Electric Bicycle Adaptive Pushing-Aid With Sensor-Derived Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric bicycles with pushing-aid controllers often set a constant pushing speed that may be too high for a person on an incline, exceeding their walking speed, and require complex force sensors to determine interaction forces.
Innovation Solution
An electric bicycle with an adaptive pushing-aid controller that uses sensors for inclination, speed, torque, and weight to determine interaction forces, adjusting motor assistance based on these factors without needing additional hardware complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a constant pushing speed is set in pushing mode, then the pushing-aid function can be implemented, but the speed may be too high for the person pushing on an incline
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a constant pushing speed to an adaptive pushing speed that dynamically adjusts based on real-time sensor data. The controller continuously monitors inclination angle, interaction force, and current speed to calculate and adjust the target pushing speed, ensuring it remains appropriate for varying terrain and user capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using sensors to detect inclination angle and interaction force, then feeding this information back to the controller. The controller processes this feedback to calculate the appropriate target speed and adjusts the motor assistance accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If force sensors are used to determine interaction forces, then adaptive pushing-aid can be achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making existing sensors serve multiple functions. The inclination sensor not only detects slope but also contributes to interaction force determination. The motor torque and speed data, originally for propulsion control, are repurposed to calculate interaction force during pushing. This eliminates the need for dedicated force sensors while maintaining adaptive capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by having the system use its own operational data (motor torque, speed, inclination) to determine interaction force and adjust pushing-aid. Rather than requiring external force sensors, the system leverages data already being collected for its primary function, making the solution self-sufficient and cost-effective.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to determine interaction force from inclination, torque, speed, and weight, then accurate adaptive control is achieved, but the cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by calculating interaction force through mathematical relationships between existing parameters (inclination angle, motor torque, speed, and weight) rather than directly measuring it. The controller uses these parameters in a calculation formula to derive interaction force, achieving accurate determination without adding force measurement sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric bicycle includes a front wheel, a rear wheel, an electric traction motor which drives the front and/or rear wheel, a traction battery which supplies the electric traction motor with electrical power, a controller for actuating the electric traction motor, a pushing-aid controller for controlling an adaptive pushing-aid function which is assisted by the electric traction motor depending on an interaction force between a person pushing and the electric bicycle, an inclination sensor for determining an inclination angle of the electric bicycle relative to the ground, a traction-motor torque determining device for determining a current traction-motor torque, an electric-bicycle speed sensor for determining a current electric-bicycle speed, and an electric-bicycle weight memory which stores a current electric-bicycle weight value. The interaction force is determined by the pushing-aid controller from the inclination angle, the current traction-motor torque, the current electric-bicycle speed, and the current electric-bicycle weight value.