Saddle Height Control Using Acceleration and Inclination Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling the height of a bicycle saddle based on the vehicle's speed and operation status are not sufficiently nuanced, potentially leading to instability during mounting or dismounting and inefficient force transmission during travel.
Innovation Solution
A method that continuously measures lateral inclination and acceleration over specific time intervals to determine the vehicle's state, adjusting the saddle height into travel or mounting positions only when stable conditions are met, using a drive mechanism within the saddle tube connected to a threaded rod or pinion for precise vertical displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the saddle height is adjusted based solely on speed threshold, then the control system is simple, but the system stability during mounting/dismounting is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of mounting/dismounting situations using acceleration and inclination sensors before adjusting saddle height. By detecting the rider's approach and departure movements in advance, the system prepares the saddle position proactively, ensuring stability during the critical mounting and dismounting phases rather than reacting after the fact.
Solution Approach 2:
The saddle height adjustment system transitions from static speed-threshold-based control to dynamic multi-parameter control. The system continuously monitors acceleration, lateral inclination, and speed to dynamically adjust saddle position based on the current operational state, improving responsiveness and stability during transitions between mounting, dismounting, and riding states.
2Ease of operation
If the saddle remains in mounting position during travel, then mounting/dismounting is convenient, but force transmission efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The saddle height is dynamically adjusted based on detected operational state. During mounting and dismounting, the saddle remains in the lower position for convenience. Upon detecting stable riding conditions through acceleration and inclination sensors, the system automatically raises the saddle to the upper position to optimize force transmission efficiency during travel.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to continuously monitor acceleration and lateral inclination, providing feedback about the current operational state. This feedback loop enables the control system to determine when the rider has mounted stably and when to transition the saddle from mounting position to travel position, ensuring optimal performance for each operational phase.
3Speed
If the saddle is raised during unstable mounting phase, then travel position is achieved, but accident risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of mounting stability using acceleration and inclination sensors before raising the saddle. By identifying the mounting phase through detected movements and ensuring stability criteria are met in advance, the system prevents premature saddle elevation that could compromise rider safety during unstable mounting conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prevents the harmful action of raising the saddle during unstable mounting by detecting mounting-phase characteristics through sensors. The control logic actively prevents saddle elevation when instability is detected, counteracting the potential harmful effect before it can occur.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a drive for displacing a saddle into a travel or a mounting position, comprising measuring an acceleration and a lateral inclination of the two-wheeled vehicle continuously within a first time interval and a speed of the two-wheeled vehicle after the first time interval; carrying out a first acceleration comparison, which checks whether the acceleration is greater than a minimum positive acceleration, at least for a second time interval; carrying out a first speed comparison if the first acceleration comparison is positive, the first speed comparison checks whether the speed is higher than a minimum speed; displacing the saddle into the travel position if the first speed comparison is positive; and carrying out a second acceleration comparison if the first acceleration comparison is negative, the second acceleration comparison checks whether the acceleration is less than a minimum negative acceleration at least for a third time interval.