Patent Grant
12030391
One or more embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to electric bicycles and more particularly, to electric bicycles that are configurable with modular accessories.
Contemporary transportation services often rely on a network of sharable vehicles that is ready for hire anytime and anywhere. For example, batches of single-rider (or possibly two-rider) vehicles such as electric bicycles and scooters alike may be placed in different locations of a city that enable users to easily hire and return the vehicles as needed. However, different users may desire such vehicles in different configurations based on their different needs. Providing different types of vehicles (e.g., in different configurations and/or arrangements) ready to be hired can be costly and inefficient, especially when demands for the different configurations of the vehicles may change over time. Therefore, there is a need in the art for configurable vehicles, in particular, electric bicycles that can be adapted with different modular accessories.
Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide a configurable electric micro-mobility vehicle that can be configured with modular accessories. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a micro-mobility vehicle may include a frame comprising a seat tube; a first wheel and a second wheel; an electric motor configured to mobilize at least the first wheel; a battery pack comprising a connector; an electrical connector configured to receive electrical power from the battery pack and transfer the electrical power to the electric motor; and a battery compartment physically coupled to the seat tube and configured to secure the connector of the battery pack to the electrical connector, wherein the battery compartment comprises an opening at a first end that enables the battery pack to slide in and out of the battery compartment along a direction substantially parallel or perpendicular to the seat tube.
In other embodiments, a method may include determining that a charge level of a first battery pack connected to a micro-mobility vehicle is below a threshold; in response to the determining, removing the first battery pack by sliding the first battery pack out of a battery compartment of the micro-mobility vehicle through an opening of the battery compartment in a direction that is substantially parallel or perpendicular to a seat tube of the micro-mobility vehicle, wherein the battery compartment is physically coupled to the seat tube; and connecting a second battery pack to the micro-mobility vehicle by sliding the second battery pack along the direction into the battery compartment through the opening.
The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference. A more complete understanding of embodiments of the invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly.
Embodiments of the invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods provide a configurable electric micro-mobility vehicle that can be configured with modular accessories. A micro-mobility vehicle may be a single-user (or double-user) vehicle such as a bicycle or a scooter designed for traveling in short distances (e.g., less than 5 miles, less than 10 miles, etc.) relative to conventional shared vehicles, such as cars. The micro-mobility vehicle may include at least two wheels, an electric propulsion system (e.g., an electric motor) for mobilizing the micro-mobility vehicle (e.g., for mobilizing at least one of the wheels), a handle bar for steering the micro-mobility vehicle, and a frame that includes at least a head tube for supporting the handle bar, a seat tube for supporting a saddle (e.g., a seat), and a down tube that connects the head tube and the seat tube.
In some embodiments, the micro-mobility vehicle is configurable by including a structure that is adapted to receive and secure one or more of the modular accessories within a short amount of time (e.g., within 10 seconds, within a minute, etc.). Thus, a user (including the rider or a service technician or employee of the entity managing the micro-mobility vehicle) may configure (e.g., transform) the micro-mobility vehicle in different configurations quickly based on different needs. For example, in some embodiments, the micro-mobility vehicle may include a battery compartment for receiving a modular battery pack and securing the battery pack to an electrical connector of the micro-mobility vehicle. A wire or cable may connect the electrical connector to the electric propulsion system of the micro-mobility vehicle to transfer the electric power from the battery pack to the electric propulsion system.
In some embodiments, the battery compartment may be physically coupled to the seat tube for easy access. For example, the battery compartment may have a long dimension that runs substantially parallel (e.g., less than 10% deviation, etc.) to the length of the seat tube. The battery compartment may have an opening at a first end for inserting and removing a battery pack. As such, a battery pack may be inserted into the battery compartment by sliding the battery pack through the opening in the first end into the battery compartment in a direction that is substantially parallel to the length of the seat tube. Similarly, the battery pack may be removed from the battery compartment by sliding the battery pack through the opening in the first end out of the battery compartment in a direction that is substantially parallel to the length of the seat tube. In some embodiments, the opening is beneath the saddle. As such, in order to insert or remove a battery pack, an orientation of the saddle needs to be adjusted (e.g., tilting the saddle along an axis that is perpendicular to the frame of the micro-mobility vehicle). In some embodiments, the battery compartment is part of the seat tube. In other embodiments, the battery compartment is separate from the seat tube but is physically coupled to the seat tube (e.g., affixed to the seat tube, etc.).
In another example, the battery compartment extends out of the seat tube and is substantially perpendicular (e.g., within 10% deviation, within 20% deviation, etc.) to the seat tube. In some embodiments, the battery compartment may be substantially parallel (e.g., within 10% deviation) to the ground when the micro-mobility vehicle is in an operating orientation. The battery compartment may also have an opening at a first end of the battery compartment for inserting and/or removing a battery pack, while a second end of the battery compartment is physically coupled to the seat tube of the micro-mobility vehicle. The battery pack may be inserted into and/or removed from the battery compartment by sliding the battery pack through the opening in the first end in a direction substantially (e.g., within 10%) parallel to the length of the battery compartment.
