Piaggio Fast Forward, Inc.

Jeffrey T Schnapp

Gregory Stewart Lynn

Rossitza Dimitrova Kotelova

Nazareth V Ekmekjian

Mitchell Weiss

Jamar A Bromley

Joshua Eldred Elvander

Sasha Priya Hoffman

Suhas Subhaschandra Malghan

Bethanne Altringer

Greg Lynn

Jarrod Smith

Amos Ambler

Onorino Di Tanna

Emanuele Savino

Huicheng Wang

Eddie Carrillo

Carlos Asmat

Provided is a self-driving vehicle, e.g., a follower vehicle, that engages in communicative behaviors using body dynamics. Also provided is a method of using body dynamics to communicate behaviors in a self-driving vehicle. The vehicle may include a shifting assembly configured to shift and/or tilt a vehicle body to communicate such behaviors, e.g., acceleration, deceleration, and near constant velocity. The shifting and/or tilting of the body in combination with the vehicle's operation communicates those operations to bystanders. With better informed bystanders, improved safety between bystanders and the vehicle may be achieved.

Vehicle with communicative behaviors

Provided is a self-powered vehicle, comprising: a mechanical drive system, a set of sensors, and a controller coupled to the mechanical drive system to move the vehicle. The self-powered vehicle can operate in a plurality of modes, including a pair mode and a smart behavior mode. In pair mode the vehicle follows the trajectory of a user and in smart behavior mode the vehicle performs autonomous behavior. The self-powered vehicle operates with hysteresis dynamics, such that the movements of the vehicle are consistent with ergonomic comfort of the user and third-party pedestrian courtesy. The self-powered vehicle can operate with other self-powered vehicles in a convoy.

Etiquette-based vehicle having pair mode and smart behavior mode and control systems therefor

Provided is a method of modeling behavior for a self-driving vehicle, e.g., as a follower vehicle. Also provided is a vehicle configured to execute the behavior model to cooperatively navigate at least one structural element in an environment. The structural element can be or include a door, a vestibule, and/or an elevator, as examples. The behavior model can be formed by a method that includes tracking and measuring leader-follower interactions and actions with at least one structural element of an environment, representing the leader behaviors and the follower behavior in a behavior model, and electronically storing the behavioral model. The leader-follower interactions and actions can include leader behaviors and follower behaviors, including starts, stops, pauses, and movements of the leader, follower vehicle, and/or objects.

Method for determining self-driving vehicle behavior models, a self-driving vehicle, and a method of navigating a self-driving vehicle

A two-wheeled vehicle is provided. The two-wheeled vehicle includes a chassis, and a first wheel carriage moveably coupled to, and longitudinally displaceable relative to the chassis. At least a first wheel is rotationally mounted on the first wheel carriage, and coupled to the chassis through the first wheel carriage. The two-wheeled vehicle further includes a first linear actuator system coupled to the first wheel carriage, and configured to longitudinally displace the first wheel carriage relative to the chassis. A first motor is mounted to the first wheel and the first wheel carriage. The first motor is configured to provide a drive energy to the first wheel, and to be displaced along with the first wheel carriage as the first wheel is displaced by the first linear actuator system.

Two-wheeled vehicle having linear stabilization system

A two-wheeled vehicle is provided. The two-wheeled vehicle includes a chassis having a height, a length and a width, in a first wheel rotatably connected to the chassis, the first wheel having a perimeter, a diameter and a geometric center, and the diameter of the first wheel being at least 75% of the height of the chassis, a motor for providing a drive energy to the first wheel, an axle rotated by the motor, a drive gear connected with the axle such that the drive gear rotates with a rotation of the axle, and a plurality of teeth disposed about the first wheel and mechanically engaged with the drive gear at a location closer to the perimeter of the first wheel than to the geometric center of the first wheel.

Vehicle having non-axial drive and stabilization system

Vehicle

A three-wheeled vehicle includes a chassis, a first wheel rotatably connected to the chassis, the first wheel having a first perimeter, a first diameter and a first geometric center, a second wheel rotatably connected to the chassis, the second wheel having a second perimeter, a second diameter and a second geometric center, a first motor and a second motor, a first drive and a second drive gear, a first plurality of teeth disposed about the first wheel and mechanically engaged with the first drive gear at a location closer to the first perimeter than to the first geometric center, a second plurality of teeth disposed about the second wheel and mechanically engaged with the second drive gear at a location closer to the second perimeter than to the second geometric center, a mount rotatably connected to the chassis and a third wheel rotatably connected to the mount.

Three-wheeled vehicle having non-axial drive

A two-wheeled vehicle is provided. The two-wheeled vehicle includes a chassis having a height, a length and a width, a first wheel rotatably connected to the chassis, the first wheel having a perimeter, a diameter and a geometric center, and the diameter of the first wheel being at least 75% of the height of the chassis, a motor for providing a drive energy to the first wheel, an axle rotated by the motor, a drive gear connected with the axle such that the drive gear rotates with a rotation of the axle, and a plurality of teeth disposed about the first wheel and mechanically engaged with the drive gear at a location closer to the perimeter of the first wheel than to the geometric center of the first wheel.

Vehicle having non-axial drive

A two-wheeled vehicle is provided. The two-wheeled vehicle includes a chassis having a height, a length, a width, a front and a back, a first wheel rotatably connected to the chassis, the first wheel having a perimeter, a diameter and a geometric center, and the diameter of the first wheel being at least 75% of the height of the chassis, a second wheel rotatably connected to the chassis, the second wheel having a perimeter, a diameter and a geometric center, and the diameter of the second wheel being at least 75% of the height of the chassis, and a counterweight coupled to the chassis such that the counterweight can adjust an orientation of the chassis in response to a change in pitch of the chassis about an axis passing through the geometric centers of the first and second wheels.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Jeffrey T Schnapp