Gravity-Docking Collar for Shared Vehicle Charging Docks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Personal mobility vehicles often require frequent recharging, leading to reduced availability and inefficiencies in dynamic transportation networks, as they spend significant time out of service for charging, which affects user experience and network efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A charging system featuring a collar with a gravity-based interaction mechanism that securely docks personal mobility vehicles to charging stations, allowing for easy and stable charging without mechanical intervention, reducing downtime and enhancing vehicle availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If personal mobility vehicles are frequently taken out of service for recharging, then the vehicles can maintain operational capability, but the availability and efficiency of the transportation network deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging actions by providing charging docks at strategic locations where vehicles can be recharged during idle periods between trips. This allows vehicles to be ready for service before needed, rather than waiting for charging after depletion, thereby maintaining network efficiency while ensuring operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Charging docks serve as intermediary elements between power sources and personal mobility vehicles. These docks enable rapid recharging during brief idle periods, allowing vehicles to quickly return to service and maintaining high network availability without requiring extended charging downtime.
2Use of energy by moving object
If personal mobility vehicles spend more time charging, then battery capacity can be maintained, but vehicle availability to users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables rapid charging that skips through the lengthy charging process by providing high-power charging docks that can quickly replenish battery capacity during brief idle periods. This rushes through the charging requirement in minimal time, maintaining vehicle availability while ensuring adequate battery capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Vehicles are charged preliminarily during idle periods between trips rather than waiting for complete battery depletion. This preliminary charging approach maintains adequate battery capacity while minimizing the time vehicles spend out of service, as charging occurs proactively during naturally occurring idle time.
3Ease of operation
If charging docks are deployed in public areas, then vehicle accessibility improves, but security risks from theft and vandalism increase
Solution Approach 1:
Charging docks are designed as multi-functional elements that provide both charging capability and security features. The docks can lock vehicles during charging, provide surveillance, and serve as controlled access points, thereby maintaining public accessibility while mitigating security risks through integrated protective functions.
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 improves the efficiency and availability of personal mobility vehicles by minimizing charging time, reducing clutter, and enhancing user experience through simplified docking and increased security against theft and vandalism.
Implementation Method 1
a collar with a gravity-based interaction mechanism that securely docks personal mobility vehicles to charging stations
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed apparatus may include a mount component that is mountable to a structural component of a personal mobility vehicle and a dock interface component that is adapted to securely interface with a dock via an interaction between the dock interface component and the dock. The mount component is mountable to any of at least one type of bicycle at a first position and at least one type of scooter at a second position. A docking point of the dock is configured to be interfaceable with any of the at least one type of bike at the first position and the at least one type of scooter at the second position. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.