In some embodiments, the battery compartment that extends out of the seat tube may be disposed below the saddle and above a wheel (e.g., the rear wheel) of the micro-mobility vehicle. In other embodiments, the battery compartment may be disposed at the bottom of the seat tube and may extend toward the rear wheel to mimic a chain box of the micro-mobility vehicle.
In some embodiments, the battery pack has one or more electrical connectors at one end of the battery pack. Once the battery pack is inserted into the battery compartment (with the end having the one or more electrical connectors entering into the battery compartment first), a mechanism (e.g., a lock) may secure the battery pack in place while the one or more electrical connectors of the battery pack is in contact with the electrical connector of the micro-mobility vehicle such that the one or more electrical connectors of the battery pack remains in contact with the electrical connector of the micro-mobility vehicle during operation of the micro-mobility vehicle. The lock may be configured such that it can be released by pressing on a button, using a key (electronic or physical), entering a code, or by pulling the battery pack using a force that exceeds a threshold.
In some embodiments, the battery pack and/or the battery compartment may be configured to provide an indicator (e.g., a visual indicator, an audio indicator, or a combination of the two) indicating a charge level of the battery pack. For example, the visual indicator may include a series of lights, where a number of lights in the series of lights may be lit to indicate a charge level of the battery pack. In such an example, a fully lit series of lights may indicate that the battery pack is above a charge level threshold (e.g., 95%, 98%, etc.), and a fully unlit series of lights may indicate that the battery pack is at a charge level below a threshold (e.g., 5%, 1%, etc.). In another example, the visual indicator may include a light bar, where a lit portion of the light bar represents a charge level of the battery pack (e.g., a fully lit light bar represents a charge level above a threshold such as 95%, a half lit light bar represents a charge level above another threshold such as 50%, etc.). The visual indicator may be triggered automatically (e.g., presented all the time, presented periodically such as every 5 seconds, etc.), or may be triggered in response to a signal or condition, such as when the charge level drops below or exceeds a certain threshold. In one embodiment, the battery pack and/or the battery compartment may have a button, that when pressed, triggers the visual indicator to indicate a charge level of the battery pack inside the battery compartment.
When the battery pack itself provides the visual indicator, the visual indicator may be disposed on an exterior surface of the battery pack that is visible to users when the battery pack is secured within the battery compartment. For example, when the battery pack is secured within the battery compartment, a portion of the battery pack may protrude from the battery compartment (e.g., through the opening). The visual indicator may be disposed on the exterior surface of that portion of the battery pack. Having a portion of the battery pack protruding from the battery compartment through the opening even when the battery pack is secured within the battery compartment is also useful to enable easy removal of the battery pack from the battery compartment. In some embodiments, the protruding portion may have a larger circumference than the remaining portion of the battery pack such that a user may easily grab the protruding portion of the battery pack to pull the battery pack out of the battery compartment. In such embodiments, a locking mechanism may be employed to prevent the battery pack from being stolen or possibly falling out. An example of suitable locking mechanism may include a physical engagement that enables the battery pack to slide in, but not out, unless a key or other unlocking mechanism is used to disengage the physical engagement. Other types are also contemplated in which a component can be secured through an open end of a component once inserted.
The indicator enables users (e.g., riders of the micro-mobility vehicle, maintenance workers of the micro-mobility vehicle, etc.) to quickly determine a charge level of the battery pack connected to the micro-mobility vehicle, such that they can determine whether there is a need to replace and/or charge the battery pack for the micro-mobility vehicle. For example, a user who desires to hire the micro-mobility vehicle may quickly determine the charge level of the battery pack connected to the micro-mobility vehicle based on the visual and/or audio indicator. The user may then decide whether the micro-mobility vehicle has sufficient charge to transport the user to the intended destination. The user may proceed to replace or charge the battery pack when it is determined that the charge level is lower than desired.
In another example, the micro-mobility vehicle may belong to a fleet of similar micro-mobility vehicles. Batches of the micro-mobility vehicles may be located at different stations within a geographical area. The fleet of micro-mobility vehicles may be communicatively coupled with each other and with a server via a network (e.g., a mesh network, a wide area network, a cellular network, etc.). When the charge level of the battery pack of a micro-mobility vehicle is below a threshold (e.g., 10%, 5%, etc.), the micro-mobility vehicle may be configured to transmit a signal to the server. The threshold may depend on the intended use or duration of use of the micro-mobility vehicle. For example, if the intended use from point A to point B includes steep inclines, the threshold may be higher such that the user does not run out of power during the ride, or if the intended use is a short strip from point C to point D that is mostly flat and downhill, the threshold may be lower. The signal may include a current location of the micro-mobility vehicle and/or an identifier of the micro-mobility vehicle. The server may dispatch a maintenance worker to service the micro-mobility vehicle based on the low charge level signal. Since the micro-mobility vehicles may be located at a station along with other similar micro-mobility vehicles, the maintenance worker may use the visual indicator and/or the audio indicator to determine which of the micro-mobility vehicles have low battery charge levels, and may proceed to charge and/or replace the batteries for the micro-mobility vehicles that have low battery charge levels.
In addition to the visual indicator for indicating a charge level of the battery pack, the battery pack and/or the battery compartment may also provide additional lighting (e.g., a light strip, a light bulb, etc.) to improve safety while riding at night.
