Pitch-propelled vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle for carrying a user comprising:
- a board having an elongated dimension and a shorter dimension perpendicular to the elongated dimension;
a first ground-contacting member coupled with the board and configured to rotate about a first axis that is parallel to the shorter dimension;
a second ground-contacting member coupled with the board and configured to rotate about a second axis parallel to the shorter dimension, wherein the first and second ground-contacting members are adjacent to each other such that when at rest the first ground-contacting member and the second ground-contacting member have a resting alignment with respect to each other;
one or more deflection sensors coupled with the drive elements, wherein the deflection sensors determine a misalignment value of the first and second ground-contacting members by measuring a distance that the alignment of the first ground-contacting member and the second ground-contacting member deviates from the resting alignment; and
one or more motorized drive elements coupled with the first and the second ground-contacting members, wherein the drive elements;
determine a base rotational speed based on a pitch of the board about the first axis;
determine a tilt of the board about the elongated dimension based on the misalignment value; and
if the tilt exceeds a threshold value, cause the first ground-contacting member to rotate at a first velocity and the second ground-contacting member to rotate at a second velocity, wherein a difference between the first velocity and the second velocity is based on the tilt.
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Abstract
A method, system and apparatus for carrying a user including a board for supporting the user, a plurality of ground-contacting members coupled with the board, a motorized drive assembly coupled with the ground-contacting members and one or more sensors coupled with the drive assembly. In operation, the drive assembly adjusts the velocity of the ground-contacting member based on one or more distances of the board from a surface below the board as detected by the sensors.
174 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A vehicle for carrying a user comprising:
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a board having an elongated dimension and a shorter dimension perpendicular to the elongated dimension; a first ground-contacting member coupled with the board and configured to rotate about a first axis that is parallel to the shorter dimension; a second ground-contacting member coupled with the board and configured to rotate about a second axis parallel to the shorter dimension, wherein the first and second ground-contacting members are adjacent to each other such that when at rest the first ground-contacting member and the second ground-contacting member have a resting alignment with respect to each other; one or more deflection sensors coupled with the drive elements, wherein the deflection sensors determine a misalignment value of the first and second ground-contacting members by measuring a distance that the alignment of the first ground-contacting member and the second ground-contacting member deviates from the resting alignment; and one or more motorized drive elements coupled with the first and the second ground-contacting members, wherein the drive elements; determine a base rotational speed based on a pitch of the board about the first axis; determine a tilt of the board about the elongated dimension based on the misalignment value; and if the tilt exceeds a threshold value, cause the first ground-contacting member to rotate at a first velocity and the second ground-contacting member to rotate at a second velocity, wherein a difference between the first velocity and the second velocity is based on the tilt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a vehicle having an elongated board, the method comprising:
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providing a vehicle comprising; a board having an elongated dimension and a shorter dimension perpendicular to the elongated dimension; a first ground-contacting member coupled with the board and configured to rotate about a first axis that is parallel to the shorter dimension; a second ground-contacting member coupled with the board and configured to rotate about a second axis parallel to the shorter dimension, wherein the first and second ground-contacting members are adjacent to each other such that when at rest the first ground-contacting member and the second ground-contacting member have a resting alignment with respect to each other; one or more deflection sensors coupled with the drive elements, wherein the deflection sensors determine a misalignment value of the first and second ground-contacting members by measuring a distance that the alignment of the first ground-contacting member and the second ground-contacting member deviates from the resting alignment; and one or more motorized drive elements coupled with the first and the second ground-contacting members; and with the drive elements; determining a base rotational speed based on a pitch of the board about the first axis; determining a tilt of the board about the elongated dimension based on the misalignment value; and if the tilt exceeds a threshold value, causing the first ground-contacting member to rotate at a first velocity and the second ground-contacting member to rotate at a second velocity, wherein a difference between the first velocity and the second velocity is based on the tilt. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A motorized skateboard-like vehicle for carrying a user, the vehicle comprising:
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a board having an elongated dimension and a shorter dimension perpendicular to the elongated dimension; a first ground-contacting member coupled with the board and configured to rotate about a first axis that is parallel to the shorter dimension; a second ground-contacting member coupled with the board and configured to rotate about a second axis parallel to the shorter dimension, wherein the first and second ground-contacting members are adjacent to each other such that when at rest the first ground-contacting member and the second ground-contacting member have a resting alignment with respect to each other; one or more deflection sensors coupled with the drive elements, wherein the deflection sensors determine a misalignment value of the first and second ground-contacting members by measuring a distance that the alignment of the first ground-contacting member and the second ground-contacting member deviates from the resting alignment, and further wherein the board forms a perimeter around the first and second ground-contacting members; a plurality of distance sensors positioned on a bottom surface of the board and configured to measure a distance between the bottom of the board and a surface below the board; and one or more motorized drive elements coupled with the first and the second ground-contacting members, wherein the drive elements; determine a base rotational speed based on a pitch of the board about the first axis; determine a tilt of the board about the elongated dimension based on the misalignment value; and if the tilt exceeds a threshold value, cause the first ground-contacting member to rotate at a first velocity and the second ground-contacting member to rotate at a second velocity, wherein a difference between the first velocity and the second velocity is based on the tilt.
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Specification