IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,718,967
Granted Patent B2
US 11,718,967 · App. 17/476,792 · Granted Aug 8, 2023

Guidance vehicle

Inventors: Saki Narita (Toyota, JP); Tetsuya Kanata (Susono, JP); Yozo Iwami (Susono, JP); Daisaku Honda (Nagoya, JP); Yuhei Katsumata (Fuji, JP); Hideki Fukudome (Toyota, JP); Takuya Watabe (Hachioji, JP); Naoko Ichikawa (Tokyo-to, JP); Yuta Maniwa (Susono, JP); Yuki Nishikawa (Susono, JP); Daisuke Ishii (Shizuoka-ken, JP); Daisuke Sato (Susono, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
E01H1/006A01K15/021A01K27/004A01K29/005B25J9/0003B25J9/0009B25J9/163G05D1/0223
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,718,967
App. No.
17/476,792
Granted
Aug 8, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A guidance vehicle guides a dog for a walk, and includes a leash attachment, a distance sensor, and an electronic control unit. The leash attachment is configured to attach a leash that connects the dog. The distance sensor is configured to detect a dog-to-vehicle distance being a distance between the dog and the guidance vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to execute a travel control of the guidance vehicle. The electronic control unit includes, as one of modes of the travel control, a walk guidance mode that causes the guidance vehicle to automatically travel along a walk route while guiding the dog to walk. The walk guidance mode executed by the electronic control unit includes a basic walk mode that controls the dog-to-vehicle distance so as to maintain a constant distance when the dog is moving along the walk route.

Claims (13)

1. A guidance vehicle that guides a dog for a walk, comprising:

a leash attachment configured to attach a leash that connects the dog;

a distance sensor configured to detect a dog-to-vehicle distance being a distance between the dog and the guidance vehicle;

a top plate having a riding surface configured for the dog to ride on;

a dog paw position sensor including one or more dog paw position detectors associated with one or more traveling directions of the guidance vehicle, and attached to a dog riding section of the riding surface; and

an electronic control unit configured to execute a travel control of the guidance vehicle, wherein

the electronic control unit includes, as one of a plurality of modes of the travel control, a walk guidance mode that causes the guidance vehicle to automatically travel along a walk route while guiding the dog to walk,

the walk guidance mode executed by the electronic control unit includes a basic walk mode that controls the dog-to-vehicle distance so as to maintain a constant distance when the dog is moving along the walk route, and

the electronic control unit includes a dog operation mode that controls travel of the guidance vehicle based on an input to the dog paw position sensor as one of the modes of the travel control.

2. The guidance vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the riding surface is configured for an owner of the dog to ride on,

the guidance vehicle further comprises an operation device configured for the owner to operate the guidance vehicle, and

when an input to the dog paw position sensor and an input to the operation device are simultaneously present during execution of the dog operation mode, the electronic control unit is configured to control the travel of the guidance vehicle based on the input to the operation device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 16, 2021
From: NARITA, SAKI; KANATA, TETSUYA; IWAMI, YOZO; HONDA, DAISAKU; KATSUMATA, YUHEI; FUKUDOME, HIDEKI; WATABE, TAKUYA; ICHIKAWA, NAOKO; MANIWA, YUTA; NISHIKAWA, YUKI; ISHII, DAISUKE; SATO, DAISUKE
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 057504/0698 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-168057 · Oct 2, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220104457A1 · Apr 7, 2022