Apparatus and method for control of a vehicle
AssigneeSegway Inc.
InventorsJ. Douglas Field, Michael T. Gansler, John D. Heinzmann, Jon M. Stevens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for transporting a payload over a surface is provided. A vehicle supports a payload with a support partially enclosed by an enclosure. Two laterally disposed ground-contacting elements are coupled to at least one of the enclosure or support. A motorized drive is coupled to the ground-contacting elements. A controller coupled to the drive governs the operation of the drive at least in response to the position of the center of gravity of the vehicle to dynamically control balancing of the vehicle.
Claims20
A vehicle configured to transport a payload over a surface, the vehicle comprising:
- a support configured to support the payload;
- an enclosure configured to at least partially enclose the payload;
- at least one ground-contacting element, wherein the at least one ground-contacting element is configured to contact a ground and move the vehicle with respect to the ground;
- a drive coupled to one or more of the at least one ground-contacting element, the support, and the enclosure;
- and
- a controller coupled to the drive, wherein the controller is configured to govern operation of the drive at least in response to a position of a center of gravity of the vehicle and to dynamically control balancing of the vehicle.
A method for transporting a payload over a surface with a vehicle, the method comprising:
- supporting the payload with a support included in the vehicle;
- at least partially enclosing the payload with an enclosure included in the vehicle;
- moving the vehicle by operating at least one ground-contacting element that is included in the vehicle and is in contact with a ground;
- and
- operating a drive coupled to one or more of the at least one ground-contacting element, the support, and the enclosure, wherein the drive responds to at least a position of a center of gravity of the vehicle and dynamically controls balancing of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.