Adjustable Wheelbase Mobility Device for Speed Maneuverability Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small mobility devices with four wheels face a trade-off between linear driving performance and turning radius, making them unsuitable for both low-speed indoor and high-speed outdoor use, as the inter-axis distance affects stability and maneuverability.
Innovation Solution
A mobility device with a base panel and wheels that can rotate 90° to change driving direction, featuring a controller to adjust wheel orientation and braking, allowing for independent motor control and force sensor feedback for mode switching between low-speed and high-speed modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the inter-axis distance is increased to improve linear driving performance, then the turning radius becomes long and cornering in narrow alleys becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the inter-axis distance adjustable rather than fixed. The wheel positions are configured to be movable between a first position (providing first inter-axis distance for high-speed outdoor driving) and a second position (providing second inter-axis distance for low-speed indoor driving). This allows the system to dynamically adapt the inter-axis distance based on driving conditions, resolving the contradiction between linear driving performance and turning radius.
2Ease of operation
If the inter-axis distance is decreased to improve turning radius and ease of parking, then linear driving performance decreases making the device inappropriate for high speed driving
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by enabling the inter-axis distance to be dynamically changed based on driving mode requirements. The control unit adjusts the wheel positions between first and second positions, allowing the system to switch between configurations optimized for turning (short inter-axis distance) and configurations optimized for linear high-speed driving (long inter-axis distance).
3Reliability
If the wheel position is fixed to optimize for one driving mode, then the device cannot adapt to different driving conditions requiring different inter-axis distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing a dynamic wheel position adjustment mechanism controlled by a control unit. The system can switch between a first wheel position (optimized for high-speed outdoor driving with longer inter-axis distance) and a second wheel position (optimized for low-speed indoor driving with shorter inter-axis distance), thereby maintaining reliability in each mode while achieving adaptability across different driving conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing the wheel position system to serve multiple functions: it provides a first configuration for high-speed outdoor driving and a second configuration for low-speed indoor driving. This multi-functional design allows a single device to reliably perform across different driving modes without requiring separate specialized devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobility device is provided and includes a base panel that supports a passenger. A plurality of wheels are disposed at a plurality of points of the base panel and are coupled to the base panel to be rotated with respect to a vertical axis. A rotary portion provides a rotational force to rotate the wheel with respect to the base panel. Additionally, a braking portion is disposed on the rotary portion to adjust the plurality of wheels to be rotated with respect to the base panel or positions of the plurality of wheels to be fixed.