In some embodiments, the battery compartment may be configured to receive and secure battery packs having different sizes (corresponding to different power capacity and/or efficiency). For example, the battery compartment may be configured to secure battery packs having different lengths. A longer battery pack may have a larger portion of the battery pack protruding from the opening of the battery compartment where a shorter battery pack may have a smaller portion of the battery pack protruding from the opening of the battery compartment. Having a battery compartment that can secure battery packs of different sizes enables the micro-mobility vehicle to be configured with different power capacity by simply changing the battery packs without modifying any structural elements of the micro-mobility vehicle. For example, a smaller (e.g., lighter weight) battery pack may be connected to the micro-mobility vehicle by default, as the lighter weight, smaller battery pack provides quicker ride and is more power efficient. However, when a rider desires to use the micro-mobility vehicle for a longer distance ride or a ride the requires more power (e.g., inclines, lots of stops and starts such as in a congested area), a user (e.g., the rider, a maintenance worker, etc.) can easily transform the micro-mobility vehicle to have greater power capacity by swapping the smaller battery pack with a larger battery pack. The user may remove the smaller battery pack by sliding the battery pack out of the battery compartment through the opening (in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the battery compartment) and by inserting the larger battery pack by sliding the battery pack into the battery compartment through the opening (in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the battery compartment).
In addition to the battery packs, other modular accessories may also be provided to transform a micro-mobility vehicle to different configurations. For example, one or more package hauling assemblies, such as a basket, a ricksaw assembly, a saddlebag frame, and the like may be added to the micro-mobility vehicle to transform the micro-mobility vehicle into a package carrier micro-mobility vehicle. In another example, a baby seat assembly may be added to the micro-mobility vehicle to transform the micro-mobility vehicle into a baby carrying micro-mobility vehicle.
As shown in
Controller 112 may be implemented as any appropriate logic device (e.g., processing device, microcontroller, processor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), memory storage device, memory reader, or other device or combinations of devices) that may be adapted to execute, store, and/or receive appropriate instructions, such as software instructions implementing a control loop for controlling various operations of fleet vehicle 110 and/or other elements of system 100, for example. Such software instructions may also implement methods for processing images and/or other sensor signals or data, determining sensor information, providing user feedback (e.g., through user interface 113 or 132), querying devices for operational parameters, selecting operational parameters for devices, or performing any of the various operations described herein (e.g., operations performed by logic devices of various devices of system 100).
In addition, a non-transitory medium may be provided for storing machine readable instructions for loading into and execution by controller 112. In these and other embodiments, controller 112 may be implemented with other components where appropriate, such as volatile memory, non-volatile memory, one or more interfaces, and/or various analog and/or digital components for interfacing with devices of system 100. For example, controller 112 may be adapted to store sensor signals, sensor information, parameters for coordinate frame transformations, calibration parameters, sets of calibration points, and/or other operational parameters, over time, for example, and provide such stored data to a user via user interface 113 or 132. In some embodiments, controller 112 may be integrated with one or more other elements of fleet vehicle 110, for example, or distributed as multiple logic devices within fleet vehicle 110 and/or user device 130.
In some embodiments, controller 112 may be configured to substantially continuously monitor and/or store the status of and/or sensor data provided by one or more elements of fleet vehicle 110 and/or user device 130, such as the position and/or orientation of fleet vehicle 110 and/or user device 130, for example, and the status of a communication link established between fleet vehicle 110 and/or user device 130. Such communication links may be established and then provide for transmission of data between elements of system 100 substantially continuously throughout operation of system 100, where such data includes various types of sensor data, control parameters, and/or other data.
User interface 113 of fleet vehicle 110 may be implemented as one or more of a display, a touch screen, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a knob, a steering wheel, a yoke, and/or any other device capable of accepting user input and/or providing feedback to a user. In various embodiments, user interface 113 may be adapted to provide user input (e.g., as a type of signal and/or sensor information transmitted by wireless communications module 134 of user device 130) to other devices of system 100, such as controller 112. User interface 113 may also be implemented with one or more logic devices (e.g., similar to controller 112) that may be adapted to store and/or execute instructions, such as software instructions, implementing any of the various processes and/or methods described herein. For example, user interface 132 may be adapted to form communication links, transmit and/or receive communications (e.g., infrared images and/or other sensor signals, control signals, sensor information, user input, and/or other information), for example, or to perform various other processes and/or methods described herein.
In one embodiment, user interface 113 may be adapted to display a time series of various sensor information and/or other parameters as part of or overlaid on a graph or map, which may be referenced to a position and/or orientation of fleet vehicle 110 and/or other elements of system 100. For example, user interface 113 may be adapted to display a time series of positions, headings, and/or orientations of fleet vehicle 110 and/or other elements of system 100 overlaid on a geographical map, which may include one or more graphs indicating a corresponding time series of actuator control signals, sensor information, and/or other sensor and/or control signals. In some embodiments, user interface 113 may be adapted to accept user input including a user-defined target heading, waypoint, route, and/or orientation, for example, and to generate control signals to cause fleet vehicle 110 to move according to the target heading, route, and/or orientation. In other embodiments, user interface 113 may be adapted to accept user input modifying a control loop parameter of controller 112, for example.
