Perimeter Lighting Layout for Micromobility Vehicle Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Micromobility vehicles, such as electric scooters and powered bicycles, face safety concerns and are not permitted for road use in many countries due to visibility issues for other road users.
Innovation Solution
A wheeled road vehicle equipped with a lighting system that provides a zone of illumination extending along at least a major portion of both sides of the footprint and around the front end, enhancing visibility and communicating information to users and other road users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If micromobility vehicles are used for road travel to reduce carbon emissions and improve mobility, then environmental benefits and accessibility are improved, but safety and visibility to other road users deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independent light sources distributed around the vehicle perimeter (front, rear, and side lights), allowing each segment to contribute to overall visibility from different angles and directions, resolving the visibility-safety contradiction
Solution Approach 2:
Different lighting characteristics are applied to different locations on the vehicle - front lights provide illumination and presence indication, side lights enhance lateral visibility, and rear lights indicate position and direction, with each location optimized for its specific visibility challenge
2Reliability
If a lighting system is added to enhance visibility and safety, then safety and visibility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system performs multiple functions simultaneously - it provides visibility indication, communicates vehicle state (moving, stationary, braking), and serves as a safety warning to other road users, reducing the need for separate systems for each function
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple lighting functions (position indication, state communication, safety warning) are merged into a single integrated lighting system with coordinated light sources, simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining comprehensive safety functionality
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 lighting system significantly enhances the visibility of the vehicle to other road users, improving safety by providing a clear visual cue of the vehicle's presence and position, and allowing for communication of information regarding the vehicle's state or road conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a lighting system including one or more light sources for defining a zone of illumination extending along at least a major portion of both sides of the footprint, and around the front end of the footprint
Data Source
AI summary
A wheeled road vehicle has a main body with a front end and a rear end and defining two opposing sides extending between the front end and the rear end. A front wheel is located toward the front end and a rear wheel is located toward the rear end. The vehicle defines a footprint in plan view, the footprint having a front end, a rear end and opposing sides extending between the front end and rear end. The vehicle has a lighting system, the lighting system including one or more light sources for defining a zone of illumination extending along at least a major portion of both sides of the footprint and around the front end of the footprint.