Swiveling EV Seating for Multi-Directional Tight-Space Maneuvering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicles face challenges in maneuvering in tight spaces due to limitations in reversing and sideways movement, which can cause inconvenience to the operator and increase the risk of motion sickness or anxiety.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle movement management system that enables electric vehicles to move in multiple directions, including reverse and sideways, by independently controlling each wheel and automatically adjusting the seating area orientation to align with the direction of movement, thereby enhancing the operator's field of view and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle moves in reverse direction for extended time duration, then the vehicle can navigate narrow or tight spaces, but the vehicle operator experiences inconvenience and motion sickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by rotating the sitting area 180 degrees to face the rear of the vehicle when moving in reverse direction. This allows the operator to face the direction of motion even while the vehicle travels backward, eliminating motion sickness and improving comfort while maintaining the ability to navigate tight spaces
2Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle operator drives in reverse direction, then the vehicle can move backward to find alternative route, but the operator has inadequate field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The sitting area is inverted by rotating 180 degrees to face the rear of the vehicle during reverse movement. This positional inversion gives the operator a direct forward view in the direction of motion, providing adequate field of view and eliminating the information loss associated with backward driving
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle moves in sideways direction, then the vehicle can navigate tight spaces more effectively, but the sitting area orientation does not align with movement direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the sitting area rotatable to dynamically adjust its orientation based on the direction of vehicle movement. When moving sideways, the sitting area rotates to face the direction of motion, maintaining alignment between the operator's facing direction and the vehicle's movement direction, thereby improving ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the orientation parameter of the sitting area based on the vehicle's movement direction. By detecting the movement direction and adjusting the sitting area angle accordingly, the system maintains optimal alignment between the operator and direction of travel, enhancing comfort and control in multi-directional movement
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle including a sitting area, a transceiver and a processor is disclosed. The sitting area may be configured to swivel about a sitting area axis. The transceiver may be configured to receive a user request to move the vehicle in a first direction. The processor may be configured to obtain the user request and determine a sitting area orientation based on the first direction responsive to obtaining the user request. The processor may further cause the sitting area to swivel to the determined sitting area orientation. The processor may be additionally configured to obtain a user input to maneuver vehicle movement in the first direction responsive to causing the sitting area to swivel to the sitting area orientation, and cause the vehicle to move in the first direction based on the user input.