Orientation sensor 114 may be implemented as one or more of a compass, float, accelerometer, and/or other device capable of measuring an orientation of fleet vehicle 110 (e.g., magnitude and direction of roll, pitch, and/or yaw, relative to one or more reference orientations such as gravity and/or Magnetic North), camera 148, and/or other elements of system 100, and providing such measurements as sensor signals and/or data that may be communicated to various devices of system 100. Gyroscope/accelerometer 116 may be implemented as one or more electronic sextants, semiconductor devices, integrated chips, accelerometer sensors, accelerometer sensor systems, or other devices capable of measuring angular velocities/accelerations and/or linear accelerations (e.g., direction and magnitude) of fleet vehicle 110 and/or other elements of system 100 and providing such measurements as sensor signals and/or data that may be communicated to other devices of system 100 (e.g., user interface 132, controller 112).
GNSS receiver 118 may be implemented according to any global navigation satellite system, including a GPS, GLONASS, and/or Galileo based receiver and/or other device capable of determining absolute and/or relative position of fleet vehicle 110 (e.g., or an element of fleet vehicle 110) based on wireless signals received from space-born and/or terrestrial sources (e.g., eLoran, and/or other at least partially terrestrial systems), for example, and capable of providing such measurements as sensor signals and/or data (e.g., coordinates) that may be communicated to various devices of system 100. In some embodiments, GNSS 118 may include an altimeter, for example, or may be used to provide an absolute altitude.
Wireless communications module 120 may be implemented as any wireless communications module configured to transmit and receive analog and/or digital signals between elements of system 100. For example, wireless communications module 120 may be configured to receive control signals and/or data from user device 130 and provide them to controller 112 and/or propulsion system 122. In other embodiments, wireless communications module 120 may be configured to receive images and/or other sensor information (e.g., still images or video images) and relay the sensor data to controller 112 and/or user device 130. In some embodiments, wireless communications module 120 may be configured to support spread spectrum transmissions, for example, and/or multiple simultaneous communications channels between elements of system 100. Wireless communication links formed by wireless communications module 120 may include one or more analog and/or digital radio communication links, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, RFID, and others, as described herein, and may be direct communication links established between elements of system 100, for example, or may be relayed through one or more wireless relay stations configured to receive and retransmit wireless communications. In various embodiments, wireless communications module 120 may be configured to support wireless mesh networking, as described herein.
In some embodiments, wireless communications module 120 may be configured to be physically coupled to fleet vehicle 110 and to monitor the status of a communication link established between fleet vehicle 110 and/or user device 130. Such status information may be provided to controller 112, for example, or transmitted to other elements of system 100 for monitoring, storage, or further processing, as described herein. In addition, wireless communications module 120 may be configured to determine a range to another device, such as based on time of flight, and provide such range to the other device and/or controller 112. Communication links established by communication module 120 may be configured to transmit data between elements of system 100 substantially continuously throughout operation of system 100, where such data includes various types of sensor data, control parameters, and/or other data, as described herein.
Propulsion system 122 may be implemented as one or more motor-based propulsion systems, and/or other types of propulsion systems that can be used to provide motive force to fleet vehicle 110 and/or to steer fleet vehicle 110. In some embodiments, propulsion system 122 may include elements that can be controlled (e.g., by controller 112 and/or user interface 113) to provide motion for fleet vehicle 110 and to provide an orientation for fleet vehicle 110. In various embodiments, propulsion system 122 may be implemented with a portable power supply, such as a battery and/or a combustion engine/generator and fuel supply.
For example, in some embodiments, such as when propulsion system 122 is implemented by an electric motor (e.g., as with many micro-mobility fleet vehicles), fleet vehicle 110 may include battery 124. Battery 124 may be implemented by one or more battery cells (e.g., lithium ion battery cells) and be configured to provide electrical power to propulsion system 122 to propel fleet vehicle 110, for example, as well as to various other elements of system 100, including controller 112, user interface 113, and/or wireless communications module 120. In some embodiments, battery 123 may be implemented with its own safety measures, such as thermal interlocks and a fire-resistant enclosure, for example, and may include one or more logic devices, sensors, and/or a display to monitor and provide visual feedback of a charge status of battery 124 (e.g., a charge percentage, a low charge indicator, etc.).
Other modules 126 may include other and/or additional sensors, actuators, communications modules/nodes, and/or user interface devices, for example, and may be used to provide additional environmental information related to operation of fleet vehicle 110, for example. In some embodiments, other modules 126 may include a humidity sensor, a wind and/or water temperature sensor, a barometer, an altimeter, a radar system, a proximity sensor, a visible spectrum camera or infrared camera (with an additional mount), and/or other environmental sensors providing measurements and/or other sensor signals that can be displayed to a user and/or used by other devices of system 100 (e.g., controller 112) to provide operational control of fleet vehicle 110 and/or system 100. In further embodiments, other modules 126 may include a light, such as a headlight or indicator light, and/or an audible alarm, both of which may be activated to alert passersby to possible theft, abandonment, and/or other critical statuses of fleet vehicle 110. In particular, and as shown in
Camera 148 may be implemented as an imaging device including an imaging module including an array of detector elements that can be arranged in a focal plane array. In various embodiments, camera 148 may include one or more logic devices (e.g., similar to controller 112) that can be configured to process imagery captured by detector elements of camera 148 before providing the imagery to communications module 120. More generally, camera 148 may be configured to perform any of the operations or methods described herein, at least in part, or in combination with controller 112 and/or user interface 113 or 132.
