Dock Charging Collar for Fast Personal Mobility Vehicle Turnaround

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Solution Overview

Problem

Personal mobility vehicles, such as electric bicycles and scooters, often require frequent recharging and maintenance, leading to reduced availability and efficiency in dynamic transportation networks, as they need to be taken out of service for charging, which can increase downtime and reduce user satisfaction.

Innovation Solution

A charging system featuring a collar with a charging connector that securely interfaces with a dock using a gravity-based interaction, allowing for easy docking and charging of personal mobility vehicles without mechanical action, thereby reducing downtime and increasing availability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If personal mobility vehicles are frequently taken out of service for recharging and maintenance, then the vehicles can maintain operational readiness, but the availability and efficiency of the transportation network deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational readinessVSAvoidtransportation network efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables vehicles to automatically dock and recharge without requiring service center visits. The automated dock detects vehicle arrival, establishes electrical connection, and initiates charging autonomously, allowing vehicles to service themselves and return to the network quickly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical docking and connection processes with an automated system using sensors, motors, and control systems. The dock automatically aligns, connects electrical contacts, and manages charging, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Use of energy by moving object

If personal mobility vehicles are taken out of service for recharging, then the battery can be recharged, but the time vehicles spend out of service increases and availability to users decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery charge levelVSAvoidvehicle downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs charging during periods when vehicles are not actively being used by customers. The automated dock identifies available vehicles and initiates charging proactively, ensuring vehicles are recharged before they would otherwise become unavailable, thereby minimizing impact on user availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Vehicles autonomously return to docks and initiate charging without manual intervention. The system self-manages the recharging process, reducing the time vehicles spend out of service by eliminating manual handling and queueing at service centers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Use of energy by moving object

If traditional charging infrastructure is used, then vehicles can be charged, but the complexity of docking and charging procedures increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging capabilityVSAvoiddocking procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex manual docking procedures with an automated electromechanical system. Sensors detect vehicle presence and alignment, motors adjust dock position, and control systems manage electrical connections automatically, simplifying the user experience to merely placing the vehicle near the dock.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The automated dock is designed to accommodate multiple vehicle types and models through adaptive sensing and positioning. The system performs multiple functions including vehicle detection, alignment, electrical connection, and charging management within a single integrated unit, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system enhances the efficiency and availability of personal mobility vehicles by simplifying the charging process, reducing clutter in public areas, making vehicles easier to locate, and minimizing theft and vandalism, while improving the user experience by providing accessible charging points.

Implementation Method 1

the collar and a corresponding receiving element in the dock may be shaped such that the collar fits securely in the receiving element without requiring mechanical action by the collar or receiving element and only requiring a user to push the personal mobility vehicle straight into the dock

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity-based interaction: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11752890B2Apparatus, systems, and methods for charging personal mobility vehicles via docks

Publication Date: 2023.09.12 LYFT INC

AI summary

The disclosed apparatus may include a collar for charging a personal mobility vehicle via a dock. In some embodiments, the collar may be fitted with a charging connector that interfaces with a dock that charges the personal mobility vehicle when the personal mobility vehicle is docked. In one embodiment, the collar and a corresponding receiving element in the dock may be shaped such that the collar fits securely in the receiving element without requiring mechanical action by the collar or receiving element and only requiring a user to push the personal mobility vehicle straight into the dock. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.