Vehicles and methods of use for ridesharing and package delivery services

Abstract

The electric vehicle includes several features that improve ride sharing and / or package delivery services. The vehicle includes electric motors and / or assist systems located along or below the floor to increase the size of the cabin without increasing the overall size of the vehicle. The passenger seats are foldable and movable, providing continuous cargo space. The side doors include integrally formed B-pillars to provide a larger opening on the side of the vehicle when the side doors are open for ingress and egress of both the driver and passengers. Each wheel includes an electrically actuated suspension system that allows the vehicle to tilt in different directions, facilitating ease of ingress and egress and / or loading and unloading of cargo. The vehicle includes a user interface system that assists the driver in package delivery services. The vehicle is also connected to a trailer that provides electric propulsion and active steering.

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 119(e) to U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 392,852, filed July 27, 2022, and entitled "VEHICLE FOR RIDESHARING AND PACKAGE DELIVERY SERVICE AND METHODS FOR USE," and U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 339,066, filed May 6, 2022, and entitled "VEHICLE FOR RIDESHARING AND PACKAGE DELIVERY SERVICE AND METHODS FOR USE," each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The introduction of digital service platforms has led to a significant increase in the number of giga-economy workers, for example, individuals who perform temporary positions as independent contractors or freelancers. Of the various services offered by giga-economy workers, package delivery and ride-sharing are the most popular, in part, due to the low barriers to entry coupled with the steady demand for these services. For example, giga-economy workers often use their own vehicles or lease and drive new vehicles to provide package delivery and / or ride-sharing services. As a result, many vehicles used by giga-economy workers are simply passenger vehicles, such as those driven by private individuals. Furthermore, the vehicles are often typically used vehicles with high maintenance costs, or larger vehicles (e.g., sport utility vehicles or SUVs) that are more expensive than smaller vehicles and have poorer fuel economy. Both types of vehicles result in a high total cost of ownership, which contributes to high turnover rates and employees quitting after a short time. This results in ride-sharing services having to hire and train new employees at additional expense.

[0003] Traditional transportation service companies also use vehicles that are the same as or similar to traditional passenger vehicles, such as taxis or vans. Some transportation service companies may deploy purpose-built vehicles to carry more passengers, such as shuttle buses or full-size buses. However, these purpose-built vehicles are generally not suitable for ride-sharing customers, as the passenger load of a typical car is relatively low (e.g., 1-3 passengers). Traditional package delivery companies use vehicles that are modifications of traditional passenger vehicles, such as vans converted into multipurpose vehicles (MPVs) for larger cargo capacity, or purpose-built delivery vehicles with even larger cargo capacity. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Typically, vehicles used in giga-economy ride-sharing and package delivery services, and even some traditional transportation services and package delivery companies that offer similar services, have several limitations that can adversely affect the quality of the ride-sharing and package delivery services and hinder the productivity of the workers who operate the vehicles (also referred to herein as drivers).

[0005] In particular, conventional vehicles used for ride-sharing services are generally not well-suited for rapid ingress and egress by passengers of various sizes and mobility. For example, when a passenger enters a vehicle such as a hatchback or sedan, the passenger typically enters the vehicle by either tucking and bending the knees and lifting one leg at a time, or lowering the body onto the passenger seat with the back facing the seat. However, these actions are often difficult for elderly or injured persons to perform and require additional time for ingress and egress, and possibly assistance from other individuals. Also, passenger vehicles do not readily provide wheelchair access. Instead, wheelchair-bound individuals are often lifted into the passenger seat with assistance from other individuals, or transferred from their wheelchair to the passenger seat by carefully sliding from the wheelchair to the passenger seat while holding on to a part of the vehicle.

[0006] Larger individuals may also have difficulty entering passenger vehicles due to the limited size of the door opening, which is typically constrained by the presence of a B-pillar integrated into the vehicle body that separates the front and rear seats of the vehicle. A B-pillar is a vertical support structure that is typically integrated into the vehicle body and located between the front driver / passenger door opening and the rear passenger door opening to support the floor and ceiling of the vehicle. Some large passenger vehicles offer larger door openings for entering and exiting the vehicle, such as trucks or sport utility vehicles (SUVs), but the vehicle height of these vehicles is often higher than other passenger vehicles. As a result, passengers must each climb up and down to enter and exit the vehicle, which can be difficult for elderly, disabled, or injured individuals.

[0007] Furthermore, traditional ride-sharing vehicles rarely offer the same level of comfort as traditional purpose-built transportation vehicles that carry many more passengers, such as charter buses. In particular, the cabin space available to passengers is constrained by the space occupied by the engine (e.g., internal combustion engine), auxiliary systems (e.g., HVAC), and safety structures (e.g., crash tubes, impact structures, crash zones). The seating layout can also affect the space available to each passenger, particularly the leg space and the extent to which passenger seats can be reclined. For example, a traditional passenger vehicle typically has two front seats and three rear seats, with one rear seat located immediately behind each front seat. Thus, leg space for rear seat passengers may be limited depending on the location of the front seats.

[0008] For package delivery services, conventionally used vehicles are typically tailored to have larger loading capacities compared to conventional passenger vehicles, and in some instances may include built-in lifts for loading and unloading heavy packages. Despite these features, loading and unloading packages into these vehicles is still a labor- and time-intensive process. In particular, drivers often spend a significant amount of unpaid up-front time manually loading and arranging packages into the vehicle to more easily find and access the packages later upon delivery. Even if the driver spends up-front time arranging packages for delivery, the driver may still spend time scanning packages in a certain order as they make the delivery to ensure that the correct package is delivered. Additionally, the driver may spend time finding the correct delivery alignment for an order (e.g., the correct door at an apartment complex). These factors limit the driver's productivity, in part, by increasing the average time spent completing each delivery.

[0009] The load capacity of a vehicle used for package delivery services is also generally fixed. Vehicle trailers can be attached to the vehicle to increase the overall load capacity, but vehicle trailers are rarely used for package delivery services due to, for example, the negative impact on the vehicle's fuel economy and / or drivability, especially in limited spaces (e.g., narrow roads). Thus, if giga-economy workers want to increase the load capacity to store more packages, they either modify the vehicle or purchase a larger vehicle, both of which can involve significant costs to the workers. Traditional package delivery companies typically introduce additional delivery vehicles, which also involve significant costs due to the purchase of additional vehicles and the hiring of additional workers to drive the vehicles.

[0010] Further, in some passenger vehicles, passenger seats can be partially folded to create cargo space in the cabin for storage, but passenger seats are often fixed in place in the cabin, thus limiting the size and shape of the cargo space. For example, rear passenger seats in passenger vehicles often include seat backs that can be folded to lay flat on a fixed seat base and create cargo space in the cabin that is connected to the trunk. However, stacking the seat backs on the seat bases limits the height of the cargo space (e.g., the distance between the rear side of the seat back when laid flat and the ceiling of the vehicle), thus limiting the size of packages that can be stored in the vehicle. In another example, some vehicles include passenger seats that can be stored by rotating the seat base. This can allow passenger seats to be packed along the sides of the vehicle cabin, or against the driver's seat and / or front passenger seats in larger vehicles (e.g., trucks), or into compartments in the floor of the vehicle body (e.g., minivans) at the expense of raising the floor higher off the ground. Additionally, passenger seats that are fixed in place often create pockets of space within the cabin that cannot be easily used to store cargo, further limiting the cargo space of the vehicle, such as leg space between the rear passenger seats and the driver and / or front passenger seats.

[0011] Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to various inventive implementations of vehicles that improve ride sharing and / or package delivery services, in part, by addressing the limitations of conventional vehicles discussed above. The vehicles disclosed herein may be electric vehicles that use one or more electric motors for propulsion and are powered by one or more batteries, or auxiliary systems that provide electricity, such as fuel cells, Stirling engines, solar cells, flywheel energy storage systems, or internal combustion engines. The vehicle may further include an electrically actuated suspension system for each wheel, which may further be integrated into the electric motor. Each of the electrically actuated suspension systems may be independently controllable, such that the height of the vehicle at each corner may be adjustable. It should be understood that some of the inventive features and concepts disclosed herein are not limited to electric vehicles, and more generally, these features and concepts may be implemented in other types of vehicles, such as gasoline-powered vehicles, diesel-powered vehicles, or hydrogen-powered vehicles. It should also be understood that some of the inventive features and concepts disclosed herein are not limited to ride-sharing and package delivery vehicles, but more generally, these features and concepts may be implemented in other types of vehicles, such as private transportation, transportation of agricultural goods, and / or the like.

[0012] In one aspect, the vehicle disclosed herein may have a central driving position in which the driver's seat is located on or near the centerline of the vehicle extending from the front to the rear of the vehicle. In other words, the driver's seat may be located equidistant or approximately equidistant from the right and left sides of the vehicle. The central driving position may provide more space within the vehicle cabin for the vehicle's passengers (e.g., customers for ride-sharing services). For example, the vehicle may include a passenger seat located behind and to the side of the driver's seat. This arrangement provides more leg space for the passengers because the passenger seat is not located directly behind the driver's seat, unlike the rear passenger seats of conventional passenger vehicles. Additionally, the driver's seat may be at the same height as or lower than the passenger seats, improving the passenger's visibility forward.

[0013] A center driving position may also allow the driver's seat to be located further forward in the vehicle, especially for electric vehicles that have electric motors and electrically actuated suspension systems located along the sides and corners of the vehicle. Moving the driver's seat forward toward the front bumper of the vehicle may also increase the space available for passengers in the vehicle cabin. In some examples, the driver's seat may be positioned such that the heels of the driver's feet (also called heel points) are located on or near the forward rotational axis of the front wheels.

[0014] In another aspect, the vehicles disclosed herein may include one or more passenger seats that can be folded and rotated without being fixed in place within the cabin of the vehicle. This allows the passenger seats to be stored within the cabin without taking up a significant amount of space or constraining the shape and / or dimensions of the cargo space in an undesirable manner. For example, the passenger seats may include a mounting frame that is slidably coupled to one or more rails disposed on the floor of the cabin to move the passenger seats forward or rearward within the cabin. The passenger seats further include a seat base that is rotatably coupled to the mounting frame via a first hinge, a bracket that is rigidly coupled to the seat base, and a seat back that is rotatably coupled to the bracket via a second hinge. In some examples, the passenger seats and the driver seats may be mounted to a common set of rails.