In various embodiments, air quality sensor 150 may be implemented as an air sampling sensor configured to determine an air quality of an environment about fleet vehicle 110 and provide corresponding air quality sensor data. Air quality sensor data provided by air quality sensor 150 may include particulate count, methane content, ozone content, and/or other air quality sensor data associated with common street level sensitivities and/or health monitoring typical when in a street level environment, such as that experienced when riding on a typical micro-mobility fleet vehicle, as described herein.
Fleet vehicles implemented as micro mobility fleet vehicles may include a variety of additional features designed to facilitate fleet management and user and environmental safety. For example, as shown in
User interface 132 of user device 130 may be implemented as one or more of a display, a touch screen, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, a knob, a steering wheel, a yoke, and/or any other device capable of accepting user input and/or providing feedback to a user. In various embodiments, user interface 132 may be adapted to provide user input (e.g., as a type of signal and/or sensor information transmitted by wireless communications module 134 of user device 130) to other devices of system 100, such as controller 112. User interface 132 may also be implemented with one or more logic devices (e.g., similar to controller 112) that may be adapted to store and/or execute instructions, such as software instructions, implementing any of the various processes and/or methods described herein. For example, user interface 132 may be adapted to form communication links, transmit and/or receive communications (e.g., infrared images and/or other sensor signals, control signals, sensor information, user input, and/or other information), for example, or to perform various other processes and/or methods described herein.
In one embodiment, user interface 132 may be adapted to display a time series of various sensor information and/or other parameters as part of or overlaid on a graph or map, which may be referenced to a position and/or orientation of fleet vehicle 110 and/or other elements of system 100. For example, user interface 132 may be adapted to display a time series of positions, headings, and/or orientations of fleet vehicle 110 and/or other elements of system 100 overlaid on a geographical map, which may include one or more graphs indicating a corresponding time series of actuator control signals, sensor information, and/or other sensor and/or control signals. In some embodiments, user interface 132 may be adapted to accept user input including a user-defined target heading, waypoint, route, and/or orientation, for example, and to generate control signals to cause fleet vehicle 110 to move according to the target heading, route, and/or orientation. In other embodiments, user interface 132 may be adapted to accept user input modifying a control loop parameter of controller 112, for example.
Wireless communications module 134 may be implemented as any wireless communications module configured to transmit and receive analog and/or digital signals between elements of system 100. For example, wireless communications module 134 may be configured to transmit control signals from user interface 132 to wireless communications module 120 or 144. In some embodiments, wireless communications module 134 may be configured to support spread spectrum transmissions, for example, and/or multiple simultaneous communications channels between elements of system 100. In various embodiments, wireless communications module 134 may be configured to monitor the status of a communication link established between user device 130 and/or fleet vehicle 110 (e.g., including packet loss of transmitted and received data between elements of system 100, such as with digital communication links), and/or determine a range to another device, as described herein. Such status information may be provided to user interface 132, for example, or transmitted to other elements of system 100 for monitoring, storage, or further processing, as described herein. In various embodiments, wireless communications module 134 may be configured to support wireless mesh networking, as described herein.
Other modules 136 of user device 130 may include other and/or additional sensors, actuators, communications modules/nodes, and/or user interface devices used to provide additional environmental information associated with user device 130, for example. In some embodiments, other modules 136 may include a humidity sensor, a wind and/or water temperature sensor, a barometer, a radar system, a visible spectrum camera, an infrared camera, a GNSS receiver, and/or other environmental sensors providing measurements and/or other sensor signals that can be displayed to a user and/or used by other devices of system 100 (e.g., controller 112) to provide operational control of fleet vehicle 110 and/or system 100 or to process sensor data to compensate for environmental conditions. As shown in
Camera 138 may be implemented as an imaging device including an imaging module including an array of detector elements that can be arranged in a focal plane array. In various embodiments, camera 138 may include one or more logic devices (e.g., similar to controller 112) that can be configured to process imagery captured by detector elements of camera 138 before providing the imagery to communications module 120. More generally, camera 138 may be configured to perform any of the operations or methods described herein, at least in part, or in combination with controller 138 and/or user interface 113 or 132.
In general, each of the elements of system 100 may be implemented with any appropriate logic device (e.g., processing device, microcontroller, processor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), memory storage device, memory reader, or other device or combinations of devices) that may be adapted to execute, store, and/or receive appropriate instructions, such as software instructions implementing a method for providing sensor data and/or imagery, for example, or for transmitting and/or receiving communications, such as sensor signals, sensor information, and/or control signals, between one or more devices of system 100.
In addition, one or more non-transitory mediums may be provided for storing machine readable instructions for loading into and execution by any logic device implemented with one or more of the devices of system 100. In these and other embodiments, the logic devices may be implemented with other components where appropriate, such as volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and/or one or more interfaces (e.g., inter-integrated circuit (I2C) interfaces, mobile industry processor interfaces (MIPI), joint test action group (JTAG) interfaces (e.g., IEEE 1149.1 standard test access port and boundary-scan architecture), and/or other interfaces, such as an interface for one or more antennas, or an interface for a particular type of sensor).
