Electric Vehicle Acceleration-Based User Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric walking aids for elderly and disabled individuals require a grip sensor to determine user operation, increasing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An electric vehicle with a brake unit and control unit that determines user operation based on acceleration thresholds, eliminating the need for a grip sensor by using speed and inclination sensors to assess whether the user is gripping or operating the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a grip sensor is provided on the handle portion to detect user gripping, then the walking aid device can determine whether a user is operating the device, but the cost of the walking aid device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the grip sensor from the handle portion and replaces it with an acceleration sensor mounted on the main body of the walking aid device. This extraction eliminates the need for sensors at the handle while maintaining the ability to detect user operation through acceleration patterns, thereby reducing device cost while preserving operational determination reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The acceleration sensor serves multiple functions: it detects both the presence of user operation and the operational state of the device. By using a single sensor type for multiple detection purposes, the invention reduces the overall sensor count and system complexity, leading to cost reduction while maintaining reliable user operation determination
2Reliability
If a grip sensor is provided on the handle portion to detect user gripping, then the walking aid device can determine whether a user is operating the device, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the grip sensor from the handle portion and replaces it with an acceleration sensor mounted on the main body of the walking aid device. This extraction eliminates the need for sensors at the handle while maintaining the ability to detect user operation through acceleration patterns, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving operational determination reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of detecting user gripping and detecting device operation into a single acceleration sensor system. By combining these detection functions into one sensor and its associated processing logic, the invention reduces the number of separate sensor systems needed, thereby simplifying the overall device architecture and reducing complexity
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
Enables cost-effective determination of user operation without a grip sensor, preventing accidental movement and simplifying the device's structure while ensuring safety and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
an acceleration sensor for sensing acceleration of the electric vehicle
Data Source
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AI summary
One object is to provide an electric vehicle (10) capable of determining, without using a grip sensor or the like, whether a user is operating the electric vehicle (10), and a method of braking the same. An electric vehicle (10) includes a wheel or an endless track (13) provided on a frame (11), a brake unit (20) for braking the wheel or the endless track (13), and a control unit (16) for controlling the brake unit (20). Based on a change in acceleration of the electric vehicle (10), the control unit (16) determines whether a user is operating the electric vehicle (10).