. An app operated by a rental provider is running on a mobile phone 5, which is owned by the user. During the return process, the user scans the first identifier 11 on the base station with the mobile phone 5. By scanning, the user provides proof that they are at the location of the base station. The use of the electric micro-vehicle 3 is linked to the user in the app. A data connection is then used to put the linked electric micro-vehicle 3 into a locked state, preventing its use.

[0020] This way, it can be avoided that the electric micro-vehicle 3 is left unattended in any location.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the security of the location-based return can be increased. For this purpose, a second identifier 12 is attached to the electric micro-vehicle 3. During the return process, the user must scan both the first identifier 11 and the second identifier 12 with their mobile phone 8 within a predefined time period (e.g., within 5 seconds). This verifies that, in addition to the mobile phone 8, the electric micro-vehicle 3 itself is located at the base station 2 during the return process.

[0022] In one embodiment, the two identifiers 11, 12 are each designed as QR codes and arranged on the base station and the electric micro-vehicle 3, respectively, in such a way that both can be scanned simultaneously by the mobile phone 8. It is thus conceivable that a joint scan 9, here in the form of an image, of both identifiers 21, 22 is generated, as Figure 2The scan 9 can now be evaluated electronically. This evaluation provides, in particular, a match between the electric micro-vehicle and its return location. The evaluation can be fully automated.

[0023] One of the identifiers 11, 12 can be attached to a safety tether 25 connected to the base station 2 or to the electric micro-vehicle 3. The term "safety tether" is to be understood broadly and includes steel cables, chains, a push-link belt, a gooseneck, a spring-loaded mechanism, or other devices that allow movement within a predetermined radius, in particular less than 1 m around the base station 2, while simultaneously preventing unauthorized removal of the respective identifier from this radius. The mobility of at least one of the identifiers 11, 12 makes it easy for the user to position the two identifiers 11, 12 close enough to each other to be scanned within the specified time, and in particular simultaneously.

[0024] A certain degree of stability in the safety tether, particularly in the form of a gooseneck, is preferred, as this allows the identifier to maintain a set position, at least temporarily. This would free up both hands for the user to scan the two QR codes.

[0025] In the present embodiment, the second identifier 12 is attached to the handlebar 4 of the electric micro-vehicle 3, and the first identifier is connected to the base station via the safety tether 25. By selecting the appropriate length of the safety tether 25, it can be ensured that the electric micro-vehicle remains within a permitted return area. Alternatively or additionally, the second identifier can also be attached to the micro-vehicle via a safety tether.

[0026] The aforementioned procedure is secured in one possible implementation by a validation step. This step can detect any potential manipulation. For example, it would be conceivable to provide a copy of the identifier for scanning instead of the original identifier. A copy of, say, a photographed original QR code can easily be displayed on a mobile phone in a different location.

[0027] In the validation step, it is additionally checked whether the first identifier 11 is located at the same location as the second identifier 22. For this purpose, the position of the mobile phone or vehicle is determined using an additional procedure. This can be done using the electronic positioning functionality of the mobile phone and / or the vehicle. Position determination can be based on GPS or on existing networks or cell towers in the vicinity. The position of the first identifier 11 can be stored in a database and queried for the validation step. The position determined in this way is then compared with the stored position. Should a significant deviation occur, especially one exceeding a tolerated deviation, an error message may be issued and / or the return process may not be completed.A tolerated deviation can be defined depending on the measurement accuracy of the respective position detection functionality used.

[0028] Figure 3 Figure 1 shows a further embodiment. Here, a mechanism ensures that the first identifier 11 is only scannable when the electric micro-vehicle 3 is in mechanical connection with the base station 2.

[0029] The first identifier 11 is movably attached to the base station 2 and can be moved between a first position P1 and a second position P1 by means of a guide 21. A reset mechanism 22 returns the first identifier 11 to the first position P1 by default. The reset mechanism can be operated by a spring force or by weight force.

[0030] A driver 31 is arranged on the electric micro-vehicle 3. During a return process, this driver is inserted into an insertion opening 20 and interacts there with a counterpart 23 to the driver on the base station 2. The driver 31 is arranged such that, when the electric micro-vehicle 3 is lowered, it moves the first identifier 11 from the first position P1 to the second position P2, contrary to the action of the resetter 22.

[0031] Figure 4 The diagram shows the situation from the outside. A scan window 13 is arranged at base station 2, which is superimposed on the second position P2 and grants scan access to the first identifier 11 when it is located in the second position P2.