Sensor signals, control signals, and other signals may be communicated among elements of system 100 and/or elements of other systems similar to system 100 using a variety of wired and/or wireless communication techniques, including voltage signaling, Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Xbee, Micronet, Near-field Communication (NFC) or other medium and/or short range wired and/or wireless networking protocols and/or implementations, for example. In such embodiments, each element of system 100 may include one or more modules supporting wired, wireless, and/or a combination of wired and wireless communication techniques, including wireless mesh networking techniques. In some embodiments, various elements or portions of elements of system 100 may be integrated with each other, for example, or may be integrated onto a single printed circuit board (PCB) to reduce system complexity, manufacturing costs, power requirements, coordinate frame errors, and/or timing errors between the various sensor measurements.
Each element of system 100 may include one or more batteries, capacitors, or other electrical power storage devices, for example, and may include one or more solar cell modules or other electrical power generating devices. In some embodiments, one or more of the devices may be powered by a power source for fleet vehicle 110, using one or more power leads. Such power leads may also be used to support one or more communication techniques between elements of system 100.
In
In some embodiments, each of the fleet vehicles 110a-d may be configured to determine a charge level of a battery connected to the fleet vehicle (e.g., using the sensor of the battery 124), and to transmit a signal to the management system 240 via the mesh network 260 and/or the WAN 250 to indicate the charge level of the battery or to indicate that the charge level is below a threshold (e.g., 20%, 10%, etc.). In some embodiments, each of the fleet vehicles 110a-d may be configured to also include an identifier of the fleet vehicle (e.g., a vehicle number, a serial number, etc.) and the geographical location of the fleet vehicle (e.g., the sensor information from the GNSS 118) in the signal. When the management system 240 receives the signal, the management system 240 may dispatch a user (e.g., a maintenance worker, etc.) to the location indicated in the signal to service the fleet vehicle. The location (e.g., a rental station, etc.) may include multiple fleet vehicles. As such, upon arriving at the location, the user may determine which of the fleet vehicles have low battery charge levels based on a visual indicator and/or an audio indicator presented on the battery packs or the battery compartments of the fleet vehicles, and may proceed to charge and/or replace the battery packs of the fleet vehicles having low battery charge levels.
Management system 240 may be implemented as a server with controllers, user interfaces, communications modules, and/or other elements similar to those described with respect to system 100 of
User device 130a in
In various embodiments, management system 240 may be configured to provide or suggest an optimal multimodal route to a user (e.g., initially and/or while traversing a particular planned route), and a user may select or make changes to such route through manipulation of user device 130a, as shown. For example, management system 240 may be configured to suggest a quickest route, a least expensive route, a most convenient route (to minimize modality changes or physical actions a user must take along the route), an inclement weather route (e.g., that keeps the user protected from inclement weather a maximum amount of time during route traversal), or some combination of those that is determined as best suited to the user, such as based on various user preferences. Such preferences may be based on prior use of system 200, prior user trips, a desired arrival time and/or departure time (e.g., based on user input or obtained through a user calendar or other data source), or specifically input or set by a user for the specific route, for example, or in general. In one example, origination point 260 may be extremely congested or otherwise hard to access by a ride-share fleet vehicle, which could prevent or significantly increase a wait time for the user and a total trip time to arrive at destination 272. In such circumstances, a planned multimodal route may include directing the user to walk and/or take a scooter/bike to an intermediate and less congested location to meet a reserved ride-share vehicle, which would allow the user to arrive at destination 272 quicker than if the ride-share vehicle was forced to meet the user at origination point 260. It will be appreciated that numerous different transportation-relevant conditions may exist or dynamically appear or disappear along a planned route that may make it beneficial to use different modes of transportation to arrive at destination 272 efficiently, including changes in traffic congestion and/or other transportation-relevant conditions that occur mid-route, such as an accident along the planned route. Under such circumstances, management system 240 may be configured to adjust a modality or portion of the planned route dynamically in order to avoid or otherwise compensate for the changed conditions while the route is being traversed.
In some embodiments, vehicle security device 144 may be implemented as a wheel lock configured to immobilizing rear wheel 322 of fleet vehicle 110b, such as by engaging pin 144b with spokes of rear wheel 322. In the embodiment shown in
Fleet vehicle 110c of
Fleet vehicle 110d of
As discussed herein, the micro-mobility vehicle 300 may be constructed to be easily configurable using modular accessories, such that the micro-mobility vehicle 300 can be re-configured quickly to serve different needs of the users.
In some embodiments, the micro-mobility vehicle 400 may also include a battery compartment 420 that is configured to receive and secure modular battery packs, such as a battery pack 422. The battery compartment 420 may be disposed at a location of the micro-mobility vehicle 400 that allows different battery packs to be easily and quickly removed from and/or inserted into the battery compartment 420. For example, the battery component 420 is placed or secured with enough space above the opening such that the saddle 412 (if not easily moved) does not prevent desired battery packs from being inserted, or if the opening protrudes past the saddle 412 or the saddle 412 can be moved or adjusted, the space above the opening may not need to be a consideration. In some embodiments, the battery compartment 420 may be physically connected to the seat tube 402. In this example, the battery compartment 420 is affixed to a rear side of the seat tube 402 (e.g., the side that is farther away from the handle bar 416) and is substantially parallel (e.g., within a deviation threshold such as 5%, 10%, etc.) to the seat tube 402.
