Tracked Vehicle Platform Steering by Body Weight Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal tracked vehicles require standing operation, which compromises stability, comfort, and user experience, especially for inexperienced users, and limits accessibility due to the need for balance and skill.
Innovation Solution
A personal tracked vehicle designed for horizontal operation with a pivotally mounted platform allowing users to lie down, featuring a mechanism that adjusts track speeds based on body weight shifts for steering, using continuously variable transmissions to enable smooth steering and stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the vehicle is operated in a standing position, then the vehicle structure can be simplified, but the stability and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the operating position from vertical (standing) to horizontal (lying down), changing the dimension in which the user interacts with the vehicle. This dimensional change allows the user's body weight to be applied laterally across the platform, creating natural steering control while improving stability and comfort during operation.
2Device complexity
If the vehicle is operated in a standing position, then the vehicle design can be simpler, but the user comfort and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the operating posture from standing to lying down, the patent enables users to utilize their body weight naturally for steering control, eliminating the need for complex control mechanisms and improving both comfort and ease of operation simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle design allows the user's body weight and position to directly control the steering mechanism without requiring additional controls. The user's natural movement while lying down automatically translates into steering input, making the vehicle self-steering and easier to operate.
3Ease of operation
If the platform is made pivotally movable for horizontal operation, then the user comfort improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is designed with pivotal mounting that allows dynamic adjustment of the platform angle relative to the vehicle body. This dynamic configuration enables the platform to adapt to different operating conditions and user positions, improving comfort while using a relatively simple mechanical linkage system.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a personal tracked vehicle comprising a platform mounted on top of a housing, the platform having central body, front flat members and rear flat members and a central axis. The platform is pivotally mounted to housing along the axis and pivotally movable between a first position and a second position. A pair of parallel right and left tracks is mounted to the housing below the platform, the right track being coupled to a right track drive and the left track being coupled to a left track drive. The track drives are operatively coupled to the platform such that when the platform is pivoted towards its first position, the left track is driven faster and the right track is driven slower, and when the platform is pivoted towards its second position, the right track is driven faster and the left track is driven slower.