DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A TRANSPORT VEHICLE
A controller for operative connection to a power assisted transport vehicle that is at least partially directed by a human operator in physical contact with the vehicle, the controller including: a contact surface, a first sensor and a second sensor each responsive to manual actuation of the contact surface, each sensor having a respective first sensor output signal and a second sensor output signal, and a signal processing means adapted to process the first and second output signals, wherein force imparted to the contact surface in the Z-axis is adapted to provide Z-axis movement of the vehicle by processing the first sensor output signal and the second sensor output signal, and wherein force imparted to the contact surface in the X-axis is adapted to provide X-axis movement of the vehicle by processing the first sensor output signal and the second sensor output signal.
1 . A controller for operative connection to a power assisted transport vehicle that is at least partially directed by a human operator in physical contact with the vehicle, the controller including:
a contact surface,
a first sensor and a second sensor each responsive to actuation of the contact surface, each sensor having a respective first sensor output signal and a second sensor output signal, and
a signal processing means adapted to process the first and second output signals,
wherein force imparted to the contact surface in the Z-axis is adapted to provide Z-axis movement of the vehicle by processing the first sensor output signal and the second sensor output signal, and
wherein force imparted to the contact surface in the X-axis is adapted to provide X-axis movement of the vehicle by processing the first sensor output signal and the second sensor output signal.
2 . The controller according to claim 1 wherein the contact surface is chosen from the group comprising a handle, joystick, contact pad or headrest.
3 . The controller according to claim 1 wherein the actuation comprises physical force imparted by a body part of the operator.
4 . The controller according to claim 1 wherein the actuation of the contact surface occurs when physical force is imparted by a body part.
5 . The controller according to claim 4 wherein the body part is chosen from the hand, head, arm, shoulder, finger or leg of the operator.
6 . The controller according to claim 1 , the controller having a single contact surface.
7 . The controller according to claim 1 , the controller having a third sensor and a fourth sensor each responsive to actuation of the contact surface, and having a respective third sensor output signal and fourth sensor output signal wherein the signal processing means being adapted to process output signals of all the sensors.
8 . The controller according to claim 1 comprising a further sensor, wherein force imparted to the contact surface in the Y-axis is adapted to provide a further sensor output signal to enable a further predetermined function of operation.
9 . The controller according to claim 1 comprising a further sensor, wherein force imparted to the contact surface in the Y-axis is adapted to provide a further sensor output signal to enable Y-axis movement of at least part of the vehicle.
10 . The method of controlling a power assisted transport vehicle that is at least partially directed by a human operator in physical contact with the vehicle using the controller of claim 1 , the method including the step of applying force to the contact surface to control the direction and speed of the vehicle.
11 . The method according to claim 10 wherein the force applied is manual force.
12 . The controller according to claim 1 when used for a vehicle chosen from the group comprising electric wheelchairs, forklifts, luggage trolleys, goods trolleys and golf bag buggies.
13 . The power assisted transport vehicle comprising the controller of claim 1 wherein the controller is in operative connection with the transport vehicle being at least partially directed by a human operator in physical contact with the vehicle.