Robot for driving an automobile on a chassis dynamometer
First Claim
1. A robot for driving a vehicle on a chassis dynamometer comprising:
- a robot body;
a controller that includes a control unit and a driver unit and is connected to the robot body;
actuation means including accelerator pedal actuator means for actuating an accelerator pedal of the vehicle;
ignition key actuator means for operating a vehicle ignition key;
a main power source connected to the driver unit; and
an emergency power source connected to the driver unit and to the accelerator pedal actuation means and to the ignition key actuator means to provide emergency actuator control signals which return the accelerator pedal to a null position under power from the emergency power source when power from the main power source fails and turn the ignition key and stop an engine of the vehicle after the accelerator is returned to the null position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A robot for driving a vehicle safely stops the vehicle'"'"'s engine even in the event of an accident such as an electric power failure or operating error. A robot body is provided with an ignition key-operating actuator consisting of a holder member for holding an ignition key of an automobile, a shaft for turning the holder member, and a motor for driving the shaft. An actuator for operating an accelerator pedal may be returned to a zero point by an emergency power source provided within a control unit, after which the key actuator operates the ignition key to stop the engine, for example, when a power source for the control unit is turned off. In this case, if it is dangerous to stop the engine, it is not necessary to do so.
44 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A robot for driving a vehicle on a chassis dynamometer comprising:
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a robot body; a controller that includes a control unit and a driver unit and is connected to the robot body; actuation means including accelerator pedal actuator means for actuating an accelerator pedal of the vehicle; ignition key actuator means for operating a vehicle ignition key; a main power source connected to the driver unit; and an emergency power source connected to the driver unit and to the accelerator pedal actuation means and to the ignition key actuator means to provide emergency actuator control signals which return the accelerator pedal to a null position under power from the emergency power source when power from the main power source fails and turn the ignition key and stop an engine of the vehicle after the accelerator is returned to the null position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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5. A method for test driving a vehicle by robot on a chassis dynamometer comprising the following steps:
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mounting a robot body in a driver'"'"'s area of a vehicle with an accelerator pedal actuator adjacent to a vehicle accelerator pedal; mounting an ignition key actuator on a vehicle ignition key; detecting cut-off of an emergency power supply; and applying power from an emergency source to the accelerator pedal actuator and to the ignition key actuator to return the accelerator pedal to a zero point and to turn the vehicle ignition key to an off position to stop the vehicle'"'"'s engine after the accelerator pedal has been returned to the zero point upon detection of cut-off of the main power supply. - View Dependent Claims (4, 6, 7)
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Specification