[0015] In yet another aspect, a vehicle includes an instrument panel beam for mechanically supporting a dashboard for a driver. The instrument panel beam may also have one or more cavities that transport air from the ambient environment surrounding the vehicle to corresponding vents in the vehicle cabin to facilitate acclimatization of the cabin during operation (e.g., providing fresh air to the driver and / or passengers). In this manner, the instrument panel beam provides both ducting and mechanical support (e.g., for the dashboard). The instrument panel beam may be formed from a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, metals, polymers, wood, and natural or carbon fibers. The instrument panel beam may further be formed as an extrusion or casting.

[0016] The vehicle may also include digital rearview and sideview mirrors. For example, the vehicle may include a rearview camera located on the exterior rear portion of the vehicle and a pair of sideview cameras located on the exterior left and right portions of the vehicle. Each of the cameras may be communicatively coupled to a display screen on the dashboard of the vehicle. During operation of the vehicle, the display screen may display video images captured by the respective cameras to enable the driver to view their surroundings. In some examples, the display screen may also be movable, for example, when the driver turns the steering wheel to turn the vehicle or turns his head. In this manner, the portion of the display screen showing the video images from the rearview and sideview cameras may remain within the driver's field of view as the driver turns his or her head.

[0017] In another aspect, the vehicle may include a larger sized side door opening compared to a conventional passenger vehicle to improve ease of ingress and egress. For example, the vehicle may include a side door that, when open, allows both the driver and passengers to enter and egress the vehicle through the side door opening. This may be accomplished, in part, by removing the B-pillar from the vehicle body, thus increasing the size of the door opening for ingress and egress. Alternatively, the B-pillar may be integrated into the side door to provide structural support to the vehicle body when the side door is closed.

[0018] In some examples, the side door opening may be wide enough to provide wheelchair access for a wheelchair-bound passenger. For example, the vehicle may include a retractable and / or removable ramp (e.g., the ramp is attached directly to the bottom side) coupled to the bottom side of the side door opening to allow a wheelchair-bound passenger to enter and exit the vehicle while seated in the wheelchair. The passenger seat may move rearward along the rail to provide sufficient space for the wheelchair to easily enter and exit the vehicle. The vehicle may further include a restraint adapted to secure the wheelchair to the vehicle cabin and secure the passenger to the wheelchair. The vehicle may also include a tailgate and a rear door opening dimensioned to allow a wheelchair-bound passenger to enter and exit the vehicle through the rear door opening when the tailgate is open in place of the side door opening. A retractable and / or removable ramp may also be coupled to the bottom side of the rear door opening (e.g., the ramp is attached directly to the bottom side) to facilitate entry and exit of a wheelchair-bound passenger.

[0019] The driver's seat may also be movable to assist the driver in entering and exiting the vehicle, particularly to and from a central driving position. For example, the driver's seat may be slidably movable between a central driving position, when the driver is driving the vehicle, and an "access" position, in which the driver's seat is positioned near and / or faces toward a side door opening. The access position may be used when the driver is entering the vehicle, exiting the vehicle, or accessing a side window, for example, to interact with an external device or system, such as a toll machine, a mailbox, or a drive-through window. In one embodiment, the driver's seat may include a powered seat positioning system having one or more rails attached to the floor of the vehicle cabin to guide the driver's seat in transitioning between the central driving position and the access position. In some implementations, the driver's seat may be removable from the vehicle to allow a wheelchair-bound driver to enter and exit the vehicle and / or drive the vehicle from his or her wheelchair.

[0020] An electrically actuated suspension system disposed on each wheel of the vehicle may be used to tilt and / or change the height of the vehicle to help passengers enter and exit the vehicle and / or to help the driver load and / or unload packages. For example, the vehicle may tilt and / or adjust the vehicle height to reduce the distance between the cabin floor and the ground so that passengers can more easily enter and exit the vehicle, respectively (e.g., without having to lift their legs significantly). This may be particularly beneficial for wheelchair-bound passengers. By tilting the vehicle downward to the left, right, and / or rear of the vehicle and / or lowering the overall vehicle height, the ramp may be oriented at a shallower angle to the ground, which may make it easier for wheelchair-bound passengers to enter and exit the vehicle. In some examples, the vehicle may tilt and / or lower to an extent that wheelchair-bound passengers can enter and exit the vehicle without a ramp. In other words, the floor of the vehicle cabin may be aligned with, for example, a curve or a road.

[0021] The vehicle may also be tilted toward the rear or lowered closer to the ground to facilitate loading and unloading of packages. In particular, the tailgate of the vehicle may include an integrated rear bumper structure. In this manner, the underside of the rear door opening may be vertically aligned with the cabin floor. A ramp may further be coupled to the bottom side of the rear door opening (e.g., by removing the ramp from the side door opening and attaching the ramp to the bottom side) so that the wheeled container may be more easily rolled in and out of the vehicle cabin. Some containers may include folding casters to traverse the vertical offset between the vehicle cabin floor and the ground, and thus may be rolled in and out of the vehicle without a ramp.

[0022] It will also be appreciated that tilting and / or adjusting the vehicle's ride height can be used for other purposes besides improving ease of ingress / egress and loading and unloading packages. For example, if the vehicle is traveling over rough terrain, the ride height can be raised to increase the clearance between the cabin floor and the ground. In another example, the ride height may be lowered to decrease the clearance between the cabin floor and the ground while the vehicle is in transit to decrease the vehicle's drag coefficient.

[0023] In another embodiment, the vehicle may include a user interface system to provide hands-free access to the vehicle and assist the driver in completing package deliveries. The user interface system may include a display screen, a camera, and / or a user input device (e.g., a touch screen) located on the exterior of the vehicle. For example, the user interface system may be located on a side door (e.g., B-pillar) or on the tailgate. The user interface may utilize a camera to identify the driver and therefore automatically unlock and / or open the vehicle doors. The display screen may also be used to inform the driver of the location of the vehicle, for example, when parked in a garage with several other identical vehicles belonging to other individuals.

[0024] For package delivery services, the user interface system may also include a barcode scanner that the driver may use to identify and track the order of packages being loaded and unloaded from the vehicle. For example, packages in one delivery run or shift may be scanned by the driver before being loaded into the vehicle. During this process, the user interface may allow the driver to select the order of delivery, and the user interface will accordingly determine the quickest route for the delivery via a navigation system (e.g., the vehicle's navigation system). The user interface system may also automatically determine the order in which packages should be delivered to reduce distance or time to complete a delivery run.

[0025] The user interface system may also have a perimeter display system (e.g., projector, laser, floodlight). When loading a package into the vehicle, the perimeter display system may be used to display an image (e.g., a video image) or a beam of light to indicate where the driver should place the package in the vehicle for better access. For example, the user interface system may instruct the driver to load the package and / or the package container with wheels that are rolled in and out of the vehicle (e.g., through the rear door opening) in reverse order. Thus, the packages are loaded according to a last-in, first-out approach. When delivering a package, the perimeter display system illuminates the package (e.g., with a light or laser) so that the driver can quickly locate the package in the loading area. In this way, the perimeter display system may reduce the time the driver spends manually placing the package for later retrieval and / or finding the package for delivery. The perimeter display system may also be used to help orient the driver to where the package should be delivered after exiting the vehicle. For example, the driver may deliver a package in an apartment complex with multiple units. The perimeter display system may illuminate a particular entrance or door where the driver should drop off the package. This may be accomplished, for example, by a light source that emits continuous or pulsed light from outside the vehicle or into the interior of the vehicle through an opening on the vehicle body or door opening. In another example, the perimeter display system may display a map on the surrounding environment with a path to guide the driver to the entrance or door. Thus, the perimeter display system may include light sources located inside and outside the vehicle.

[0026] In another aspect, the vehicles disclosed herein may also support a trailer. The trailer may be used to increase the load capacity of the vehicle, for example, to store a larger number of packages for delivery or passenger luggage. The trailer may be coupled to the vehicle using a hitch. The trailer may also include, for example, two wheels each driven by an electric motor similar or identical to the electric motor used in the vehicle. A self-powered trailer may be particularly desirable when the vehicle is limited in towing capacity. The electric motor of the trailer may also be independently controllable, thus allowing active steering by varying the rotational speed of one wheel relative to another and / or torque vectoring to stabilize the movement of the trailer relative to the vehicle.

[0027] It should be understood that all combinations of the above concepts and additional concepts discussed in more detail below (provided that such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are considered to be part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated to be part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. Of course, terms explicitly used in this specification that may also appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be given the meaning most consistent with the specific concepts disclosed herein. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the drawings are primarily for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and in some instances, various aspects of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein may be shown exaggerated or enlarged in the drawings to facilitate understanding of different features. In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to like features (e.g., functionally similar and / or structurally similar elements).

[0029] [Figure 1A]FIG. 1A shows a cutaway top view of an exemplary vehicle having a center driving position.

[0030] [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the vehicle of FIG. 1A corresponding to plane AA of FIG. 1A.

[0031] [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A shows an external perspective view of the cabin of the vehicle of FIG. 1A.

[0032] [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B shows an interior perspective view of the cabin of FIG. 2A.

[0033] [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 1A with the side door in a closed position and the side door window partially down.

[0034] [Figure 3B] FIG. 3B shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 3A with the side door in an open position.

[0035] [Figure 3C] FIG. 3C shows an enlarged perspective view of the side door of FIG. 3A.

[0036] [Figure 3D] Figure 3D shows a cutaway top view of the vehicle of Figure 3A. The driver's seat is shown in both the driving and access positions.

[0037] [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows the vehicle of FIG. 3A with the side door in an open position to provide wheelchair access for the driver or passenger.

[0038] [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the vehicle platform of FIG. 1A.

[0039] [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 1A tilted backward.

[0040] [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 6A in a lowered position.

[0041] [Figure 6C] FIG. 6C shows a rear view of the vehicle of FIG. 6A in a raised position.

[0042] [Figure 6D] FIG. 6D shows a rear view of the vehicle of FIG. 6A in a tilted state to one side.

[0043] [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows a rear perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 1A with the tailgate in an open position.

[0044] [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 7 tilted backwards to provide wheelchair access for passengers.

[0045] [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 7 in a lowered position with a ramp for loading and unloading wire parcel cages.

[0046] [Figure 10A] FIG. 10A shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 7 in a lowered position for loading or unloading a wire parcel cage having folding casters.

[0047] [Figure 10B] FIG. 10B shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 7 in a lowered position for loading or unloading a container having folding casters.

[0048] [Figure 11A]FIG. 11A shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 7 tilted backwards to unload the catering unit.

[0049] [Figure 11B] FIG. 11B shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 11A with the catering unit partially deployed.

