Human-Powered Vehicle Control Device for Dynamic Force Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing human-powered vehicle control systems fail to effectively adapt to varying driving forces, leading to uncomfortable travel experiences due to inadequate integration of human power and electric assistance, particularly in managing transmission ratios and suspension settings.
Innovation Solution
A human-powered vehicle control device with an electronic controller that adjusts electric components, including motors, transmissions, suspensions, and seat posts, based on total driving force thresholds to optimize travel comfort by reducing load, minimizing speed changes, and stabilizing the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the control device adjusts transmission ratio based only on human-power driving force, then the control system remains simple, but the vehicle cannot adapt to varying total driving force including motor assistance
Solution Approach 1:
The control device merges human-power driving force and motor assistance force into a unified total driving force parameter. By integrating both force sources and controlling the transmission ratio based on their combined effect, the system achieves comprehensive adaptability to the vehicle's actual traveling state without requiring separate control loops for each force source.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device continuously monitors the total driving force (human-power + motor assistance) and dynamically adjusts the transmission ratio in response to changes in this combined parameter. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to varying traveling conditions, including different road gradients and speeds, by optimizing the transmission ratio based on real-time total driving force measurements.
2Ease of operation
If the transmission ratio changes frequently to reduce rider load, then rider comfort improves, but unnecessary speed changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically adjusts the transmission ratio based on the total driving force requirements. By making the transmission ratio variable rather than fixed, the system can optimize gear selection in real-time to reduce rider load during high-effort conditions while maintaining speed stability during normal operation, thereby improving rider comfort without causing unnecessary speed fluctuations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the control device integrates motor assistance force into transmission control, then vehicle adaptability improves, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device serves multiple functions by monitoring the total driving force for both transmission ratio control and motor assistance coordination. This multi-functional approach allows the system to adapt to varying traveling conditions while using a unified control logic that manages both human-power and motor-assisted modes, thereby reducing overall control complexity despite the increased adaptability requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A human-powered vehicle control device is a control device of a human-powered vehicle. The human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller configured to control an electric component that is different from a motor providing a propelling force to the human-powered vehicle and that is provided in the human-powered vehicle. The electric component is controlled in accordance with a total driving force including a human-power driving force applied to a drive train of the human-powered vehicle and an assistance force by the motor.