Personal Vehicle Pair Mode Control for Courteous Doorway Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal vehicle control systems fail to seamlessly transition between user-following and autonomous modes while maintaining ergonomic comfort and pedestrian courtesy, especially in complex environments like doorways and crowded spaces.
Innovation Solution
A self-powered personal vehicle equipped with a mechanical drive system, sensors, and a controller that operates in pair mode to follow a user with hysteresis dynamics for ergonomic comfort and pedestrian courtesy, and switches to smart behavior mode for autonomous navigation through doorways and along learned paths, using a set of predefined door-passing and convoy behaviors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle follows the user with hysteresis dynamics in pair mode, then ergonomic comfort and pedestrian courtesy are improved, but the transition between modes and response to environmental changes becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle implements dynamic mode switching between pair mode and smart behavior mode based on environmental context. In pair mode, the vehicle follows the user with hysteresis dynamics that adapt to user movement patterns, providing ergonomic comfort. The system dynamically transitions to smart behavior mode when encountering doorways or obstacles, resolving the contradiction by making the control system adaptive rather than static
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors environmental sensors and user position to determine when to switch between pair mode and smart behavior mode. Feedback from sensors detecting doorways, obstacles, and user movement triggers appropriate mode transitions, managing the complexity through intelligent decision-making rather than mechanical complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle switches to smart behavior mode for autonomous navigation, then the ability to handle complex environments like doorways is improved, but the seamless transition and user-following capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle performs preliminary sensing and prediction to anticipate doorways and obstacles before reaching them. The controller uses sensor data to predict upcoming environmental features and proactively transitions to smart behavior mode in advance, ensuring smooth and reliable transitions rather than reactive switching that could cause instability
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that seamlessly manages transitions between pair mode and smart behavior mode. It coordinates the switching based on environmental context and maintains continuous vehicle operation, preventing abrupt mode changes that could compromise reliability while still achieving versatile environmental adaptation
3Ease of operation
If the vehicle maintains speed-dependent position behind the user in pair mode, then pedestrian courtesy and ergonomic comfort are improved, but the vehicle's ability to respond to obstacles and perform tucks increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle applies different control strategies in different spatial contexts. In open spaces, it maintains speed-dependent position behind the user for courtesy and comfort. When obstacles are detected, it locally adjusts by performing tucks or lateral movements. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction by applying complexity only where needed rather than throughout all operations
4Ease of operation
If the vehicle uses hysteresis dynamics to follow user trajectory, then ergonomic comfort is improved, but the latency in following movements may reduce responsiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle implements dynamic response characteristics that adapt to user behavior. Hysteresis dynamics provide smooth following that is comfortable for users, while the system dynamically adjusts response characteristics based on context. In smart behavior mode, response speed increases for autonomous navigation, resolving the contradiction by making response characteristics adaptive rather than fixed
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 vehicle effectively transitions between user-following and autonomous modes, ensuring ergonomic comfort and pedestrian courtesy, and efficiently navigates through doorways and along learned paths, enhancing user experience and safety in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
the vehicle follows, with hysteresis dynamics, a trajectory of such user, so as to exhibit latencies in following movements of the user in a manner consistent with ergonomic comfort of the user and third-party pedestrian courtesy
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a self-powered vehicle, comprising: a mechanical drive system, a set of sensors, and a controller coupled to the mechanical drive system to move the vehicle. The self-powered vehicle can operate in a plurality of modes, including a pair mode and a smart behavior mode. In pair mode the vehicle follows the trajectory of a user and in smart behavior mode the vehicle performs autonomous behavior. The self-powered vehicle operates with hysteresis dynamics, such that the movements of the vehicle are consistent with ergonomic comfort of the user and third-party pedestrian courtesy. The self-powered vehicle can operate with other self-powered vehicles in a convoy.