[0050] [Figure 11C] FIG. 11C shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 11B with the catering unit deployed and in operation.

[0051] [Figure 12] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a modular container.

[0052] [Figure 13] 13 illustrates a side view of another exemplary vehicle having a central driving position, the vehicle being configured as a multipurpose vehicle (MPV) and superimposed on the vehicle of FIG. 1A.

[0053] [Figure 14] Figure 14 shows a side view of the vehicle of Figure 13 with the tailgate in an open position and a ramp for loading or unloading the wire parcel cage. The vehicle is shown in a lowered position.

[0054] [Figure 15] Figure 15 shows a side view of the vehicle of Figure 13 with the tailgate in an open position. The vehicle is shown in a lowered position for loading or unloading a wire parcel cage having folding casters.

[0055] [Figure 16A] Figure 16A shows a side view of the vehicle of Figure 13 with the tailgate in an open position. The vehicle is shown in a lowered position for loading or unloading a catering unit.

[0056] [Figure 16B]FIG. 16B shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 16A with the catering unit partially deployed.

[0057] [Figure 16C] FIG. 16C shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 16B with the catering unit deployed and operational.

[0058] [Figure 17A] FIG. 17A shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 1A with a user interface system integrated into the B-pillar of the side door.

[0059] [Figure 17B] FIG. 17B shows an expanded side view of the user interface system of FIG. 17A.

[0060] [Figure 18A] FIG. 18A shows a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 17A with the user interface system projecting map images and / or video onto the surrounding environment.

[0061] [Figure 18B] FIG. 18B shows a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 17A with the user interface system projecting light onto a portion of the environment for package delivery.

[0062] [Figure 19A] FIG. 19A shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 13 with multiple displays showing the status of the vehicle.

[0063] [Figure 19B] FIG. 19B shows a rear perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 19A.

[0064] [Figure 20] FIG. 20 shows a rear view of the vehicle of FIG. 1A with a display showing the status of the vehicle.

[0065] [Figure 21]FIG. 21 shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 13 with an exemplary trailer.

[0066] [Figure 22A] FIG. 22A shows a cutaway side view of the vehicle of FIG. 1A with the passenger seats in an unfolded configuration.

[0067] [Figure 22B] FIG. 22B shows a perspective view of the passenger seat of FIG. 22A.

[0068] [Figure 23A] FIG. 23A shows a cutaway side view of the vehicle of FIG. 22A with the passenger seats in a folded-down configuration.

[0069] [Figure 23B] FIG. 23B shows a perspective view of the passenger seat of FIG. 23A.

[0070] [Figure 24] FIG. 24 shows a cutaway perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 23A with the passenger seats in a folded configuration while luggage has been stored in the cargo space behind the passenger seats.

[0071] [Figure 25A] FIG. 25A shows a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 23A with the passenger seats in a folded-down configuration.

[0072] [Figure 25B] FIG. 25B shows another cutaway perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 25A.

[0073] [Figure 26A] FIG. 26A shows a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 23A with the vehicle doors open and the passenger seats in a folded-down configuration.

[0074] [Figure 26B]FIG. 26B illustrates a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 26A with the passenger seat first transitioning from a folded configuration to an unfolded configuration by the passenger seat transitioning from a first position to a second position.

[0075] [Figure 26C] FIG. 26C shows a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 26B with the passenger seat in a second position.

[0076] [Figure 26D] FIG. 26D shows a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 26C with the seat base rotated relative to the mounting frame via the first hinge from a first rotational position to a second rotational position.

[0077] [Figure 26E] FIG. 26E shows a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 26D with the seat base in a second rotated position.

[0078] [Figure 26F] FIG. 26F illustrates a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 26E with the seat back rotated relative to the seat back via the second hinge from the third rotation position to a fourth rotation position.

[0079] [Figure 26G] FIG. 26G shows a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 26F with the passenger seat in a fourth rotated position and therefore in an unfolded configuration.

[0080] [Figure 27A] FIG. 27A shows another perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 26E, with the vehicle doors omitted for clarity.

[0081] [Figure 27B] FIG. 27B illustrates a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 27A with the seat base rotated from the second rotated position to the first rotated position to transition the passenger seat to a folded configuration.

[0082] [Figure 27C]FIG. 27C shows a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 27B with the seat base in a first rotated position.

[0083] [Figure 27D] FIG. 27D illustrates a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 27C with the passenger seat moved from the second position to the first position and thus in a folded configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0084] Below is a more detailed description of various concepts related to vehicles for ride sharing and package delivery services, and their implementations. It should be understood that the various concepts introduced above and discussed in more detail below may be implemented in a number of ways. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes, so that one of ordinary skill in the art may implement implementations and alternatives that are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0085] The figures and example implementations described below are not intended to limit the scope of the implementation to a single embodiment. Other implementations are possible by replacing some or all of the elements described or illustrated. Furthermore, where certain elements of the disclosed implementations can be implemented in part or in full using known components, in some cases, only those parts of such known components necessary for understanding the implementation will be described, and detailed descriptions of other parts of such known components will be omitted so as not to obscure the implementation.

[0086] In the following discussion, various examples of the vehicle of the present invention are provided, with a given example or set of examples illustrating one or more particular features of a vehicle cabin with a movable driver seat, a foldable passenger seat, side doors, a tailgate, a platform with an electric motor and / or an electrically actuated suspension system, a user interface system, and a trailer. It should be understood that one or more features discussed in connection with a given example of a vehicle may be employed in other examples of a vehicle according to the present disclosure (provided that the respective features are not mutually inconsistent), such that the various features disclosed herein may be readily combined in a given vehicle according to the present disclosure.

[0087] Certain dimensions and features of the vehicle are described herein using the terms "approximately," "about," "substantially," and / or "similar." As used herein, the terms "approximately," "about," "substantially," and / or "similar" indicate that each described dimension or feature is not a precise boundary or parameter and does not exclude functionally similar variations therefrom. Unless the context or description indicates otherwise, use of the terms "approximately," "about," "substantially," and / or "similar" in connection with a numerical parameter indicates that the numerical parameter includes variations that do not alter the least significant digit using mathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding, measurement, or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.).

[0088] 1. Exemplary vehicle with central driving position 1A and 1B illustrate an exemplary vehicle 100a. As shown, the vehicle 100a includes a vehicle body 110 that defines a cabin 200. The cabin 200 supports a driver's seat 210 and one (or more) passenger seats 220a. However, it should be understood that the number and arrangement of seats within the vehicle 100a is non-limiting and, more generally, the vehicle 100a may include more or fewer seats. For example, the vehicle 100a may be expanded to include a row of additional passenger seats behind the passenger seats 220a shown in FIG. 1A. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the passenger seats may be removed to provide space for a wheelchair-bound passenger (see wheelchair 10 in FIG. 1A). For example, the passenger seats may provide three seating positions and a passenger section corresponding to one of the seating positions may be removed. Alternatively, the passenger seats may be moved rearward (e.g., via a set of rails) to provide space for a wheelchair-bound passenger. The cabin 200 further includes a dashboard 300 for the driver's seat 210. The driver's seat and / or passenger seats 220a may be configured to be captain's chairs (i.e., chairs providing a single seating position). However, it should be understood that the passenger seats 220a may alternatively be configured as bench seats providing multiple seating positions.

[0089] As shown, the driver's seat 210 may be positioned in a center driving position. Specifically, the driver's seat 210 may be oriented to face the front of the vehicle 100a and positioned on or near the centerline of the vehicle 100a (see, for example, FIG. 1A, which includes the centerline). Stated differently, the driver's seat 210 may be positioned equidistant or approximately equidistant from the right side 101a and left side 101b of the vehicle 100a, as shown in FIG. 1A. Additionally, the vehicle 100a may include a passenger seat 220a located behind the driver's seat 210 and on the right or left side of the cabin 200. For example, FIG. 1A shows the passenger seat 220a located behind the driver's seat 210 and offset to one side of the vehicle 100a. The passenger seat 220a may also be at the same height as the driver's seat 210 or may be positioned higher than the driver's seat 210. This arrangement provides additional leg room and space for passengers to recline their seats within cabin 200.

[0090] The central driving position may also allow the driver's seat 210 to be positioned closer to the front of the vehicle 100a, further increasing the space available for each passenger, especially for wheelchair-bound passengers and / or cargo. For example, the vehicle 100a may be an electric vehicle with an electric motor in each wheel (e.g., see platform 400 in FIG. 5 ) providing propulsion to that wheel (e.g., generating torque to rotate the wheel). This configuration allows each wheel to be driven independently. Thus, the wheels of the vehicle 100a may not be mechanically coupled together, e.g., the front wheels 130 may not be mechanically coupled together via an axle, and the rear wheels 131 may also not be mechanically coupled together via an axle, providing space along the centerline of the vehicle 100a. The electric motor may further be located on or near the floor of the vehicle platform, thus occupying space only along the sides and corners of the vehicle 100a. For example, the electric motor may be located at least partially within the rim of the wheel, thus providing more space for the cabin 200. Auxiliary systems of the vehicle 100a, such as an HVAC system, may also be located along or below the floor of the vehicle 100a beneath the seats.

[0091] In some examples, each electric motor may also include an integrated electrically actuated suspension system (see suspension system 410 in FIG. 5 ), which reduces the overall weight of the vehicle 100a and allows for a more compact crash structure (e.g., shorter crash tubes). Further details regarding electric motors with integrated electrically actuated suspension systems may be found in U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 336,895, entitled “A MULTI-INPUT, MULTI-OUTPUT ACTUATOR AND ASSEMBLIES using SAME,” filed June 2, 2021 (hereinafter referred to as the '895 application), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The electric motors of the vehicle 100a may be powered by various energy storage devices on board the vehicle 100a, such as one or more batteries, and / or auxiliary systems that provide electricity, such as a fuel cell, Stirling engine, solar cell, flywheel energy storage system, or internal combustion engine.

