Control of a personal transporter based on user position
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A controller for a transporter having at least one primary ground-contacting element, the transporter characterized by a roll angle, the controller comprising:
- a. an input adapted to receive specification by a user of a desired yaw, yaw rate, and direction of motion of the transporter, at least the desired yaw and yaw rate being based on a detected body orientation of the user;
b. a pitch state estimator for sensing a pitch of the transporter and outputting a pitch state signal; and
c. a processor of a kind that generates a command signal governing motion of the at least one ground-contacting element based at least on the user-specified yaw and yaw rate received by the input, in conjunction with the pitch state signal based on the pitch of the transporter, in such a manner as to maintain balance of the transporter in the course of achieving the specified yaw and direction of motion of the transporter.
3 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A controller for providing user input of a desired direction of motion or orientation for a transporter. The controller has an input for receiving specification by a user of a value based on a detected body orientation of the user. User-specified input may be conveyed by the user using any of a large variety of input modalities, including: ultrasonic body position sensing; foot force sensing; handlebar lean; active handlebar; mechanical sensing of body position; and linear slide directional input. An apparatus that may include an active handlebar is provided for prompting a rider to be positioned on a vehicle in such a manner as to reduce lateral instability due to lateral acceleration of the vehicle.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A controller for a transporter having at least one primary ground-contacting element, the transporter characterized by a roll angle, the controller comprising:
-
a. an input adapted to receive specification by a user of a desired yaw, yaw rate, and direction of motion of the transporter, at least the desired yaw and yaw rate being based on a detected body orientation of the user; b. a pitch state estimator for sensing a pitch of the transporter and outputting a pitch state signal; and c. a processor of a kind that generates a command signal governing motion of the at least one ground-contacting element based at least on the user-specified yaw and yaw rate received by the input, in conjunction with the pitch state signal based on the pitch of the transporter, in such a manner as to maintain balance of the transporter in the course of achieving the specified yaw and direction of motion of the transporter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification