Feedback system for electric motorcycles

• US 8,897,959 B1
• Filed: 02/26/2013
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Incorporated (Bombardier Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Faster Faster Inc.
• Inventors: Sweney, Robert W., Dorresteyn, Derek, Blain, Christopher Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Alex C
• Application Number:
  US13/777,905
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2026/022 with tactile feedback from a controller, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/36 Cycles; Motorcycles; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal

Abstract

The embodiments herein describe a feedback system for an electric motorcycle. The feedback system notifies a user of the electric motorcycle of various conditions of the electric motorcycle via one or more output devices. In one embodiment, the feedback system causes a throttle mechanism of the electric motorcycle to vibrate in response to the electric motorcycle being in an on state.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing feedback to a user of an electric motorcycle, the method comprising:

receiving an indication that the electric motorcycle is turned on;

in response to the indication, causing vibration at a throttle mechanism of the electric motorcycle while the electric motorcycle is at zero speed to indicate to the user that the electric motorcycle is turned on; and

halting the vibration at the throttle mechanism in response to the electric motorcycle moving.

2. A computer-implemented method for providing feedback to a user of an electric motorcycle, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of a condition of the electric motorcycle being turned on;

accessing a plurality of feedback policies responsive to the indication, each feedback policy describing a type of feedback to provide to the user in response to a corresponding condition of the motorcycle;

identifying, from the plurality of feedback policies, a feedback policy associated with the condition of the electric motorcycle being turned on, the identified feedback policy describing a vibration type feedback at a throttle mechanism of the electric motorcycle;

in response to said indication, causing vibration at the throttle mechanism of the electric motorcycle while the electric motorcycle is at zero speed to alert the user of the condition of the electric motorcycle being turned on based on the identified feedback policy; and

halting the vibration at the throttle mechanism in response to the electric motorcycle moving.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the feedback policy associated with the condition describes an intensity of the vibration at the throttle mechanism, a frequency of the vibration at the throttle mechanism, and a duration of the vibration at the throttle mechanism.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a second indication of a second condition of the electric motorcycle;

identifying a feedback policy associated with the second condition, the feedback policy describing a vibration type feedback at the throttle mechanism;

causing a second vibration at the throttle mechanism based on the feedback policy associated with the second condition while the electric motorcycle is moving.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, the method further comprising:

receiving a second indication of a second condition of the electric motorcycle;

identifying a feedback policy associated with the second condition, the feedback policy describing a vibration type feedback at the throttle mechanism;

halting the vibration at the throttle mechanism associated with the condition that the electric motorcycle is turned on;

causing a second vibration at the throttle mechanism based on the feedback policy associated with the second condition, the second vibration distinct from the vibration indicating that the electric motorcycle is turned on; and

resuming the vibration at the throttle mechanism while the electric motorcycle is at zero speed, the vibration associated with the condition that the electric motorcycle is turned on.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the second condition indicates that a speed of the electric motorcycle is above a threshold speed.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the second condition indicates that a charge of a battery of the electric motorcycle is below a threshold charge.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the second condition indicates a loss of traction of the electric motorcycle.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the second condition indicates global positioning system related commands.

10. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing executable code for providing feedback to a user of an electric motorcycle, the code when executed by a processor performs steps comprising:

receiving an indication of a condition of the electric motorcycle being turned on;

accessing a plurality of feedback policies responsive to the indication, each feedback policy describing a type of feedback to provide to the user in response to a corresponding condition of the motorcycle;

identifying, from the plurality of feedback policies, a feedback policy associated with the condition of the electric motorcycle being turned on, the identified feedback policy describing a vibration type feedback at a throttle mechanism of the electric motorcycle;

in response to said indication, causing vibration at the throttle mechanism of the electric motorcycle while the electric motorcycle is at zero speed to alert the user of the condition of the electric motorcycle being turned on based on the identified feedback policy; and

halting the vibration at the throttle mechanism in response to the electric motorcycle moving.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the feedback policy associated with the condition describes an intensity of the vibration at the throttle mechanism, a frequency of the vibration at the throttle mechanism, and a duration of the vibration at the throttle mechanism.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the code when executed by the processor performs further steps comprising:

receiving a second indication of a second condition of the electric motorcycle;

identifying a feedback policy associated with the second condition, the feedback policy describing a vibration type feedback at the throttle mechanism;

causing a second vibration at the throttle mechanism based on the feedback policy associated with the second condition while the electric motorcycle is moving.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the code when executed by the processor performs further steps comprising:

receiving a second indication of a second condition of the electric motorcycle;

identifying a feedback policy associated with the second condition, the feedback policy describing a vibration type feedback at the throttle mechanism;

halting the vibration at the throttle mechanism associated with the condition that the electric motorcycle is turned on;

causing a second vibration at the throttle mechanism based on the feedback policy associated with the second condition, the second vibration distinct from the vibration indicating that the electric motorcycle is turned on; and

resuming the vibration at the throttle mechanism while the electric motorcycle is at zero speed, the vibration associated with the condition that the electric motorcycle is turned on.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the second condition indicates one of the following conditions including a speed of the electric motorcycle is above a threshold speed, a charge of a battery of the electric motorcycle is below a threshold charge, a loss of traction of the electric motorcycle, or global positioning system related commands.

15. An electric motorcycle for providing feedback to a user of the electric motorcycle, the electric motorcycle comprising:

a sensor configured to provide an indication of a condition of the electric motorcycle being turned on;

a throttle mechanism including a vibration motor;

a feedback control device communicatively coupled to the sensor and the throttle mechanism, the feedback control device configured to;

receive, from the sensor, the indication of the condition of the electric motorcycle being turned on;

access a plurality of feedback policies responsive to the indication, each feedback policy describing a type of feedback to provide to the user in response to a corresponding condition of the motorcycle;

identify, from the plurality of feedback policies, a feedback policy associated with the condition of the electric motorcycle being turned on, the identified feedback policy describing a vibration type feedback at the throttle mechanism of the electric motorcycle;

in response to said indication, cause the vibration motor to vibrate while the electric motorcycle is at zero speed to alert the user of the condition of the electric motorcycle being turned on based on the identified feedback policy; and

halt the vibration at the throttle mechanism in response to the electric motorcycle moving.

16. The electric motorcycle of claim 15, wherein the feedback control device is further configured to:

receive a second indication of a second condition of the electric motorcycle;

identify a feedback policy associated with the second condition, the feedback policy describing a vibration type feedback at the throttle mechanism;

cause a second vibration at the throttle mechanism based on the feedback policy associated with the second condition while the electric motorcycle is moving.

17. The electric motorcycle of claim 16, wherein the second condition indicates one of the following conditions including a speed of the electric motorcycle is above a threshold speed, a charge of a battery of the electric motorcycle is below a threshold charge, a loss of traction of the electric motorcycle, or global positioning system related commands.