[0092] By arranging the various components of the vehicle 100a in the manner described above, the vehicle cabin 200 may extend closer toward the front of the vehicle 100a as compared to a conventional passenger vehicle. This allows the driver's seat 210, steering wheel 311, accelerator and brake pedals, and dashboard 300 to be positioned closer toward the front of the vehicle 100a, creating more space behind the driver for passengers and / or cargo without increasing the size of the vehicle 100a. As shown in FIG. 1B, the vehicle 100a has a vehicle overall length L corresponding to the distance from the forwardmost to the rearmost exterior portion of the vehicle 100a, and a vehicle cabin length L corresponding to the distance from the forwardmost to the rearmost exterior portion of the vehicle 100a. c The length of the vehicle cabin L c, and the vehicle overall length L may range from about 0.8 to about 0.95, including all values ​​and subranges therebetween. When used to describe the ratio of the vehicle cabin length to the vehicle overall length, the term "about" is intended to cover variations due to manufacturing tolerances. For example, "about 0.8" may correspond to a dimensional range of 0.792 to 0.808 (±1% tolerance), 0.7936 to 0.8064 (±0.8% tolerance), 0.7952 to 0.8048 (±0.6% tolerance), 0.7968 to 0.8032 (±4% tolerance), 0.7984 to 0.8016 (±2% tolerance), including all values ​​and subranges therebetween. FIG. 1B also shows a representative driver within the driver's seat 210. As shown, the driver's seat 210 may be positioned toward the front of the cabin 200 such that the driver's heel point 11 may be located at or in front of the forward pivot 132 of the front wheels 130 .

[0093] 2A and 2B show close-up views of the dashboard 300 of the vehicle 100a. As shown, the dashboard 300 is attached to the cabin 200 via an instrument panel beam 301. The instrument panel beam 301 may also have one or more cavities that transport air from the ambient environment surrounding the vehicle 100a to corresponding vents in the vehicle cabin 200 to facilitate acclimatization of the cabin 200 during operation (e.g., to provide fresh air to the driver and / or passengers). In this manner, the instrument panel beam 301 provides both ducts for air and mechanical support for various components, including but not limited to the dashboard 300, switches, touch fields, lights, speakers, vents, cameras, etc. In contrast, conventional ducts are typically formed of thin plastics and cannot mechanically support other components. The instrument panel beam 301 may be formed from a variety of materials, including but not limited to metals, polymers, wood, and natural or carbon fibers. The instrument panel beam 301 may further be formed as an extrusion or casting.

[0094] The dashboard 300 may include a display screen 310 extending on either side of a centrally located steering wheel 311. The display screen 310 may be curved in shape to provide a constant or substantially constant viewing distance for the driver as he turns his head while driving the vehicle 100a. For example, the display screen 310 may have a constant radius bend with the center of curvature positioned on a vertical line located near the driver's head (e.g., between the driver's eyes).

[0095] Vehicle 100a may also include digital rearview and sideview mirrors. Specifically, each digital mirror may include one or more cameras mounted on an exterior portion of vehicle 100a that capture video images of the vehicle's surroundings (see cameras 140a and 140b in FIG. 1A). Each camera may be communicatively coupled to a display screen 310 of dashboard 300 to display video images during operation of vehicle 100a. For example, FIG. 2B shows that display screen 310 may be divided into at least three sections to show video images from left sideview mirror 313b, right sideview mirror 313c, and rearview mirror 313a.

[0096] In some examples, the display screen 310 may also be movable so that the portion of the display screen 310 showing the video image captured by the digital rearview mirror and side view mirrors remains within the driver's field of view, especially when the driver is not looking directly ahead of the vehicle 100a. For example, the driver may turn his / her head when turning the vehicle or making a lane change. Thus, the display screen 310 may move as the steering wheel 311 turns and / or the driver's head turns. This may be accomplished, in part, by the dashboard 300 including a motorized sliding mechanism (not shown) for supporting the display screen 310. For example, the dashboard 300 may include a rail and the display screen 310 may include a motor with roller bearings constrained to move along the rail. The rail may further be of a curved shape such that the curved display screen 310 may be rotationally moved about a center of curvature of the display screen 310. In other words, the center of curvature of the rail and the center of curvature of the display screen 310 may be located on the same vertical line or, in some examples, may be coincident.

[0097] In one embodiment, the movement of the display screen 310 may be based on the rotation of the steering wheel 311. The magnitude of the displacement of the display screen 310 may vary linearly with the angle at which the steering wheel is rotated. In another embodiment, the dashboard 300 may include a camera that tracks the movement of the driver's head, or in some examples, the movement of the driver's eyes. As the driver's head or eyes move while driving the vehicle, the display screen 310 may move in response. Further details regarding a responsive digital mirror that tracks the driver's head and eyes may be found in U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 284,285, entitled "METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ADJUST A REACTIVE SYSTEM BASED ON A SENSORY INPUT AND VEHICLES INCORRATING SAME," filed April 9, 2021, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0098] 2B shows that cabin 200 may include a variety of other features, including, but not limited to, touch shift buttons 314 for selecting different modes of vehicle 100a (e.g., normal drive, reverse, neutral, park), a wireless charger 315 (e.g., for the driver's phone), and a cup holder 316. Cabin 200 may also include one or more speakers 312 and / or a storage pocket positioned near the driver's legs.

[0099] 2. Exemplary side door for improved accessibility The vehicle 100a may further provide greater ease of ingress and egress for both the driver and passengers. For example, Figures 3A-3D show that the vehicle body 110 may include a side door opening 115, and the vehicle 100a may include a corresponding side door 112 that is large enough to allow both the driver and passengers to enter and exit the vehicle 100a. This may be accomplished, in part, by removing the B-pillar 111 from the vehicle body 110 in order to advantageously incorporate the B-pillar 111 into the side door 112. For example, Figures 3A and 3B show that the side door 112 may include a shark fin structure 116 for coupling the B-pillar 111 to the side door body 113. When the side door 112 is closed, the combination of the integrated B-pillar 111 and the body of the side door 113 may structurally support the vehicle body 110 to the floor and ceiling in the same manner as the B-pillar of a conventional vehicle body.

[0100] The side door 112 may be a sliding automobile door coupled to the vehicle body 110. The vehicle 100a may generally include either one side door 112 located on the left or right side of the vehicle 100a, or two side doors 112 located on the left and right sides of the vehicle 100a. The B-pillar 111 may further separate two side windows 114 supported by the side door 112. Each window 114 may be independently raised and lowered. The side door 112, and in particular the shark fin structure 116, may also include an integrated side impact crash structure. FIG. 3C further illustrates that the shark fin structure 116 may include a door handle 119, an air vent 117 for the vehicle cabin 200, and a display screen 118. The display screen 118 may be used as part of a user interface system 150, as described in more detail below.

[0101] In some examples, the side door opening 115 may be sized and / or shaped to have a width and height sufficient to allow a wheelchair-bound passenger to enter and exit the vehicle 100a through the side door opening 115 without transferring from the wheelchair. For example, the side door opening 115 may have a width ranging from about 125 centimeters to about 190 centimeters, and a height ranging from about 115 centimeters to about 140 centimeters. When used to describe the dimensions of the vehicle 100a (e.g., the side door opening 115, the rear door opening 121), the term "about" is intended to cover variations due to manufacturing tolerances. For example, "120 centimeters" may correspond to the dimensional ranges of 118.8 to 121.2 cm (±1% tolerance), 119.04 to 120.96 cm (±0.8% tolerance), 119.28 to 120.72 cm (±0.6% tolerance), 119.52 to 120.48 cm (±4% tolerance), 119.76 to 120.24 cm (±2% tolerance), including all values ​​and subranges therebetween.

[0102] FIG. 4 shows that the vehicle 100a may include a ramp 142 coupled to the bottom side of the side door opening 115, so that a wheelchair-bound passenger may board directly into the cabin 200 through the side door opening 115. The ramp 142 may be a retractable ramp that is deployed manually or automatically via a motor when the vehicle 100a is parked. The ramp 142 may also be removable and deployable, for example, at the rear of the vehicle body 110. The vehicle 100a may further include restraints (not shown) for securing a wheelchair to the floor of the cabin 200 and / or restraints (not shown) for securing a passenger to a wheelchair. As shown, the vehicle 100a may also tilt to one side to provide greater ease of entry by reducing the distance between the floor of the cabin 200 and the ground, which reduces the angle between the ramp portion 142 and the ground. The tilting feature of the vehicle 100a is described in more detail below.

[0103] Furthermore, the central driving position may generally make it more difficult for the driver to enter and exit the vehicle because the driver's seat 210 is not located adjacent to the door. In the vehicle 100a, these difficulties may be addressed, in part, by making the driver's seat 210 movable to assist the driver in entering and exiting the vehicle 100a. For example, FIG. 3D shows that the driver's seat 210 may be moved between a "driving" position and an "access" position. The driving position corresponds to the central driving position when the driver is driving the vehicle 100a. By comparison, the access position may be located and oriented toward the side door opening 115 such that the driver faces toward the left side 101b of the vehicle 100a at an angle Θ relative to the forward facing direction of the driving position. The angle Θ may generally vary between about 45 degrees and about 90 degrees. In this manner, the driver's seat 210 may transition from the driving position to the access position as the driver enters and exits the vehicle 100a. Additionally, the access position may be used when the driver desires to access a side window, for example, to interact with an external device or system, such as a toll machine or drive-thru vendor.

[0104] Movement of the driver's seat 210 may be accomplished by a powered seat positioning system. For example, the seat positioning system may include one or more rails attached to, for example, the floor of the vehicle cabin 200 and a motorized drive system attached to the driver's seat 210, including one or more roller bearings to constrain the motorized drive system from moving along the rails. The rails may be oriented to move the driver's seat 210 toward the rear and sides (e.g., left side 101b and / or right side 101a) of the vehicle 100a, as shown in FIG. 3D. In one embodiment, the rails may be curved in shape so that the driver's seat 210 rotates as it transitions between the driving position and the access position. In another embodiment, the motorized drive system may also provide a rotational degree of freedom to rotate the driver's seat 210 about a vertical axis. Further details regarding the seat positioning system can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17 / 051,613, entitled “ARTICULATED VEHICLES WITH PAYLOAD-POSITIONING SYSTEMS,” filed on October 29, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety (hereinafter referred to as the '613 application).

[0105] 3. Exemplary Foldable Passenger Seat Vehicle 100a may be generally used for both ride sharing and package delivery services. This is facilitated, in part, by the central driving position, which provides more space for passengers and / or cargo, as described above. Additionally, vehicle 100a may include one or more passenger seats within cabin 200 that may be folded and rotated without being fixed in place within cabin 200 (see, e.g., passenger seat 220a in FIG. 1A). In this manner, passenger seats within vehicle 100a may be easily folded and stored without significantly constraining the shape and / or dimensions of the cargo space. Instead, the cargo space of vehicle 100a may be determined primarily by the shape and / or dimensions of vehicle body 110 that defines cabin 200.

