Wheel-Triggered Battery Wake-Up for Shared Micromobility Vehicles

Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in powering and waking up shared micromobility vehicles, such as scooters and bicycles, due to manual activation requirements that can be confusing and lead to incorrect assumptions about vehicle operability, especially when the vehicle is immobilized.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that uses a dynamo associated with the wheel to detect movement exceeding a threshold, transmitting a signal to a control module, which then activates the battery from an off state to an on state without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a manual activation button is used to power on the vehicle, then the battery can be controlled to turn on, but the user experience becomes confusing and difficult especially when the vehicle is immobilized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of vehicle activationVSAvoidcomplexity of activation process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically detecting wheel movement and pre-activating the battery before the user needs to operate the vehicle. The control module monitors wheel rotation and automatically powers on the battery when movement is detected, eliminating the need for manual button pressing and solving the confusion associated with immobilized vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by enabling the vehicle to automatically detect its own activation needs through wheel movement sensors and autonomously power on the battery without requiring user intervention. The control module serves itself by monitoring system state and automatically managing battery activation based on detected wheel rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of energy

If the vehicle remains in battery-off state to conserve energy, then energy is preserved, but the user receives no indication that the vehicle is ready to ride

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery energy consumptionVSAvoidvehicle readiness indication

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically detecting wheel movement and pre-activating the battery before the user needs to operate the vehicle. The control module monitors wheel rotation and automatically powers on the battery when movement is detected, eliminating the need for manual button pressing and solving the confusion associated with immobilized vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by using wheel movement detection as a trigger signal to activate the battery. The control module continuously monitors wheel rotation and provides feedback-based activation - when the sensor detects that the wheel has rotated a certain amount, it automatically powers on the battery, creating a responsive feedback loop between user action and system state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If users attempt to move the immobilized vehicle without powering it on, then they can test vehicle operability, but they waste effort and may damage the vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle operability assuranceVSAvoidtime wasted on failed attempts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically detecting wheel movement and pre-activating the battery before the user needs to operate the vehicle. The control module monitors wheel rotation and automatically powers on the battery when movement is detected, eliminating the need for manual button pressing and solving the confusion associated with immobilized vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the manual mechanical activation process (pressing buttons or switches) with an automated sensor-based detection system. The control module uses electronic sensors to detect wheel movement and automatically triggers battery activation, substituting the mechanical user interaction with an electronic sensing and control system that is more reliable and provides immediate feedback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Facilitates easy and reliable power-up of micromobility vehicles based on detected movement, enhancing user experience and reducing operational confusion.

Implementation Method 1

a dynamo associated with the wheel and configured to transmit a first signal based at least on a detection of one or more movements of the wheel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS12496928B2Wheel movement trigger for battery wake-up systems and methods

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 LYFT INC

AI summary

A micromobility transit vehicle may include a wheel, a dynamo, a control module, and a battery. The dynamo may be associated with the wheel and configured to transmit a first signal based at least on a detection of one or more movements of the wheel that meets or exceeds a threshold movement of the wheel. The control module may be configured to receive the first signal transmitted by the dynamo. The control module may be configured to transmit a second signal upon receiving the first signal from the dynamo. The battery may be configured to receive the second signal transmitted by the control module. The second signal may cause the battery to wake from a battery-off state to a battery-on state.