Inverted Two-Wheeled Vehicle Grip Decoupling for Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inverted two-wheeled vehicles do not effectively restore the sense of balance, as they allow riders to rely too heavily on the grip handle for control, limiting the engagement of balance muscles, especially in horizontal and forward/rearward movements.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a pair of freely inclined riding parts and a grip part that cannot be used as an input during turning, requiring active weight shifting and prohibiting horizontal movement of the grip, with an elastic member providing unstable support to enhance balance challenges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the grip part is made movable in the horizontal direction to work with the riding parts during turning, then the ease of operation is improved, but the effectiveness in restoring the sense of balance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the horizontal movement function from the grip part, making it fixed in the horizontal direction while allowing vertical movement. This separation ensures that the grip part cannot be used for horizontal turning input, forcing the rider to use foot placement on the riding parts for horizontal balance control, thereby improving balance restoration effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the grip part movable in the horizontal direction to facilitate turning, the patent inverts this approach by fixing the grip part in the horizontal direction. This inversion forces the rider to rely on foot placement and weight distribution for horizontal control, reversing the conventional wisdom and achieving better balance restoration.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the grip part is fixed rigidly to the vehicle body, then the stability is improved, but the effectiveness in restoring the sense of balance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by allowing the grip part to move vertically while prohibiting horizontal movement. This dynamic constraint creates an unstable feeling in the horizontal direction, forcing the rider to actively engage balance muscles to maintain stability, thereby improving balance restoration while maintaining acceptable stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the movement parameters of the grip part by restricting horizontal movement while allowing vertical movement. This parameter change creates a specific type of instability that challenges the rider's balance in the horizontal direction, improving balance restoration effectiveness while maintaining sufficient stability for safe operation.
3Ease of operation
If the rider can rely on the grip part for support during turning, then the ease of operation is improved, but the engagement of balance muscles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the horizontal support function from the grip part, making it incapable of providing horizontal support during turning. This forces the rider to use foot placement and core muscles for horizontal balance control, thereby increasing balance muscle engagement while maintaining ease of operation through the modified grip mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by designing the grip part to automatically provide only vertical support while prohibiting horizontal movement. This self-imposing constraint forces the rider to actively engage balance muscles for horizontal control, eliminating the need for additional active balancing efforts and improving overall balance restoration effectiveness.
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 configuration enhances balance restoration by necessitating active weight shifts and improving balance in both horizontal and forward/rearward directions, making the vehicle more effective for rehabilitation purposes.
Implementation Method 1
The grip part is supported by the inverted two-wheeled vehicle body via an elastic member
Data Source
AI summary
An inverted two-wheeled vehicle includes: an inverted two-wheeled vehicle body; a pair of step plates, a rider putting both feet on the pair of step plates; a parallel link mechanism that links the pair of step plates so that the pair of step plates are inclined to the right or the left in unison; a handle that is supported by the inverted two-wheeled vehicle body; and a controller that controls a turning movement of the inverted two-wheeled vehicle according to an inclination of the pair of step plates in the horizontal direction. The handle is supported by the inverted two-wheeled vehicle body so that the handle does not work with the pair of step plates when the step plates are inclined to the right or the left.