SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSISTING THE DRIVER OF A BIOMECHANICALLY DRIVEN VEHICLE INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE WHEEL

• US 20120310442A1
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission), Movea
• Original Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission), Movea
• Inventors: Doutaz, Jérôme, Riche, Stéphanie, Jobert, Thimothée
• Granted Patent: US 9,267,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/12 executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/002 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/487 delivered by rotating magnets

Abstract

A system assists the driver of a biomechanically-driven vehicle comprising at least one wheel (R). The system includes a means (DET1) for determining the speed of the vehicle, another means (DET) for determining the heading of the vehicle, a magnetometer (M) with at least two measurement axes for supplying data to determine the heading of the vehicle, and a means for supplying information relating to a movement of the vehicle, based on the speed of the vehicle, the slope of the rolling surface, and the heading of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for assisting the driver of a vehicle comprising a biomechanical drive comprising at least one wheel, the system comprising:

first means for determining the speed of the vehicle;

second means for determining the heading of the vehicle;

a magnetometer with at least two measurement axes supplying data for determining the heading of the vehicle; and

means for supplying information relating to a movement of the vehicle, based on the speed of the vehicle, a slope of the rolling surface, and the heading of the vehicle.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, in which said second determination means is also configured to determine the slope of the rolling surface.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first determination means comprises said magnetometer, said wheel of the vehicle being provided with a magnetic signature representative of a perimeter of said wheel of the vehicle.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first determination means comprises said magnetometer and magnetic means for creating a magnetic signature of said wheel of the vehicle.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said magnetic means comprises at least one magnet provided with fastening means configured to couple to said wheel of the vehicle, in proximity to the rim.

6. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first means for determining the speed of the vehicle comprises means for learning or for recognizing the magnetic signature of said wheel of the vehicle.

7. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first means for determining the speed of the vehicle comprises means for detecting spikes on signals from measurement axes of said magnetometer, based on detections of local extrema of said measurement signals and on an amplitude threshold.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for supplying information relating to the movement of the vehicle comprises a cartographic device, said system also comprising third means for determining a point of departure and a point of arrival of the vehicle.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said third determination means comprises a display screen, at least a stored geographic map, and means for the user to directly select points of departure and of arrival on said map.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said third determination means comprises a receiver of data delivered by a satellite navigation system to determine a point of departure.

11. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said third determination means comprises a receiver of data delivered by a fixed device with short-distance transmission for determining a point of departure.

12. The system as claimed in one claim 1, wherein said first determination means further comprises first means for correcting signals from measurement axes supplied by said magnetometer, based on an estimation of magnetic disturbances due to the vehicle.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second determination means comprises a triaxial accelerometer.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second determination means further comprises second means for correcting signals from measurement axes supplied by said accelerometer, based on an estimation of a specific acceleration of the vehicle.

15. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an external device for fastening said system onto the vehicle in proximity to said wheel.

16. A cell phone comprising an integrated system as claimed in claim 1.

17. A method for assisting a driver of a biomechanically-driven vehicle comprising at least one wheel, the method comprising:

determining a speed of the vehicle;

determining a heading of the vehicle;

receiving measurements from a magnetometer with at least two measurement axes, to determine the heading of the vehicle; and

supplying information relating to a movement of the vehicle, based on the speed of the vehicle, a slope of a rolling surface, and the heading of the vehicle.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising determining the slope of the rolling surface.

19. A computer-readable media comprising program code configured to perform the method of claim 17.

20. A kit comprising a computer-readable media as claimed in claim 19, at least one magnet provided with a fastening means configured to couple with a wheel of a vehicle in proximity to a rim, and an external device for fastening onto the vehicle in proximity to said wheel.