In some embodiments, the micro-mobility vehicle 400 may include an electrical connector 430 disposed at one end (e.g., the bottom end) of the battery compartment 420. The electrical connector 430 may be configured to transfer electrical power from the battery pack 422 to the propulsion system 414. Wiring may be provided to connect the electrical connector 430 to the propulsion system 414. As such, the battery pack 422 may also include one or more electrical connectors at one end of the battery pack 422. In some embodiments, the battery compartment 420 may enable the one or more electrical connectors of the battery pack 422 to come in contact with the electrical connector 430 of the micro-mobility vehicle 400 once the battery pack 422 is inserted into the battery compartment 420, and may also secure the battery pack 422 in place within the battery compartment 420 when the one or more electrical connectors of the battery pack 422 is in contact with the electrical connector 430 of the micro-mobility vehicle 400, such that the one or more electrical connectors of the battery pack 422 remains in contact with the electrical connector 430 of the micro-mobility vehicle 400 during operation of the micro-mobility vehicle. For example, the battery compartment 420 may provide a locking mechanism (e.g., a lock, etc.) to secure the battery pack 422 in place while the one or more electrical connectors of the battery pack 422 is in contact with the electrical connector 430 of the micro-mobility vehicle 400. The lock may be configured such that it can be released by pressing on a button, using key (physical or electronic), or pulling the battery pack using a force that exceeds a threshold.
In some embodiments, the battery pack 422 and/or the battery compartment 420 may be configured to provide an indicator (e.g., a visual indicator, an audio indicator, etc.) indicating a charge level of the battery pack 422.
The visual indicator may be triggered automatically (e.g., presented all the time, presented periodically such as every 5 seconds, etc.), or may be triggered in response to a signal (initiated by the user or by the micro-mobility vehicle 400). For example, the battery pack and/or the battery compartment may have a button, that when pressed, would trigger the visual indicator to indicate a charge level of the battery pack inside the battery compartment. The indicator enables users (e.g., riders of the micro-mobility vehicle 400, maintenance workers of the micro-mobility vehicle 400, etc.) to quickly determine a charge level of the battery pack 422 connected to the micro-mobility vehicle 400, such that they can determine whether there is a need to replace and/or charge the battery pack 422 for the micro-mobility vehicle 400. For example, a user who desires to hire the micro-mobility vehicle 400 may quickly determine the charge level of the battery pack 422 connected to the micro-mobility vehicle 400 based on the visual and/or audio indicator. The user may then decide whether the micro-mobility vehicle 400 has sufficient charge to transport the user to the intended destination. The trigger may be initiated by the micro-mobility vehicle 400 as well, such as when a sensor detects a need for maintenance, such as the power level of the battery pack 422 dropping below a certain threshold (as discussed above) or other electrical, mechanical, or maintenance issue that requires attention, including a scheduled maintenance coming due soon (either based on distance traveled or time elapsed from last maintenance), a malfunction of the battery (such as conveyed through an error code), and the like.
In another example, the micro-mobility vehicle 400 may belong to a fleet of similar micro-mobility vehicles. Batches of the micro-mobility vehicles may be located at different stations within a geographical area. The fleet of micro-mobility vehicles may be communicatively coupled with each other and with the management system 240 via one or more networks (e.g., the mesh network 260, the WAN 250, etc.). When the charge level of the battery pack 422 of the micro-mobility vehicle 400 is below a threshold (e.g., 10%, 5%, etc.), the micro-mobility vehicle 400 may be configured to transmit a signal to the management system 240. The signal may include a current location of the micro-mobility vehicle 400 (obtained from the GNSS 118) and an identifier associated with the micro-mobility vehicle 400. The management system 240 may dispatch a maintenance worker to service the micro-mobility vehicle 400 based on the low charge level signal. Since multiple micro-mobility vehicles may be located at location indicated in the signal (e.g., a micro-mobility vehicle station), the maintenance worker may use the visual indicator and/or the audio indicator to determine which of the micro-mobility vehicles have low battery charge levels, and may proceed to charge and/or replace the battery for the micro-mobility vehicles that have low battery charge levels.
In addition to the visual indicator for indicating a charge level of the battery pack, the battery pack 422 and/or the battery compartment 420 may also provide additional lighting (e.g., a light strip, a light bulb, etc.) to improve safety while riding at night.
Instead of aligning the battery compartment parallel to the seat tube, a battery compartment of some embodiments can be extended away from (out of) the seat tube.
Similar to the micro-mobility vehicle 400, the micro-mobility vehicle 900, also includes a battery compartment 920 that is physically connected to the seat tube 902 and for receiving a battery pack, such as battery pack 922. However, unlike the micro-mobility vehicle 400, the battery compartment 920 of the micro-mobility vehicle 900 is not parallel to the seat tube 902, but rather, extends away from the seat tube 902. In some embodiments, the battery compartment 920 extends away from the seat tube 902 in a rear facing direction of the micro-mobility vehicle 900 (e.g., extends away from the handle bar 916), such that a portion of the battery compartment 920 is on top of the rear wheel 910. In some embodiments, the battery compartment 920 may be implemented to be substantially perpendicular (e.g., within a threshold deviation such as 5%, 10%, etc.) to the seat tube 902. In other words, the battery compartment 920 may be implemented to be substantially parallel (e.g., within a threshold deviation such as 5%, 10%, etc.) of the ground with the micro-mobility vehicle 900 is in operating position and orientation (e.g., when the micro-mobility vehicle 900 is upright).
