Virtual gearing in an autonomous electronic bicycle
An autonomous electronic bicycle comprises a frame, a wheel that can be powered by a first electronic motor, and a pedal assembly connected to a pedal motor. The pedal assembly is not mechanically connected to the wheel, but the autonomous electronic bicycle simulates a mechanical connection by powering the rear wheel proportional to the user's pedaling force. The autonomous electronic bicycle uses a virtual gear ratio based on the cadence of the rider, the current incline of the bicycle, and the current speed of the bicycle. The virtual gear ratio can be a ratio between a torque of the set of pedals and a torque of the wheel.
1. An electronic bicycle, comprising:
a frame;
an electronic motor coupled to the frame and configured to spin one or both of a rear wheel and a front wheel;
a set of pedals configured to allow a rider to provide torque to the set of pedals; and
a controller configured to:
drive the electronic motor based on a first virtual gear, the first virtual gear representative of a first ratio between a first torque on the set of pedals and a second torque of the rear wheel;
receive information describing a change in a current state of the bicycle;
identify a second virtual gear based on the change in the current state of the bicycle, the second virtual gear representative of a second ratio between a third torque on the set of pedals and a fourth torque of the rear wheel; and
drive the electronic motor based on the second virtual gear.
2. The electronic bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the second virtual gear comprises a most efficient gear of a set of pre-defined virtual gear ratios.
3. The electronic bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the second virtual gear represents an optimized ratio between the torque of the set of pedals and the torque of the rear wheel calculated based on change in the current state of the bicycle.
4. The electronic bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the set of pedals are configured to provide a first level of artificial pedaling resistance to the rider based on the first virtual gear and a second level of artificial pedaling resistance based on the second virtual gear.
5. The electronic bicycle of claim 4 , wherein the artificial pedaling resistance is generated using a regenerative braking technique on the set of pedals, and wherein the regenerative braking is configured to recharge a power source of the bicycle.
6. The electronic bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the change in the current state of the bicycle comprises a change in current incline of the bicycle.
7. The electronic bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the change in the current state of the bicycle comprises a change in current cadence of the rider.
8. The electronic bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the change in the current state of the bicycle comprises a change in current speed of the bicycle.
9. The electronic bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the change in the current state of the bicycle comprises a change in current terrain on which the bicycle is located.
10. The electronic bicycle of claim 8 , wherein the current terrain is detected based on a sensor coupled to the frame of the bicycle.
11. The electronic bicycle of claim 8 , wherein the current terrain is detected based on a determined location of the bicycle.
12. The electronic bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the current state of the bicycle comprises one or more characteristics of the rider, wherein the one or more characteristics of the rider include one or more of: a rider's weight, a rider's height, a rider's experience riding a bicycle, and a measure of strength of the rider.
13. The electronic bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the current state of the bicycle comprises a selected preference of the rider.
14. The electronic bicycle of claim 1 , wherein the second virtual gear is identified based additionally on one or more local laws of a jurisdiction in which the bicycle is located.
15. An electronic bicycle, comprising:
a frame;
a first electronic motor coupled to the frame and configured to spin a rear wheel;
a second electronic motor coupled to the frame and configured to spin a front wheel;
a set of pedals configured to allow a rider to provide torque to the set of pedals; and
a controller configured to:
drive the first electronic motor and the second electronic motor based on a first virtual gear, the first virtual gear representative of a first ratio between a first torque on the set of pedals and a second torque of the rear wheel;
receive information describing a change in a current state of the bicycle;
identify a second virtual gear based on the change in the current state of the bicycle, the second virtual gear representative of a second ratio between a third torque on the set of pedals and a fourth torque of the rear wheel; and
drive the first electronic motor and the second electronic motor based on the second virtual gear.
16. The electronic bicycle of claim 15 , wherein the second virtual gear comprises a most efficient gear of a set of pre-defined virtual gear ratios.
17. The electronic bicycle of claim 15 , wherein the second virtual gear represents an optimized ratio between the torque of the set of pedals and the torque of the rear wheel calculated based on the change in the current state of the bicycle.
18. The electronic bicycle of claim 15 , wherein the set of pedals are configured to provide a first level of artificial pedaling resistance to the rider based on the first virtual gear and a second level of artificial pedaling resistance based on the second virtual gear.
19. The electronic bicycle of claim 15 , wherein the current state of the bicycle comprises a change in current incline of the bicycle.
20. An electronic bicycle, comprising:
a frame;
an electronic motor coupled to the frame and configured to spin one or both of a rear wheel and a front wheel;
a set of pedals configured to produce a signal representative of a cadence of a rider; and
a controller configured to:
access information describing a current incline of the bicycle; and
drive the electronic motor based on the cadence of the rider, the current incline of the bicycle, and the current speed of the bicycle.