Twill Technology, Inc.

Other

Twill Tech, Inc.

Cameron Tacklind

Christopher Tacklind

Nelson Au

Daniel Shaffer

Blake Tacklind

Techniques are disclosed for exploiting modern controls, sensors and actuators to realize a novel family of in-line two-wheeled vehicles (Twills) as robots. Each robot has a front-wheel with a substantially horizontal axis of rotation and a substantially vertical steering axis. The front-wheel with its substantially vertical steering axis has a steering-angle that can be sensed by one or more sensors. There is a rear-wheel with a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. A control module stabilizes the roll angle when the robot is in a forward motion as well as when it is substantially or fully stopped. One or both the wheels of the robot may be endowed by a steering motor for steering and a traction motor for providing traction/torque to the wheel.

Two-wheel in-line robots

A family of vehicles is presented which exploit dynamic controls to stabilize in-line two wheeled vehicles. The stabilization results in improved safety at high speeds and on uncooperative surfaces. Stabilization affords balance at zero speed without auxiliary support means. Transformational wheel base length affords high visibility at low speeds and low drag at high speeds. In wheel chair configurations transforming wheel base length allows navigation up and down stairs.

Dynamically balanced in-line wheel vehicle

Techniques are disclosed for exploiting modern controls, sensors and actuators to realize a novel family of in-line two-wheeled vehicles (Twills) as robots. Each robot has a front-wheel with a substantially horizontal axis of rotation and a substantially vertical steering axis. The front-wheel with its substantially vertical steering axis has a steering-angle that can be sensed by one or more sensors. There is a rear-wheel with a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. A control module stabilizes the roll angle when the robot is in a forward motion or when it is stopped. There is an energy source to power the controls and to drive one or both the front and rear wheels.

A novel robotic platform is presented with the characteristics of only two wheels establishing a stable and unstable axis. Stability of the unstable axis is provided by controlling the steering while driving in the direction of the stable axis. Stability while stopped is provided by setting one or both of the wheels oblique to the stable axis and controlling the traction angle of the wheels. High control authority is thus provided while standing and while underway without sensitivity to the driving surface.

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Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Cameron Tacklind