In some embodiments, the micro-mobility vehicle 900 may include an electrical connector 930, for example, disposed a junction of the seat tube 902 and the battery compartment 920, as shown in
Similar to the battery compartment 420, the battery compartment 920 may also include an opening for a battery pack to be inserted into and/or removed from the battery compartment 920. As shown in
As shown in
Furthermore, the battery pack 1222 may be inserted into and/or removed from the battery compartments 1220 by sliding the battery pack 1122 in a direction that is substantially perpendicular (e.g., within a deviation threshold such as 5%, 10%, etc.) to the length of the battery compartment 1220 (as shown by the arrow 1240 of
In another example, as the user is using the micro-mobility vehicle, the user may, from time to time, determines whether the battery pack of the micro-mobility vehicle still has sufficient charge (e.g., above a threshold) based on the indicator presented on the battery pack and/or the battery compartment. The user may then determine that the battery pack needs to be replaced based on the indicator indicating that the charge level of the battery pack is below a threshold (e.g., 5%, 10%, etc.).
In yet another example, the management system 240 may receive a signal from a micro-mobility vehicle indicating a low charge level of the battery. The signal may include a location of the micro-mobility vehicle. Thus, the management system 204 may dispatch a maintenance worker to service the micro-mobility vehicle.
The process 1500 then removes (at step 1510) the first battery pack by sliding the first battery pack out of a battery compartment of the electric bicycle and connects (at step 1515) a second battery pack into the battery compartment. For example, the user or the maintenance worker may slide the battery pack of the micro-mobility vehicle out of the battery compartment and slide a different battery pack into the battery compartment using the techniques described herein.
In some embodiments, the battery compartment (e.g., the battery compartments 420, 820, 920, 1120a, 1120b, and 1220) may be configured to receive and secure different types of battery packs. For example, battery packs of different sizes may fit into the same battery compartment. In one non-limiting example, battery packs of different lengths may be inserted into the battery compartment to power the micro-mobility vehicle. A longer battery pack may have a larger portion of the battery pack protruding from the opening of the battery compartment where a shorter battery pack may have a smaller portion of the battery pack protruding from the opening of the battery compartment. Having a battery compartment that can secure battery packs of different sizes enables the micro-mobility vehicle to be configured with different power capacity by simply changing the battery packs without modifying any structural elements of the micro-mobility vehicle. For example, a smaller (e.g., lighter weight) battery pack may be connected to the micro-mobility vehicle by default, as the lighter weight, smaller battery pack provides a quicker ride and is more power efficient. However, when a rider desires to use the micro-mobility vehicle for a ride that requires more power (such as a longer distance ride, a ride with lots of hills, and/or a ride with lots of starts and stops), a user (e.g., the rider, a maintenance worker, etc.) can easily transform the micro-mobility vehicle to have greater power capacity by swapping the current battery pack with a more efficient or higher power capacity battery pack. The user may remove the current battery pack by sliding the battery pack out of the battery compartment through the opening (in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the battery compartment) and by inserting the replacement battery pack by sliding the battery pack into the battery compartment through the opening (in a direction substantially parallel to the length of the battery compartment). The opposite applies as well, where the current battery pack is a heavy battery pack, but the next ride is anticipated to be a short and/or mostly flat and downhill ride that can be finished from start to end with a lighter weight battery pack.
In addition to the battery packs, other modular accessories may also be provided to transform a micro-mobility vehicle to different configurations. For example, one or more package hauling assemblies, such as a basket, a ricksaw assembly, a saddlebag frame, and the may be added to the micro-mobility vehicle to transform the micro-mobility vehicle into a package carrier micro-mobility vehicle. In another example, a baby seat assembly may be added to the micro-mobility vehicle to transform the micro-mobility vehicle into a baby carrying micro-mobility vehicle.
Where applicable, various embodiments provided by the present disclosure can be implemented using hardware, software, or combinations of hardware and software. Also, where applicable, the various hardware components and/or software components set forth herein can be combined into composite components comprising software, hardware, and/or both without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Where applicable, the various hardware components and/or software components set forth herein can be separated into sub-components comprising software, hardware, or both without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, where applicable, it is contemplated that software components can be implemented as hardware components, and vice-versa.
Software in accordance with the present disclosure, such as non-transitory instructions, program code, and/or data, can be stored on one or more non-transitory machine readable mediums. It is also contemplated that software identified herein can be implemented using one or more general purpose or specific purpose computers and/or computer systems, networked and/or otherwise. Where applicable, the ordering of various steps described herein can be changed, combined into composite steps, and/or separated into sub-steps to provide features described herein.
Embodiments described above illustrate but do not limit the invention. It should also be understood that numerous modifications and variations are possible in accordance with the principles of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined only by the following claims.
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