Auxiliary Motor Control for Human-Powered Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Impulsive-type human-powered vehicles with auxiliary motors exhibit unusual behavior and require user interface devices, which can be distracting and lead to erroneous motor activation due to incorrect detection of user thrust, often triggered by factors other than user input.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses sensors to detect vehicle speed, acceleration, and slope to accurately determine the presence or absence of user thrust, controlling the auxiliary motor to mimic the vehicle's behavior without the user interface, thereby reducing unnecessary motor activation and maintaining natural vehicle behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the motor operation is commanded by interface devices such as levers or knobs, then the user can control the auxiliary motor, but the user becomes distracted and the vehicle behavior becomes unusual
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects user thrust presence/absence and controls motor operation without requiring user interaction with interface devices. The thrust detection unit senses whether the user is applying force to the vehicle, and the control unit automatically activates or deactivates the motor based on this detection, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for levers or knobs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical interface devices (levers, knobs) with an automated sensing and control system. The thrust detection unit uses sensors to detect mechanical thrust, and the control unit processes this information to automatically control the motor, substituting the mechanical control interface with an electronic sensing and control system.
2Extent of automation
If the thrust presence/absence is determined based on speed plot detection, then the system can activate/deactivate the motor, but erroneous assumptions occur when analogous speed plots are produced by causes different from thrust
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors vehicle speed and uses this feedback to detect changes in the speed plot that indicate user thrust. By analyzing the rate of change and pattern of speed variations, the system can distinguish between thrust-caused speed changes and those caused by other factors like slope changes or humps, reducing erroneous detections.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts its detection thresholds and parameters based on current operating conditions. Instead of using fixed speed plot criteria, the system adapts its detection sensitivity and decision-making parameters according to the vehicle's current state, improving its ability to accurately distinguish genuine thrust events from other speed variations.
Data Source
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Figure 3~5
AI summary
The present invention refers to a system (1) for controlling the motion of an impulsive-type human-powered vehicle (100), comprising: - a motor (2) associable to at least one vehicle (100) driving element, such as a driving wheel (3), suitable for generating a total torque/driving force (T); - a system (4) for storing energy to be supplied to the motor (2); - a sensor (5) for detecting the vehicle (1 00) longitudinal speed (v) suitable for generating a signal representative of said vehicle (100) longitudinal speed; - a module (7) for controlling a main torque/driving force (T') of the motor (2) based on at least the signal representative of the vehicle (100) longitudinal speed (v); - a module (9) for determining the vehicle longitudinal acceleration (Ax) suitable for generating a signal representative of the vehicle longitudinal acceleration: - a module (8) for estimating the presence or absence of a thrust (Fk) of the user on the vehicle (100) by a balance of the forces acting on the vehicle (100), estimated based on at least said signal representative of the longitudinal acceleration (Ax) of the vehicle, configured in order to supply to the main torque/driving force (T') controlling module (7): - an activation signal when it is estimated the absence of the thrust (Fk) of the user: - a deactivation signal when it is estimated the presence of the thrust (Fk) of the user.