[0032] In this case, it is not necessary to capture the second identifier 12, since the first identifier can only be scanned if the small electric vehicle 3 is in mechanical connection with the base station.

[0033] The user could potentially circumvent this mechanism by scanning the first identifier 11 at the base station, which already has another electric micro-vehicle assigned to it, since this identifier is visible. However, this identifier is already assigned to another micro-vehicle; therefore, this first identifier 11 is blocked from further returns until that other electric micro-vehicle is rented out again.

[0034] In a variation not explicitly shown, the first identifier is not movable between the first and second positions; rather, it is fixed at the second position P2. Instead, the scan window 13 is movable, specifically movable or rotatable, between a first position P1 and a second position P2. Accordingly, a cover is provided that can obscure the first identifier 11. The term "scan window 13" is to be understood broadly and refers to a non-obscuring, possibly movable, area of ​​a cover. The scan window does not necessarily have to be framed.

[0035] For both of the above possibilities, the following applies in particular: Only if both the viewing window 413 and the first identifier 11 are arranged at the second position P2, can the first identifier 11 be scanned through the scan window 13. Reference symbol list

[0036] 1 Return station setup 2 Base station 3 Electric micro-vehicle 4 Electric micro-vehicle handlebar 5 Battery 8 Mobile phone 9 Identifier scan 11first identifier 12second identifier 13scan window 20Insertion opening 21Guide 22Reset 23Mother part 31 drivers P1 First position (concealed) P2 Second position (scannable) 25 Safety lanyard

Claims

1. Method for returning a small vehicle (3) to a base station (2) by a user of the small vehicle (3), in particular for position detection during the return, characterized by the following method steps: Transfer of the small vehicle (3) by the user into a predetermined distance from the base station (2), Generation of a scan (9) of a first identifier (11), which is attached to the base station (2), by means of a mobile telephone (8) by the user, Generation of a scan (9) of a second identifier (12), which is attached to the small vehicle (3), by means of the mobile telephone (8) by the user, wherein the scan (9) of the second identifier (12) and the scan of the first identifier (11) must take place within a time specification; information technology recording and evaluation of the scans (9), information technology blocking of the small vehicle (3) for further use of the small vehicle (3) by the user.

2. Method according to the previous claim, characterized by the that the time specification is less than 5 sec, in particular less than 1 second.

3. Method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the scan (9) of the second identifier (12) and the scan of the first identifier (11) are performed simultaneously.

4. Method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that in a validation step it is checked whether the second identifier (12) is located at the location of the first identifier (11).

5. Method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the position of the cell phone and / or of the vehicle is determined using a position detection functionality of the cell phone or of the vehicle, respectively, and that the determined position of the cell phone and / or of the vehicle is compared with a stored position of the first identifier.

6. Method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the provision of the first identifier (11) does not require energy provision by the base station (2).

7. Method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the first identifier (11) and / or the second identifier (12) comprises a QR code.

8. Method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that prior to the return, the base station (2) is in a state in which the first identifier (11) is not scannable by the cell phone (8); in that by mechanical interaction of the small vehicle (3) with the base station (2), the base station is transferred into a second state in which the first identifier (11) is scannable by the cell phone (8).

9. Method according to the previous claim, characterized in that in the first state the base station (2) covers the first identifier (11) so that the scan of the first identifier by the cell phone (8) is prevented, and in that in the second state the base station (2) exposes the first identifier (11) so that scanning of the first identifier by the mobile telephone (8) is enabled, in particular in that in the second state a scanning window (13) is in overlap with the first identifier (11), the first identifier (11) being scannable through the scanning window.

10. Method according to the previous claim, characterized in that, in the first state, the scan window (13) and the first identifier (11) are arranged in respectively different positions (P1, P2), in that, in the second state, the scan window (13) and the first identifier (11) are arranged in respective mutually corresponding positions (P2).

11. Method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in, that the first identifier (11) is blocked in terms of information technology by the return process for the return of a further small vehicle (3), in particular in that the blocking of the first identifier (11) is removed in terms of information technology as soon as the small vehicle (3) is rente again.

12. Method according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the first identifier (11) is movably connected to the base station by means of a securing line (25) and / or in that the second identifier (12) is movably connected to the small vehicle by means of a securing line (25); in particular, the securing line (25) ensures that the small vehicle (3) is located at a predetermined distance from the base station during a joint scan of the two identifiers (11, 12).