[0106] 22A and 22B show an example of a foldable passenger seat 220b in an unfolded configuration disposed behind the driver's seat 210, while FIGS. 23A and 23B show the passenger seat 220b in a folded configuration. As shown, the passenger seat 220b includes a mounting frame 221 that is slidably coupled to one or more rails disposed on the floor 201 of the cabin 200 (see rails 227a, 227b, and 227c). As shown, the rails 227a, 227b, and 227c may be disposed on the floor 201 of the vehicle 100a. Each passenger seat 220b may be mounted to one or more of these rails. The passenger seat 220b further includes a seat base 222 rotatably coupled to the mounting frame 221 via a first hinge 223, a bracket 224 rigidly coupled to the seat base 222, and a seat back 226 rotatably coupled to the bracket 224 via a second hinge 225. In this embodiment, the passenger seat 220b has a span the width of the vehicle body 110 and can support up to three passengers. However, foldable passenger seats 220b implementing similar components and / or features as the passenger seat 220b of FIGS. 22A and 22B while accommodating fewer passengers are contemplated herein. For example, the passenger seat 220b of FIG. 1A, which supports one passenger, may be folded and / or unfolded in the same manner as the passenger seat 220b of FIGS. 22A and 22B, described in further detail below.

[0107] The mounting frame 221 is configured to slidably move along a path defined by rails 227a-227c, which in turn allows for adjustment of the position of the passenger seat 220b within the cabin 200 (see, e.g., translation axis 228a in FIG. 22B). In other words, the passenger seat 220b is not rigidly fixed in position within the cabin 200, unlike many conventional passenger seats 220b. FIG. 22B further illustrates that the first hinge 223 defines a first axis of rotation 228b, and the second hinge 225 defines a second axis of rotation 228c. The seat base 222 together with the bracket 224, the second hinge 225, and the seat back 226 may rotate about the first axis of rotation 228b relative to the mounting frame 221, and the seat back 226 may further rotate about the second axis of rotation 228c relative to the seat base 222 and the bracket 224. As shown, the first and second rotational axes 228b, 228c may be aligned parallel, but may be offset in part to a predetermined position (e.g., based on the length of the bracket 224) to provide sufficient clearance for the seat back 226 to rotate relative to the seat base 222 without excessive wear between the seat back 226 and the seat base 222. The first and second rotational axes 228b, 228c may also be oriented substantially horizontally.

[0108] The mounting frame 221 may be coupled to the rails 227a-c via one or more bearings. The mounting frame 221 may further include a motorized drive system (not shown) for slidably moving the passenger seat 220b along the rails 227a-c. The motorized drive system may be remotely controlled via a human operator (e.g., driver, passenger) using a set of controls on the seat or dashboard of the vehicle 100a. Alternatively, the mounting frame 221 may be manually shifted along the rails 227a-c using, for example, a manually actuated ratchet mechanism. The mounting frame 221 and rails 227a-c may further include a locking mechanism (not shown), such as a brake, to secure the passenger seat 220b in a particular position along the rails 227a-c that may be released when adjusting the position of the passenger seat 220b. Examples of bearings, motorized drive systems, and brakes may be found in the '613 application.

[0109] The first and second hinges 223 and 225 may have a variety of rotation mechanisms, including, but not limited to, mesh planetary gears, worm gear and planetary gear pairs, and pin joints with springs (e.g., radial or helical springs) and ratchet mechanisms. The rotation mechanisms may generally provide a locking mechanism (not shown) to secure the seat base 222 and / or seat back 226 at a desired angle. The rotation mechanisms of the first and second hinges 223 and 225 may also be motorized or manually operated.

[0110] The position of the passenger seat 220b, as well as the orientation of the seat base 222 and seat back 226, may be adjusted via the translation axis 228a and the first and second rotational axes 228b and 228c, for example, to change the passenger seat 220b between a folded and an unfolded configuration, and / or to adjust the passenger seat 220b to accommodate different passengers (e.g., moving the passenger back for passengers who prefer to have more leg space, rotating the seat back 226 for passengers who prefer to sit in a more reclined position). For example, FIGS. 22A and 22B show the passenger seat 220b in an unfolded configuration, which may be positioned toward the rear of the vehicle 100a. The seat base 222 may further be configured such that the top surface of the seat base 222 is angled. Θ1 , and the front of the seat back 226 is angled α 1 The angle may be oriented so as to be inclined upward toward the rear end of the vehicle 100a. Θ1 For example, when supporting a passenger, the angle α may range from about 0 degrees to about 15 degrees. 1 For example, when supporting a passenger, the angle may range from about 0 degrees to about 60 degrees.

[0111] 23A and 23B show another embodiment in which the passenger seat 220b in the folded configuration may be positioned toward the front of the cabin 200. For example, the mounting frame 221 may be at the end of the rails 227a-227c. The seat base 222 may be angled Θ such that the bottom side of the seat base 222 is toward the rear of the driver's seat 210. 22. In some examples, the folded configuration may result in a bottom side of the seat base 222 abutting the rear side of the driver's seat 210. However, it should be understood that the passenger seat 220b in the folded configuration may be positioned further rearward to provide sufficient clearance for the driver to easily enter and exit the vehicle 100a through the door opening 115 and / or sufficient clearance for the driver's seat 210 to move between the "drive" position and the "access" position. The seat back 226 is also angled α so that the front of the seat base 222 faces the top of the seat base 222 at an angle α. 2 The second rotation axis 228c can be rotated around the second rotation axis 228c so as to abut at an angle Θ2 For example, when supporting a passenger, the angle α may range from about 90 degrees to about 135 degrees. 2 For example, when supporting a passenger, the angle may range from about 45 degrees to about 90 degrees. Θ2 and α 2 The sum of may also be constrained to be equal to 180 degrees.

[0112] As shown in FIG. 23A, by positioning the passenger seats 220b toward the front of the cabin 200 and folding the seat base 222 and seat back 226, the vehicle 100a may provide a more uniform and continuous cargo space behind the passenger seats 220b, for example, to store packages when the vehicle 100a is used for package delivery services. In particular, the folded configuration of the passenger seats 220b provides cargo space that extends from the floor to the ceiling of the vehicle 100a and from the rear side of the seat back 226 to the tailgate 120 of the vehicle 100a. Furthermore, a larger cargo space may be provided without increasing the overall size of the vehicle 100a. Additionally, the orientation of the seat back 226 and seat base 222 may reduce unused pockets of space within the cabin 200, further increasing the cargo capacity of the vehicle 100a. As discussed above, locating the electric motor and / or other auxiliary systems on or below the floor of the vehicle 100a may enable the cabin 200 to have a substantially flat floor. These aforementioned aspects of the vehicle 100a may thus contribute to a substantially flat cargo space with dimensions defined primarily by the vehicle body 110 similar to a conventional delivery vehicle (e.g., a van or truck). For example, FIG. 24 illustrates the cabin 200 with the passenger seat 220b in a folded configuration with multiple packages located directly behind the passenger seat 220b.

[0113] 25A and 25B show additional views of passenger seat 220b in a folded configuration. FIGS. 26A-26G show passenger seat 220b transitioning from a folded configuration to an unfolded configuration. For example, FIG. 26A shows passenger seat 220b initially in a folded configuration in a first position along rails 227a-227c. When transitioning to the unfolded configuration, FIG. 26B shows that passenger seat 220b may initially be slidably moved along rails 227a-227c to a second position without rotating seat base 222 or seat back 226. FIG. 26C then shows passenger seat 220b in the second position. FIGS. 26D and 26E then show passenger seat 220b in a folded configuration in a first position along rails 227a-227c without rotating seat base 222 or seat back 226. Θ126F and 26G show that the seat back 226 may then rotate about the first axis of rotation 228a of the first hinge 223 until the seat back 226 is rotated at an angle α 1 2 shows that the seat back 226 can rotate about the second axis of rotation 228c of the second hinge 225 until

[0114] Similarly, Figures 27A-27D show passenger seat 220b transitioning from an unfolded configuration to a folded configuration, following the same steps described above. Specifically, Figure 27A shows the front of seat back 226 angled upwardly from seat base 222 at angle α 2 27B and 27C show the passenger seat 220b with the seat back 226 already folded down so that the seat base 222 then rotates about the first axis of rotation 228b of the first hinge 223. Θ2 Next, Figure 27D shows that the seat base 222 can be slidably moved along the rails 227a-227c from the second position back to the first position.

[0115] In the above embodiment, the passenger seat 220b includes a seat base 222 and a seat back 226 spanning the width of three seating positions, where the seat base 222 and seat back 226 rotate as one single component about a first axis of rotation 228b and a second axis of rotation 228c, respectively. However, it should be understood that the passenger seat 220b of FIGS. 22A-23B is a non-limiting example. In another embodiment, the passenger seat 220b may be segmented, where each seating position includes a separate mounting frame 221, seat base 222, bracket 224, and seat back 226. The seat base 222 and seat back 226 of each seating position may rotate about the first axis of rotation 228b and the second axis of rotation 228c independently of the other seat bases 222 and seat backs 226 of the other seating positions. The mounting frame 221 for each seating position can be further moved along the rails 227a-227c independently of the other mounting frames 221 for the other seating positions.

[0116] Further, it should be understood that the vehicle 100a is not limited to a single row of passenger seats 220b, but rather multiple rows of passenger seats 220b may be installed. For example, a second passenger seat 220b, which is identical to the first passenger seat 220b of FIG. 22A, may be installed toward the rear end of the vehicle 100a behind the first passenger seat 220b and attached to the same set of rails 227a-227c as the first passenger seat 220b. The second passenger seat 220b may also be folded in a manner similar to the first passenger seat 220b. In the folded configuration, the bottom side of the seat base 222 of the second passenger seat 220b may abut the rear side of the seat back 226 of the first passenger seat 220b instead of the rear side of the driver's seat 210. The driver's seat 210 may also be attached to a portion of the rails 227a-227c that support the passenger seat 220b. For example, vehicle 100a may include four rails (e.g., two inner rails and two outer rails) for supporting passenger seat 220b in Figures 22A and 22B. Driver seat 210 may be attached to the two inner rails and may slidably move fore and aft within cabin 200 in the same manner as passenger seat 220b.

[0117] 4. Exemplary suspension system for vehicle tilt and height adjustment As mentioned above, the vehicle 100a may generally include an electrically actuated suspension system 410 for each wheel that may further be integrated as part of the electric motor. As an example, FIG. 5 shows a platform 400 of the vehicle 100a having a pair of front wheels 130 and a pair of rear wheels 131, each powered by its own electric motor with an integrated electrically actuated suspension system 410 (see further details in the '895 application). Each of the electrically actuated suspension systems 410 may be independently controllable and configured to raise or lower a respective corner of the vehicle body 110 relative to the ground. It should be understood that each suspension system 410 may implement a locking mechanism to maintain a desired height.

