Electromechanical stabilization of in-line wheeled vehicles
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsDelbert A. Ahlstedt, David C. Brillhart, Steven M. Krekeler, Steven R. Ragan, Matthew A. Rice
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method to enhance stability of in-line wheeled vehicles throughout an entire range of vehicle motions that utilizes a stability control that is user controlled to adjust the amount of stability control that is in place at any given time. A electromechanical gyroscopic stabilization device assists in maintaining an appropriate attack angle of the in-line wheeled vehicle while approaching and during non-linear maneuvers.
Claims13
A method for stabilizing an in-line wheeled vehicle during or approaching non-linear movements relative to a driving surface, the vehicle comprising at least one front wheel in-line with at least one rear wheel;
- a gyroscopic stabilization device mounted on the in-line wheeled vehicle;
- and a computer coupled to the gyroscopic stabilization device, the method comprising:
- the computer comparing user stability data specifying at least a compensation speed maximum stored on the computer to sensor output stability data comprising at least a steering position of the front wheel of the in-line wheeled vehicle, acceleration of the in-line wheeled vehicle, and vertical position of the in-line wheeled vehicle relative to the driving surface;
- the computer determining whether the vehicle is stable based on sensor output stability data comprising at least a steering position of the front wheel of the in-line wheeled vehicle, acceleration of the in-line wheeled vehicle, and vertical position of the in-line wheeled vehicle relative to the driving surface;
- and
- the computer initiating the gyroscopic stabilization device to aid in steering the front wheel into a direction of a lean during a non-linear movement if the in-line wheeled vehicle is no faster than the compensation speed maximum and is not stable.
A stabilization system initiating during and approaching non-linear movements relative to a driving surface comprising:
- an in-line wheeled vehicle comprising at least one front wheel in-line with at least one rear wheel, a gyroscopic stabilization device mounted on the in-line wheeled vehicle;
- a processor, a computer readable memory and a computer readable tangible storage device coupled to the gyroscopic stabilization device;
- and a plurality of sensors mounted on the in-line wheeled vehicle having an input and an output coupled to the computer;
- first program instructions to compare user stability data specifying at least a compensation speed maximum stored on the computer readable tangible storage device to sensor output comprising at least steering position of the front wheel of the in-line wheeled vehicle, acceleration of the in-line wheeled vehicle, and vertical position of the in-line wheeled vehicle relative to the driving surface;
- and
- second program instructions to determine whether the vehicle is stable based on sensor output stability data comprising at least a steering position of the front wheel of the in-line wheeled vehicle, acceleration of the in-line wheeled vehicle, and vertical position of the in-line wheeled vehicle relative to the driving surface;
- third program instructions to initiate the gyroscopic stabilization device to aid in steering the front wheel into a direction of a lean during or approaching a non-linear movement if the in-line wheeled vehicle is no faster than the compensation speed maximum and is not stable;
- and
- wherein the first, second and third program instructions are stored on the computer readable tangible storage device for execution by the processor via the computer readable memory.
A computer program product for stabilizing an in-line wheeled vehicle during or approaching non-linear movements relative to a driving surface, the vehicle comprising at least one front wheel in-line with at least one rear wheel;
- a gyroscopic stabilization device mounted on the in-line wheeled vehicle, the computer program product comprising:
- a computer readable tangible storage device;
- first program instructions to compare user stability data specifying at least a compensation speed maximum stored on the computer readable tangible storage device to sensor output comprising at least steering position of the front wheel of the in-line wheeled vehicle, acceleration of the in-line wheeled vehicle, and vertical position of the in-line wheeled vehicle relative to the driving surface;
- and
- second program instructions to determine whether the vehicle is stable based on sensor output stability data comprising at least a steering position of the front wheel of the in-line wheeled vehicle, acceleration of the in-line wheeled vehicle, and vertical position of the in-line wheeled vehicle relative to the driving surface;
- third program instructions to initiate the gyroscopic stabilization device to aid in steering the front wheel into a direction of a lean during or approaching a non-linear movement if the in-line wheeled vehicle is no faster than the compensation speed maximum and is not stable;
- and
- wherein the first, second, and third program instructions are stored on the computer readable tangible storage device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.