Powered vehicle convoying systems and methods of convoying powered vehicles
First Claim
1. A vehicle convoy system for use in connection with a powered vehicle adapted to provide mobility, the powered vehicle comprising at least one drive mechanism to impart drive to the powered vehicle and a controller in operative connection with the drive mechanism, the vehicle convoy system comprising at least a first processor adapted to be placed in communicative connection with the drive mechanism to effect control of the drive mechanism based upon data of the position of a leading vehicle in front of the powered vehicle, a tether to removably connect the powered vehicle to the leading vehicle, a length of the tether being variable when connecting the powered vehicle to the leading vehicle, and at least a first sensor associated with the tether and in communicative connection with the first processor to provide data to the first processor of the position of the leading vehicle so that the powered vehicle is adapted to move to follow movement of the leading vehicle when the powered vehicle is placed in connection with the leading vehicle via the tether, the leading vehicle being adapted to provide mobility independently from the powered vehicle when the powered vehicle is not tethered to the leading vehicle, the first processor of the powered vehicle convoying system being in communicative connection with the controller to transmit a signal to the controller based upon data of the position of the leading vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle convoy system for use in connection with a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes at least one drive mechanism to impart drive to the vehicle, includes at least a first processor that is adapted to be placed in operative or communicative connection with the drive mechanism to effect control of the drive mechanism based upon data of the position of a leading vehicle in front of the vehicle so that the vehicle moves to follow movement of the leading vehicle. The vehicle can, for example, be a self-propelled wheelchair.
85 Citations
41 Claims
- 1. A vehicle convoy system for use in connection with a powered vehicle adapted to provide mobility, the powered vehicle comprising at least one drive mechanism to impart drive to the powered vehicle and a controller in operative connection with the drive mechanism, the vehicle convoy system comprising at least a first processor adapted to be placed in communicative connection with the drive mechanism to effect control of the drive mechanism based upon data of the position of a leading vehicle in front of the powered vehicle, a tether to removably connect the powered vehicle to the leading vehicle, a length of the tether being variable when connecting the powered vehicle to the leading vehicle, and at least a first sensor associated with the tether and in communicative connection with the first processor to provide data to the first processor of the position of the leading vehicle so that the powered vehicle is adapted to move to follow movement of the leading vehicle when the powered vehicle is placed in connection with the leading vehicle via the tether, the leading vehicle being adapted to provide mobility independently from the powered vehicle when the powered vehicle is not tethered to the leading vehicle, the first processor of the powered vehicle convoying system being in communicative connection with the controller to transmit a signal to the controller based upon data of the position of the leading vehicle.
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25. A vehicle for providing mobility, comprising:
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at least one drive mechanism to impart drive to the vehicle; at least one controller in communicative connection with the drive mechanism to control the drive mechanism; at least one convoying system in communicative connection with the controller, the convoying system comprising a tether of variable length to removably connect the vehicle to a leading vehicle in front of the vehicle and at least a first sensor associated with the tether to provide data of the position of the leading vehicle, the convoying system being adapted to transmit a signal to the controller based upon the data of the position of the leading vehicle so that the vehicle is adapted to move to follow movement of the leading vehicle, the leading vehicle being adapted to provide mobility independently from the vehicle when the vehicle is not tethered to the leading vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A vehicle convoy comprising:
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at least one leading vehicle; and at least one trailing vehicle positioned behind the leading vehicle, the trailing vehicle comprising at least one drive mechanism to impart drive to the trailing vehicle;
at least one controller in communicative connection with the drive mechanism to control the drive mechanism; and
at least one convoying system in communicative connection with the controller, the convoying system comprising a tether of variable length to removably connect the trailing vehicle to the leading vehicle and at least a first sensor associated with the tether to provide data of the position of the leading vehicle, the convoying system being adapted to transmit a signal to the controller so that the trailing vehicle is adapted to move to follow movement of the leading vehicle, the leading vehicle being adapted to provide mobility independently from the trailing vehicle when the trailing vehicle is not tethered to the leading vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A method of grouping at least one trailing vehicle and at least one leading vehicle in a convoy comprising:
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positioning the trailing vehicle behind the leading vehicle, the trailing vehicle comprising at least one drive mechanism to impart drive to the vehicle;
at least one controller in communicative connection with the drive mechanism to control the drive mechanism; and
at least one convoying system in communicative connection with the controller, the convoying system comprising a tether of variable length to removably connect the trailing vehicle to the leading vehicle and at least a first sensor associated with the tether to provide data of the position of the leading vehicle,connecting the tether between the trailing vehicle and the leading vehicle; causing the convoying system to transmit a signal to the controller so that the trailing vehicle is adapted to move to follow movement of the leading vehicle, the leading vehicle being adapted to provide mobility independently from the trailing vehicle when the trailing vehicle is not tethered to the leading vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification