Motorized cycle
There is provided a motorized cycle comprising a frame, a seat mounted upon the frame, a plurality of suspensions mounted to the frame, a plurality of wheels each coupled to a suspension wherein the operation of the motorized cycle is based on the physical position and movements of the rider. Also provided is a suspension system for a motorized cycle comprising a plurality of suspensions each coupled to the frame of the motorized cycle, and a plurality of wheels each coupled to a suspension such that each wheel is able to move relative to the other wheels and the frame. According to another aspect, there is provided a rider positioning system for a motorized cycle comprising handle bars and a seat wherein the movement of the handle bars affects the movement of the seat. There is also provided a control system for operating a motorized cycle comprising a control board including software, a plurality of sensors providing inputs to the control board, a plurality of wheels wherein each wheel is instructed by the control board to accelerate or decelerate to maintain the center of gravity of the motorized cycle.
1. A motorized cycle having a self balancing mode, the cycle comprising:
a plurality of wheels disposed next to one another in the self-balancing mode;
a suspension system coupling the wheels to a frame including
one or more controlled actuators for controlling a lateral angle of lean of the frame relative to a surface supporting the cycle via the wheels;
a wheel drive system for driving of the wheels permitting control of both a common rotation rate and a differential rotation rate of the wheels;
a controller configured to provide control signals to the wheel drive system and the suspension system in the self-balancing mode
to maintain front-to-back balance of the motorized cycle, and
to respond to a steering command from a driver by imparting a differential rotational rate to the wheels, and by causing the one or more controlled actuators of the suspension system to impart an angle of lean of the frame into a turn;
the cycle having an extended mode in which at least some of the wheels are displaced relative to one another in a front-to-back direction.
2. The motorized cycle of claim 1 , wherein the wheels are laterally displaced relative to each other.
3. The motorized cycle of claim 1 , wherein the wheels are aligned axially.
4. The motorized cycle of claim 3 , wherein the wheels remain aligned axially during a lateral lean of the cycle.
5. The motorized cycle of claim 1 , wherein the suspension system includes a plurality of controlled actuators, each associated with corresponding a suspension member of the suspension system, each suspension member being associated with a corresponding one of the wheels.
6. The motorized cycle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more controlled actuators comprise a linear actuator.
7. The motorized cycle of claim 1 , wherein the wheel drive system includes a plurality or motors, each associated with a corresponding one of the wheels.
8. The motorized cycle of claim 1 , further comprising a handlebar for accepting a manual steering command from the driver and providing the steering command to the controller.
9. The motorized cycle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to concurrently provide control signals to the suspension system and the wheel drive system.