Method and device for controlling a drive unit of a pedal-operated vehicle
A method and a device, including a pedal-operated vehicle. The method includes detecting a particular riding situation and consequently operating the auxiliary drive unit situated on the vehicle, longer than in a normal riding situation, without the driver correspondingly detecting the angular motion of the pedals.
1. A method for controlling a drive unit of a pedal-operated vehicle having pedals, the method comprising the following steps:
measuring, using at least one first sensor, an angular motion variable, which represents an angular motion of the pedals due to a rider; and
controlling the drive unit of the vehicle to generate a forward thrust when the angular motion variable exceeds a specified threshold value;
wherein the method further comprises:
measuring, using the at least one first sensor a time-resolved angular motion variable, which represents the angular motion of the pedals due to the rider during a time frame of measurement; and
detecting, as a function of the time-resolved angular motion variable, a riding situation, in which the pedals are moved back and forth substantially about a level position; and
continuing to control the drive unit as a function of the detected riding situation to generate the forward thrust for a specifiable period of time when the angular motion variable reaches or falls below the specified threshold value.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pedal-operated vehicle is an electric bicycle.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
measuring a torque of the rider on the pedals as a time-resolved rider torque, using a torque sensor and/or measuring a pedaling frequency of the rider using an RPM sensor; and
detecting the riding situation as a function of the time-resolved rider torque and/or a time-resolved pedaling frequency.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, using measured sensor variables of at least one second sensor, a roadway variable that represents a surface on which the vehicle moves; and
detecting the riding situation when the roadway variable indicates travel on a rough terrain and/or an incline;
wherein the roadway variable is generated using an acquired acceleration signal, or a speed signal, or an incline signal, or a displacement signal.
5. The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the period of time, in which the drive unit continues to be controlled and/or operated, is specified as a function of the determined roadway variable, and/or a measured incline and/or a measured acceleration.
6. A device for controlling a drive unit of a pedal-operated vehicle having pedals, the device comprising:
a control unit configured to:
measure, using at least one first sensor, an angular motion variable, which represents an angular motion of the pedals due to the rider; and
controlling the drive unit of the vehicle to generate a forward thrust when the angular motion variable exceeds a specified threshold value;
wherein the control unit is further configured to:
measure, using the at least one first sensor, a time-resolved angular motion variable, which represents the angular motion of the pedals due to the rider during a time frame of measurement;
detect, as a function of the time-resolved angular motion variable, a riding situation in which the pedals are moved back and forth substantially about a level position; and
continue to control the drive unit as a function of the detected riding situation to generate the forward thrust for a specifiable period of time when the angular motion variable reaches or falls below the specified threshold value.
7. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the pedal-operated vehicle is an electric bicycle.
8. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the control unit is configured to:
measure a torque of the rider on the pedals as a time-resolved rider torque using a torque sensor, and/or measure a pedaling frequency of the rider using an RPM sensor; and
detect the riding situation as a function of the time-resolved rider torque and/or a time-resolved pedaling frequency.
9. The device as recited in claim 6 , wherein the control unit is configured to:
determine, using sensor variables of at least one second sensor, a roadway variable that represents a surface on which the vehicle moves; and
detect the riding situation when the roadway variable indicates travel on a rough terrain and/or an incline;
wherein the second sensor including an acceleration sensor or a speed sensor or an inclination sensor or a displacement sensor, configured to measure a resilience of a shock absorber on the vehicle.
10. A pedal-operated vehicle, comprising:
a drive unit;
a device including a control unit configured to:
measure, using at least one first sensor, an angular motion variable, which represents an angular motion of the pedals due to the rider; and
controlling the drive unit of the vehicle to generate a forward thrust when the angular motion variable exceeds a specified threshold value;
wherein the control unit is further configured to:
measure, using the at least one first sensor, a time-resolved angular motion variable, which represents the angular motion of the pedals due to the rider during a time frame of measurement;
detect, as a function of the time-resolved angular motion variable, a riding situation in which the pedals are moved back and forth substantially about a level position; and
continue to control the drive unit as a function of the detected riding situation to generate the forward thrust for a specifiable period of time when the angular motion variable reaches or falls below the specified threshold value.
11. The vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein the vehicle is an electric bicycle.