E-bike Controller Adjusts Motor Ratio for Natural Ride
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing human-powered vehicle control devices fail to effectively adjust the motor assistance in response to changing travel resistance, leading to an unnatural riding experience and potential excessive motor output.
Innovation Solution
A human-powered vehicle control device with an electronic controller that adjusts the motor's power ratio relative to the rider's input force, allowing for changes in travel resistance to be felt naturally, with features like sensor detection of travel resistance components and adjustable control modes to manage motor output within predetermined limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the motor output is increased to assist propulsion, then the vehicle can overcome travel resistance more easily, but the rider cannot feel the change in travel resistance and the riding experience becomes unnatural
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically adjusts the motor output based on detected travel resistance changes. When travel resistance changes are detected, the control device modifies the motor's power contribution to create a noticeable transition for the rider, making the system adaptive rather than static
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from travel resistance detection to control motor output. The travel resistance detection unit continuously monitors resistance changes, and this information feeds back to the control device, which adjusts motor assistance accordingly to maintain natural riding feel
2Device complexity
If the motor assistance ratio is kept constant, then the control system is simple, but the motor output may exceed predetermined values under high travel resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The motor assistance ratio is dynamically adjusted based on travel resistance levels. The control device modifies the ratio from a first value to a second value when travel resistance changes are detected, allowing the system to respond to varying conditions rather than maintaining a fixed ratio
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control where travel resistance detection triggers adjustments to the motor assistance ratio. This ensures motor output remains within predetermined limits by continuously monitoring conditions and adjusting assistance accordingly
3Ease of operation
If the motor output is reduced to maintain natural riding feel, then the rider can feel travel resistance changes, but the vehicle may struggle to overcome high travel resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different motor output levels based on travel resistance conditions. During normal conditions, lower assistance maintains natural feel, while during detected resistance changes, the system adjusts output to provide adequate propulsion power
Solution Approach 2:
The control device periodically assesses travel resistance conditions and adjusts motor output accordingly. This periodic evaluation allows the system to alternate between maintaining natural riding feel and providing enhanced power when needed
Data Source
AI summary
A human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller configured to control a motor that assists in propulsion of a human-powered vehicle in accordance with a human driving force input to the human-powered vehicle. The electronic controller is configured to change a ratio of a power of the motor to a power of the human driving force and control the motor so that a change amount of the travel resistance differs from a change amount of the power of the motor upon determining a travel resistance of the human-powered vehicle has changed.