Golf Cart Motion Limits Using IMU Grade Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric golf carts restrict maximum speed as a safety measure, but this can be unsafe on steep hills and results in longer travel times on flat terrain when speed limits are universally reduced.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that uses inertial measurement units (IMUs) to adjust maximum motion limits, such as speed, acceleration, and deceleration, based on the current physical attributes of the golf cart, like pitch and roll, to ensure safer speeds on inclines while allowing higher speeds on flat terrain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lower overall top golf cart speed is programmed to ensure safety, then safety is improved, but travel time increases significantly on flat terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the speed limit adjustable rather than fixed. The motor controller dynamically changes the maximum speed limit based on real-time terrain detection. When flat terrain is detected, the cart operates at higher speeds for efficiency. When steep terrain is detected, the cart automatically reduces speed for safety. This resolves the contradiction by making the speed limit adaptive to conditions rather than uniformly restricted.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the speed parameter based on terrain conditions. The system detects terrain slope and adjusts the maximum speed limit parameter accordingly. On flat terrain, the speed parameter is set higher to reduce travel time. On steep terrain, the speed parameter is reduced to ensure safety. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between safety and travel time efficiency.
2Productivity
If a higher overall top golf cart speed is programmed for efficiency, then travel time is reduced on flat terrain, but safety is compromised on steep hills
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the speed limit based on real-time terrain detection rather than using a fixed high speed limit. The motor controller continuously monitors terrain conditions and adapts the maximum speed accordingly. This allows the cart to achieve high productivity on suitable flat terrain while maintaining safety on steep hills through automatic speed reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having the motor controller detect terrain conditions and use this information to adjust the speed limit. The system receives feedback about the current terrain slope and modifies the speed parameter in response. This feedback mechanism ensures that productivity is maximized on flat terrain while safety is maintained on steep terrain through automatic speed adjustments.
3Reliability
If GPS geofencing is used to lower top speed in certain areas, then safety is improved on steep hills, but system complexity and reliance on external hardware increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the terrain detection function from external GPS hardware and implements it directly in the motor controller using onboard sensors. Instead of relying on GPS geofencing with external hardware and pre-defined locations, the system uses the motor controller's existing capabilities to detect terrain slope and adjust speed locally. This reduces system complexity and eliminates reliance on external GPS hardware while maintaining safety improvements.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor controller performs terrain detection and speed adjustment itself without requiring external GPS hardware or pre-configured geofence data. The system uses its own sensors and processing capabilities to detect terrain conditions and automatically adjust the speed limit. This self-service approach reduces system complexity and eliminates dependency on external hardware while achieving the same safety objective.
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
This approach allows for safer operation on steep slopes by reducing speed limits when necessary, while maintaining convenience and speed on flat surfaces, thereby enhancing both safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
such maximum motion limits may be enforced by one or more inertial measurement units (IMUs)
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques control a utility vehicle. Such techniques involve setting a set of maximum motion limits imposed on the utility vehicle to a set of initial values. Such techniques further involve receiving a set of input signals from a set of sensors, the set of input signals indicating a set of current physical attributes of the utility vehicle. Such techniques further involve, based on the set of input signals, changing at least one maximum motion limit of the set of maximum motion limits from an initial value to an updated value which is different from the initial value.