[0118] The electrically actuated suspension system 410 may be used as part of an adaptive suspension system to improve ride quality during operation of the vehicle 100a. The suspension system 410 may also be used to adjust the ride height while the vehicle is in transit, for example to increase the clearance between the cabin floor and the ground if the vehicle is driving over rough terrain, or to reduce the vehicle's drag coefficient. For ride-sharing and package delivery services, the electrically actuated suspension system 410 may also be used to improve ease of ingress / egress and / or loading and unloading of packages by allowing the driver to adjust the height and orientation of the vehicle cabin 200 relative to the ground.

[0119] For example, FIG. 6A shows that the front of the vehicle 100a may be raised and the rear of the vehicle 100a may be lowered so that the vehicle 100a is tilted downward toward the rear side. This configuration may aid in loading and unloading packages through the rear door opening 121 of the vehicle 100a by reducing the floor height of the vehicle cabin 200 relative to the ground (also referred to as "step height"). In another example, FIG. 6B shows both the front and rear of the vehicle 100a lowered closer to the ground in a lowered position so that the floor of the vehicle cabin 200 is closer to the ground and level with the ground. In yet another example, FIG. 6C shows the vehicle 100a in a raised position that is typically used when operating the vehicle 100a, and FIG. 6D shows the vehicle 100a tilted to one side by lowering the left side 101b of the vehicle 100a and raising the right side 101a of the vehicle 100a. 6D further illustrates that ramp 142 may be coupled to side door opening 115 to facilitate ingress and egress for, for example, wheelchair-bound passengers (see, e.g., FIG. 4). It should be understood that vehicle 100a may also be configured to tilt in the opposite direction (e.g., by lowering right side 101a of vehicle 100a and raising left side 101b of vehicle 100a).

[0120] By providing a way to control the height of the vehicle body 110, and in particular the floor of the cabin 200, the electrically actuated suspension system 410 may provide different step heights as desired. For example, the step height of the vehicle 100a may be adjusted to accommodate different curvature heights when picking up and dropping off passengers or loading and unloading packages. The step height may be adjusted to align with the curvature so that passengers do not have to climb up and down to enter and exit the vehicle 100a. In another example, the step height may be adjusted to reduce the step height between the cabin floor and the road when passengers enter and exit the vehicle from and to the road, respectively. In another example, the step height may be adjusted to facilitate loading of a dolly with folding casters designed to enter the vehicle at a particular step height. In some examples, the vehicle 100a may provide step heights that comply with various access standards, such as Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. For example, the step height may be adjusted to be the same as the entrance step of a public bus.

[0121] In one embodiment, the height H of the cabin floor f (see FIG. 3A) may be nominally about 260 millimeters during operation of the vehicle 100a. Each of the electrically actuated suspension systems may adjust a corresponding corner of the vehicle cabin 200 by ± about 100 millimeters. In other words, each of the electrically actuated suspension systems 410 may have a total range of travel of about 200 millimeters. Therefore, each corner of the cabin floor may vary in height relative to the ground between about 160 millimeters and about 360 millimeters. The term "about," when used to describe variations in cabin floor height, is intended to encompass variations due to manufacturing tolerances. For example, "approximately 100 millimeters" may correspond to the dimensional ranges of 99-101 mm (±1% tolerance), 99.2-100.8 mm (±0.8% tolerance), 99.4-100.6 mm (±0.6% tolerance), 99.6-100.4 mm (±4% tolerance), 99.8-100.2 mm (±2% tolerance), including all values ​​and subranges therebetween.

[0122] 5. Exemplary Use Case for Vehicle Loading and Unloading Below, some exemplary use cases for adjusting the step height of the vehicle 100a are provided below. It should be understood that these use cases discussed below are non-limiting examples, and more generally, the adjustment of the step height of the vehicle 100a may be used in other applications where adjustment of the step height is beneficial.

[0123] FIG. 7 illustrates vehicle 100a with tailgate 120 in an open position on vehicle body 110 and at rear door opening 121. As shown, tailgate 120 may include an integrated rear bumper structure such that the underside of rear door opening 121 is aligned with the floor of vehicle cabin 200. In this manner, wheelchair-bound passengers, dollies, or carriages with wheels, and / or bicycles or motorcycles may be loaded and unloaded in and out of vehicle cabin 200 when ramp 142 is coupled to the bottom side of rear door opening 121. Additionally, vehicle 100a may be tilted such that the bottom side of rear door opening 121 is positioned closer to the ground, further improving ease of loading and / or unloading. Rear door opening 121 may have a width in the range of about 75 centimeters to about 125 centimeters, and a height in the range of about 100 centimeters to 140 centimeters. Ramp 142 may be a retractable ramp that is deployed manually or automatically via a motor when vehicle 100a is parked. For example, the ramp 142 may be constructed as an assembly of one or more sections that are folded and unfolded about a horizontal or vertical axis. The ramp 142 may also be removable and deployable, for example, to the bottom side of the side door opening 115 of the vehicle body 110.

[0124] In one example, Figure 8 is illustrated by showing that the vehicle 100a may tilt backward (see, e.g., Figure 6A) so that a wheelchair-bound passenger may enter or exit the vehicle 100a through the rear door opening 121. In some examples, the vehicle 100a may further include rails for guiding the wheelchair in and out of the vehicle 100a. As mentioned above, the vehicle 100a may also include restraints for securing the wheelchair to the vehicle 100a (e.g., mechanical stops deployed along the rails) and / or restraints for securing the passenger to the wheelchair.

[0125] In another embodiment, FIG. 9 shows vehicle 100b in a lowered position so that a wire parcel cage 160a having wheels may be rolled into or out of vehicle 100a through rear door opening 121 via ramp 142. Wire parcel cage 160a may generally carry a variety of packages for delivery or other cargo. As with the above embodiment, rails may also be used to guide the wire parcel cage in and out of vehicle 100a. Mechanical stops and / or other restraints may also be used to securely couple the wire parcel cage to vehicle 100a.

[0126] In yet another embodiment, FIG. 10A shows a vehicle 100b in a lowered position so that a wire parcel cage 160a with folding casters 161 can be rolled onto the vehicle 100a without a ramp. Specifically, the folding casters 161 can fold upon contact with the vehicle 100a as the vehicle 100a is loaded. The folding casters 161 can be automatically deployed, for example, via a spring mechanism, when the wire parcel cage is removed. FIG. 10B shows another exemplary embodiment container 160b with folding casters 161, which can be loaded and unloaded in the same manner as the wire parcel cage 160a of FIG. 10A.

[0127] 11A-11C show yet another embodiment of a catering unit 160c being unloaded from a vehicle 100a. The catering unit 160c may be used, for example, to set up a pop-up restaurant or a food stand at a party or street festival. As shown in FIG. 11A, the vehicle 100a may tilt backwards so that the catering unit 160c may be unloaded from the vehicle 100a via a ramp 142 through the rear door opening 121. FIG. 11B shows that the vehicle 100a may return to a raised position and the catering unit 160c may be electrically coupled to the vehicle 100a to receive power, for example, to power cooking devices (e.g., electric stoves, ovens), lighting, or point-of-service equipment. The catering unit 160c may further include one or more motors for deploying the catering unit 160c (e.g., by raising the ceiling of the catering unit). Alternatively, the catering unit 160c may be manually deployed by an operator. Finally, FIG. 11C shows a catering unit 160c that is fully deployed and powered by the vehicle 100a.

[0128] FIG. 12 shows yet another example of a modular container 170 that can be transported by the vehicle 100a and used as a local pick-and-return station for packages. The modular container 170 can be used to store different types of items (e.g., refrigerated / frozen items, medical supplies, small / large items). For example, the modular container 170 can be placed in a neighborhood or apartment building to facilitate package pickup and return. Periodically, a driver can drop off a new modular container 170 with packages for delivery and load the modular container 170 with packages into the vehicle 100a for transportation to the distribution center. The modular container 170 can include a common mechanical interface (e.g., rails, restraints) that securely couples the modular container 170 to the vehicle 100a, thus improving ease of loading and unloading into and from the vehicle 100a. In some examples, the modular container 170 can augment the operation of the vehicle 100a. For example, the modular container 170 may contain a battery pack for increasing the range of the vehicle 100a, or equipment specific to a particular application (eg, police or emergency equipment).

[0129] More generally, the vehicle 100a may include different modular fittings to accommodate different types of cargo to improve the ease and speed of loading and unloading, which in turn may increase the driver's productivity. The modular fittings may be tailored for various types of cargo, including, but not limited to, police equipment (e.g., flares, vehicle lockout tools), gardening equipment (e.g., lawn mowers), pool service equipment, carpentry equipment, sports equipment (e.g., golf clubs), road service equipment (e.g., vehicle jacks, spare wheels), emergency equipment (e.g., gurneys), passive or active cooling modules (e.g., additional air conditioning for passengers or cargo), equipment for storing food (e.g., ice cream) at chilled or freezing temperatures, camping modules (e.g., tents, cooking supplies), additional seats for passengers, and battery modules for the vehicle 100a or another vehicle (e.g., another vehicle 100a or a scooter).

[0130] Additionally, the modular fittings may be easily interchanged and / or replaced with different modular fittings as desired. For example, a driver may deliver packages during the weekdays and may have a first set of modular fittings installed to accommodate the wire parcel cage 160a and / or receptacle 160b described above. However, during weekends, the driver may provide ride-sharing services and thus may remove the first set of modular fittings and install a removable seat (e.g., seat 220a or 220b) or a second set of modular fittings to accommodate a wheelchair.

[0131] In some examples, the wire parcel cage 160a, the container 160b, and / or the modular units (e.g., the catering unit 160c) described above may also be electrically powered and battery powered to further improve ease of loading and unloading. Batteries may also be used to recharge the vehicle 100a's batteries and / or to extend the range of the vehicle 100a. This may be accomplished by incorporating self-positioning electrical connectors within the vehicle 100a and on the cargo, such as a set of complementary pogo pin connectors. Once the cargo is loaded and secured onto the vehicle 100a, the cargo's electrical connectors may automatically engage in a hands-free manner with connectors mounted on the vehicle cabin 200. The wire parcel cage 160a, the container 160b, and / or the modular units may also generate electricity (e.g., via one or more solar photovoltaic cells), for example, to charge the vehicle 100a's batteries.

[0132] It should be understood that vehicle 100a is a non-limiting example and other variations of vehicle 100a are contemplated herein. In another embodiment, FIG. 13 shows vehicle 100b configured as a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), where the size of the rear of the cabin is expanded to increase the cargo capacity of vehicle 100b. This, in turn, allows vehicle 100b to accommodate more and / or larger cargo. Vehicle 100b may incorporate some of the same features as vehicle 100a, particularly a central driving position, side doors 112 with integrated B-pillars 111, and / or an electric motor with integrated electrically actuated suspension system 410. For the sake of brevity, a repeated discussion of these features will not be provided below.

[0133] Passengers may enter and exit vehicle 100b in the same manner as vehicle 100a. Similarly, packages and / or other cargo may be loaded onto and unloaded from vehicle 100b in the same manner as vehicle 100a. For example, FIG. 14 shows vehicle 100b in a lowered position so that a wire parcel cage 160a with wheels may be loaded or unloaded via ramp 142. In another embodiment, FIG. 15 shows vehicle 100b in a lowered position so that a wire parcel cage 160a with folding casters 161 may be loaded or unloaded. In yet another embodiment, FIGS. 16A-16C show catering unit 160c being unloaded from vehicle 100b and deployed in the same manner as catering unit 160c of FIGS. 11A-11C. The catering unit 160c of FIGS. 16A-16C may be larger in size as compared to the catering unit 160c of FIGS. 11A-11C.

[0134] 6. Exemplary User Interface System for a Vehicle The vehicles disclosed herein may further include a user interface system that improves ease of operation of the vehicle and assists the driver in performing certain tasks associated with ridesharing and package delivery services.

[0135] In one embodiment, Figures 17A and 17B show a user interface system 150 integrated into the B-pillar 111 of the side door 112 above the shark fin structure 116 of the vehicle 100a. However, it should be understood that the user interface system 150 may be integrated into other areas of the vehicle 100a, such as the tailgate 120. The user interface system 150 may generally include a display screen (e.g., the display screen 151a on the shark fin structure 116, the second display screen 151b / 151c), a camera, and / or a user input device (e.g., a touch screen) located on the exterior of the vehicle 100a. In some examples, the user interface system 150 may also include a scanner (e.g., a barcode scanner) for scanning packages being loaded into or unloaded from the vehicle 100a.

[0136] The display screen 151a may be used to provide various notifications to the driver. In one embodiment, the display screen 151a may display a visual indicator that the vehicle 100a belongs to the driver, especially if the vehicle 100a is parked in a space with other identical vehicles 100a belonging to other drivers. This may be accomplished, for example, by the display screen 151a displaying a particular color, animation, or message when the driver is near the vehicle 100a. In another embodiment, the display screen 151a may also provide instructions to the driver when performing a particular task, such as instructions to use a scanner to scan packages being loaded into or unloaded from the vehicle 100a, or instructions regarding the delivery location and / or the manner in which the package should be provided by the recipient. Although the display screen 151a is shown disposed on the exterior of the vehicle in FIGS. 17A and 17B, it should be understood that the user interface system 150 may include a display screen disposed within the vehicle cabin 200. Additionally, the user interface system 150 may include multiple display screens located on the exterior of the vehicle 100a or within the vehicle cabin 200 and configured to display the same information.

[0137] The camera may be used, in part, to facilitate hands-free access of the vehicle 100a through facial recognition. For example, a proximity sensor in the vehicle 100a may trigger the camera to capture a video image when a person approaches the vehicle 100a. If the user interface system 150 determines that the video image of the person corresponds to the driver, the user interface system 150 may unlock the vehicle 100a and open the side door 112 for the driver. In another example, if the user interface system 150 determines that the video image captured by the camera indicates that the driver has left the vehicle 100a, the user interface system 150 may close the side door 112 and lock the vehicle 100a. Images or video images captured by the camera may also be displayed on a display screen of the user interface system 150 or another display screen (e.g., the dashboard 300) of the vehicle 100a.

[0138] The user input device may provide another way for the driver to interact with the user interface system 150. For example, the user input device may allow the driver to confirm when a package is completely loaded or to proceed to the next set of instructions when scanning a package for delivery.

[0139] In some examples, the user interface system 150 may also include an ambient display system 152 disposed within the vehicle cabin 200 and / or on the exterior of the vehicle 100a and having one or more light sources (e.g., LEDs, lasers) configured to illuminate a portion of the environment and / or display images or video images. The ambient display system 152 may assist the driver when loading or unloading packages when making a delivery, thus reducing or in some cases eliminating the lead time typically spent loading and unloading packages.

[0140] In one example, FIG. 18A shows that the perimeter display system 152 may display a map or floor plan on the ground next to the vehicle 100b to visually guide the driver to the location where the package is to be delivered (e.g., the correct door in an apartment complex). This may be accomplished, for example, by the user interface system 150 being communicatively coupled to the vehicle's navigation system or a third party service (e.g., Google Maps) (e.g., to obtain geographic information about the vehicle's surroundings) via a network connection provided by the vehicle or a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone) connected to the vehicle. In another example, FIG. 18B shows that the perimeter display system 152 may also direct light toward a delivery location in the environment. For example, the perimeter display system 152 may include a floodlight or laser to illuminate a door or mailbox in the environment to guide the driver. In yet another example, the perimeter display system 152 may illuminate a portion of the dashboard 300, or more broadly, a portion of the vehicle cabin 200, to indicate the delivery location to the driver while driving the vehicle 100a.

[0141] In yet another example, the perimeter display system 152 may display an image of the vehicle cabin 200 outside the vehicle 100a to show the driver where the packages will be located within the vehicle cabin 200 when making the delivery. Alternatively, the perimeter display system 152 may direct light (e.g., spotlights, lasers) toward the packages within the vehicle cabin 200 to allow the driver to quickly locate the packages. Additionally, the user interface system 150 may also assist the driver in loading the packages into the vehicle so that they can be efficiently loaded for later retrieval, depending in part on the order in which the packages are to be delivered. For example, the user interface system 150 may instruct the driver to load the packages such that some packages are accessible and others are inaccessible. The accessible packages may correspond to the first packages delivered. In another example, the user interface system 150 may instruct the driver to load the packages such that the last packages loaded are the first packages to be delivered (e.g., a last-in, first-out approach) or the last packages to be delivered (e.g., a first-in, first-out approach). The camera of the user interface system 150 may also capture an image of each package as it is loaded to determine the shape and dimensions of the package, allowing the ambient display system 152 to compensate for different sized packages in order to direct light more accurately to point at each package.

[0142] In addition to the user interface system 150, the vehicles disclosed herein may include other visual display devices located around the vehicle 100a, such as the dashboard 300 or the tailgate 120. For example, FIG. 19A shows that the vehicle 100b may include display screens on both the windshield (see display screen 151b) and the tailgate 120 (see display screen 151c). FIG. 19B further shows that the vehicle 100b may include high visibility tail lights and blinkers with separate directions and hazard light features using red, yellow, and / or amber lights. FIG. 20 shows that the vehicle 100a may also include a display screen 151b on the tailgate 120. These additional visual display devices may further operate together with the user interface system 150.

[0143] In one embodiment, the display screens 151a-151c shown in FIG. 19A may be used to display the charge status of the battery of the vehicle 100b to the driver. For example, the display screens 151a-151c may emit a green light as the driver approaches the vehicle 100b to indicate that the battery is nearly charged or fully charged, a red light may indicate that the battery is nearly charged and the vehicle 100b cannot be driven, or a yellow light may indicate that the battery is not fully charged but that the vehicle 100b can still be driven. In another embodiment, FIG. 20 shows that the display screen 151c may be used to provide a message to other individuals (e.g., other drivers, nearby pedestrians) near the vehicle 100a, such as that the vehicle 100a is about to stop or turn (e.g., to make a delivery, pick up or drop off a passenger). The display screens 151a-151c may also be used to display other information, such as emergency notifications (e.g., when the vehicle has an accident) or advertisements.

[0144] 7. Exemplary Vehicle Trailer The vehicles disclosed herein may also support trailers to further enhance vehicle sharing and package delivery services. For example, the trailers may provide space for passenger luggage. In another example, the trailers may provide additional cargo space to store packages for delivery. In yet another example, the trailers may enable the operator to simultaneously offer both ride sharing and package delivery services without modifying the vehicle itself (e.g., without modifying modular fittings or installing / removing passenger seats). In some examples, multiple trailers may be coupled to the vehicle. For example, a first trailer may be hitched to the vehicle and a second trailer may be hitched to the first trailer.

[0145] FIG. 21 illustrates one embodiment of a trailer 500 coupled to the rear side of a vehicle 100b using a hitch or another coupling mechanism. As shown, the trailer 500 may include a pair of wheels 510, at least one door 512 (e.g., a side door, tailgate), and a rear indicator 514. It should be understood that the trailer 500 illustrated in FIG. 21 is a non-limiting example and other trailers of various sizes are contemplated herein. For example, a trailer having four wheels may be hitched to the vehicle 100b.

[0146] The vehicles disclosed herein may generally have a towing capacity limited by the power of the electric motor. To offset these limitations, especially for larger and / or heavier trailers, the trailer 500 itself may include an electric motor for propelling the wheels 510, as well as a battery for powering the motor. For example, each of the wheels 510 of the trailer 500 of FIG. 21 may have an electric motor similar or identical to the electric motor used in the vehicle 100b. The trailer 500 may be communicatively coupled to the vehicle 100b such that the electric motor of the vehicle 100b is controlled based on the driver's input (e.g., steering, acceleration, braking input). Thus, the electric motor of the trailer 500 may provide additional power for moving the trailer 500 together with the vehicle 100b.

[0147] Additionally, each of the electric motors may be independently controllable, thus providing active steering to the trailer 500, where the rotational speed of one wheel 510 is varied relative to the other wheel 510. For example, the left wheel 510 may be provided with more power than the right wheel 510 to assist the trailer 500 in turning to the right (commonly referred to as a torque vectoring method). This may be accomplished by the electric motor for the right wheel 510 providing (1) less power to rotate the right wheel 510 in the same direction as the left wheel 510, (2) no power (e.g., the right wheel 510 is not actively driven), or (3) power to rotate the right wheel 510 in the opposite direction relative to the left wheel 510. The electric motor may also provide positive and / or negative torque vectors to stabilize the trailer 500, especially when the vehicle 100b is turning.

[0148] conclusion All parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are exemplary, and the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and / or configurations will depend on the particular application or applications in which the teachings of the invention are used. It is to be understood that the foregoing embodiments have been presented primarily by way of example, and that within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, the inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. The inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and / or method described herein.

[0149] In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods is within the inventive scope of the present disclosure, provided such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and / or methods are not mutually inconsistent. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the respective elements of the exemplary implementations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The use of numerical ranges does not exclude equivalents outside the ranges that fulfill the same function in the same way but produce the same result.

[0150] The above embodiments can be implemented in multiple ways. For example, the embodiments can be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof. When implemented in software, the software code can be executed on a suitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided on a single computer or distributed among multiple computers.

[0151] Further, it should be understood that the computer may be embodied in any of a number of forms, such as a rack-mounted computer, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or a tablet computer, etc. In addition, the computer may be embedded within devices that are not typically thought of as computers, but rather have suitable processing capabilities, including a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, or any other suitable portable or fixed electronic device.

[0152] A computer may also have one or more input and output devices. These devices can be used, among other things, to present a user interface. Examples of output devices that can be used to provide a user interface include a printer or display screen for a visual representation of the output, and a speaker or other sound generating device for an audible representation of the output. Examples of input devices that can be used for a user interface include keyboards and pointing devices such as mice, touchpads, and digitizer tablets. As another example, a computer may receive input information by voice recognition or in other audible formats.

[0153] Such computers may be interconnected by one or more networks of any suitable form, including a local area network, or a wide area network such as an enterprise network, an intelligent network (IN), or the Internet. Such networks may be based on any suitable technology and operate according to any suitable protocol, and may include wireless networks, wired networks, or fiber optic networks.

[0154] The various methods or processes outlined herein may be coded as software executable on one or more processors using any one of a variety of operating systems or platforms. In addition, such software may be written using any of a number of suitable programming languages ​​and / or programming or scripting tools, and may be compiled as executable machine code or intermediate code that runs on a framework or virtual machine. In some implementations, a particular operating system or platform, and one or more of a particular programming language and / or scripting tool may be specifically used to facilitate execution.

[0155] Also, various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, at least one example of which has been provided. The acts performed as part of a method may be ordered in a different manner in some examples. Thus, in some inventive implementations, the acts of a given method may be performed in a different order than specifically illustrated, and may include performing some acts simultaneously (even when such acts are shown in an example embodiment as sequential acts).

[0156] All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0157] All definitions and those used herein should be understood to control for any dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and / or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

[0158] The indefinite articles "a" and "an," as used herein in the specification and the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean "at least one."

[0159] As used herein and in the claims, the term "and / or" should be understood to mean "either or both" of the conjoined elements, i.e., elements that are conjunctive in some cases and disjunctive in other cases. Multiple elements listed with "and / or" should be interpreted in the same manner, i.e., "one or more" of the conjunctive elements. Other elements, whether related or unrelated to the elements specifically identified, may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the "and / or" clause. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to "A and / or B," when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as "comprising," may refer in one embodiment to only A (optionally including elements other than B), in another embodiment to only B (optionally including elements other than A), in yet another embodiment to both A and B (optionally including other elements), etc.

[0160] As used herein and in the claims, "or" shall be understood to have the same meaning as "and / or" as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, "or" or "and / or" shall be construed as inclusive, i.e., including at least one, but also more than one, of a number or list of elements, and optionally additional items not listed. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as "only one of" or "exactly one of," or "consisting of," when used in the claims, shall refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, as used herein, the term "or" shall only be construed to indicate exclusive alternatives (i.e., "one or the other but not both") when preceded by an exclusive term, such as "either," "one of," "only one of," or "exactly one of." "Consisting essentially of," when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

[0161] As used in this specification and claims, the phrase "at least one" in connection with a list of one or more elements should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed in the list of elements, and not excluding any combination of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows for the optional presence of elements other than those specifically identified in the list of elements to which the phrase "at least one" refers, whether related or unrelated to the specifically identified element. Thus, as a non-limiting example, "at least one of A and B" (or, equivalently, "at least one of A or B," or, equivalently, "at least one of A and / or B") can refer to at least one A (optionally including elements other than B), in one embodiment where B is absent, and optionally including two or more As; in another embodiment, at least one B (optionally including elements other than A), in which A is absent, and optionally including two or more Bs; in yet another embodiment, at least one A, optionally including two or more As, and at least one B (optionally including other elements), optionally including two or more Bs;

[0162] In the claims, as well as in the above specification, all transitional phrases, such as "comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing," "involving," "holding," "composed of," and the like, are to be understood as open-ended, i.e., meaning including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of" shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

Claims

1. a vehicle body defining a vehicle cabin; a pair of front wheels rotatably coupled to the vehicle body and defining a forward rotation axis, the pair of front wheels not mechanically linked to one another; A pair of rear wheels rotatably coupled to the vehicle body, the pair of rear wheels not being mechanically linked to each other; a plurality of electric motors, each electric motor of the plurality of motors disposed partially in the rim of a corresponding wheel of the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear wheels to provide propulsion to the wheel; a driver's seat disposed within the vehicle cabin and positioned along a centerline of the vehicle, the driver's seat being positioned sufficiently proximate to a front of the vehicle body such that, when the driver is seated in the driver's seat, the driver's heel point is located at or in front of the forward rotation axis.

2. the vehicle has a first length defined as the distance from a forward-most exterior portion of the vehicle to a rearward-most exterior portion of the vehicle; the vehicle cabin having a second length defined as a distance from a forward-most portion of the vehicle cabin to an aft-most portion of the vehicle cabin; 10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a ratio of said second length to said first length ranges from about 0.8 to about 0.

95.

3. the vehicle body includes a side door opening, The vehicle, a side door slidably coupled to the vehicle body, the side door having a closed position that blocks the side door opening and an open position that allows passage through the side door opening; 10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the side door has an integrally formed B-pillar.

4. 4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the side door opening has a width in the range of about 125 centimeters (cm) to about 190 cm, and a height in the range of about 115 cm to about 140 cm.

5. 4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the side door opening is the only opening located on one of the left or right side of the vehicle body.

6. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the driver's seat is slidably coupled to the vehicle body and movable between a first position in which the driver's seat faces the front side of the vehicle body and a second position in which the driver's seat is oriented to face a side door opening of the vehicle body and is positioned closer to the side door opening in the second position than in the first position.

7. 10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each electric motor of the plurality of electric motors includes an electrically actuated suspension system for at least one of raising and lowering one corner of the vehicle body a distance of approximately 100 millimeters.

8. 8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the floor of the vehicle cabin is disposed above the ground supporting the vehicle by a height of approximately 260 millimeters.

9. a user interface system disposed on the side door, A display screen; A user input device; Camera and The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a user interface system comprising: a scanner.

10. in combination with a trailer to form a vehicle trailer assembly, said trailer comprising: Trailer frame and a first wheel rotatably coupled to the trailer frame; a second wheel rotatably coupled to the trailer frame; a first electric motor coupled to the first wheel to drive the first wheel; a second electric motor coupled to the second wheel for driving the second wheel; a plurality of batteries coupled to the trailer frame for powering the first and second electric motors; The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electric motors are independently controllable.

11. an instrument panel beam coupled to the vehicle body having one or more cavities configured to transport air from an ambient environment surrounding the vehicle to the vehicle cabin; The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a dashboard directly coupled to the instrument panel beam.

12. a vehicle body defining a vehicle cabin and having a side door opening; a driver seat slidably coupled to the vehicle body and movable between a first position in which the driver seat faces a front side of the vehicle body and is equidistant from a right side of the vehicle body and a left side of the vehicle body, and a second position in which the driver seat is oriented to face the side door opening and is disposed closer to the side door opening in the second position than in the first position; a side door slidably coupled to the vehicle body, the side door blocking the side door opening in a closed position and allowing passage through the side door opening in an open position.

13. The vehicle further includes passenger seats disposed behind and to the sides of the driver's seat, 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the side door opening is configured to allow a person to enter the vehicle and sit in the driver's seat or the passenger seat through the side door opening.

14. 14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the passenger seat is at the same height as or higher than the driver seat.

15. 14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the side door includes an integrally formed B-pillar.

16. The passenger seat is a mounting frame slidably coupled to the vehicle body; a seat base coupled to the mounting frame such that the seat base is rotatable relative to the mounting frame about a first axis of rotation; 14. The vehicle of claim 13, comprising: a seat back coupled to the seat base such that the seat back is rotatable relative to the seat base about a second axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation.

17. 17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the first and second rotational axes are oriented horizontally.

18. the passenger seat has a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration; and When transitioning from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration, The mounting frame is slidably moved toward the driver's seat. the seat base rotates about the first axis such that a bottom side of the seat base abuts the driver's seat; or 17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the seat back rotates about the second axis such that a front side of the seat back abuts an upper side of the seat base.

19. a pair of front wheels rotatably coupled to the vehicle body and defining a forward rotation axis; 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the driver's seat is positioned in the first position such that a heel point of a driver seated in the driver's seat is located near the forward rotation axis.

20. a first front wheel rotatably coupled to a first corner of the vehicle body by a first electrically actuated suspension system; a second front wheel rotatably coupled to a second corner of the vehicle body by a second electrically actuated suspension system; a first rear wheel rotatably coupled to a third corner of the vehicle body by a third electrically actuated suspension system; a second rear wheel rotatably coupled to a fourth corner of the vehicle body by a fourth electrically actuated suspension system; 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth electrically actuated suspension systems is independently controllable and configured to adjust a respective height between the first, second, third, and fourth corners of the vehicle body and a ground supporting the vehicle.

21. 13. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a lamp coupled to a bottom surface of the side door opening.

22. A user interface system disposed on the side door, the user interface system comprising: A display screen; A user input device; A camera and 13. The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a user interface system comprising: a scanner.

23. A plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the vehicle body; a plurality of electric motors, each electric motor of the plurality of electric motors coupled to one of the plurality of wheels; a plurality of batteries coupled to the vehicle body for supplying power to the plurality of electric motors; 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein each wheel of said plurality of wheels is independently driven by one electric motor of said plurality of electric motors.

24. in combination with a trailer to form a vehicle trailer assembly, said trailer comprising: Trailer frame and a first wheel rotatably coupled to the trailer frame; a second wheel rotatably coupled to the trailer frame; a first electric motor coupled to the first wheel to drive the first wheel; a second electric motor coupled to the second wheel for driving the second wheel; a plurality of batteries coupled to the trailer frame for powering the first and second electric motors; 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the first and second electric motors are independently controllable.

Images