Three dimensional log spiral structures for improving transportation
View Patent ↗A system and method for a transportation device that utilizes an alternative biomechanics framework for the human lower body that may be used in any transportation vehicle in conjunction or as an alternative to wheels whereby the bones, muscles, and connective tissue of the lower body function together to produce the mechanics of a single wheel rather than the conjoined pendulums of the leading inverted pendulum model of biomechanics.
1 . A transportation system comprising:
two foot spiral devices, each forming a single segment of a three-dimensional log spiral, wherein each spiral device comprises:
component parts with torsion spring functionality;
capability for inversion, clenching and abduction movements;
a tread hub comprising two or more ankle-like joints;
a shaft comprising two lower leg-like devices connecting the tread hub with a wheel hub, wherein the wheel hub comprises two knee-like joints; and
an axle comprising two upper leg-like devices connecting the wheel hub with a pelvis-like device, wherein the pelvis-like device has two hip-like ball-and-socket joints and a swivel seat-like device that rotates back and forth elliptically around an attachment point.
2 . The transportation system of claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a high-torque harmonic drive geared hub motor.
3 . The transportation system of claim 2 , wherein the two foot spiral devices are configured to: wind by inverting, clenching, and abducting when in a swing phase; unwind by everting, unclenching, and adducting when in a stance phase.
4 . The transportation system of claim 2 , further comprising a control system, wherein the control system comprises: one or more computing devices; a wireless transmitter and receiver; and circuitry to provide a user interface.
5 . The transportation system of claim 4 , further comprising one or more sensors to send signals to the control system, wherein the one or more sensors are cliff sensors, impact sensors, or wall sensors.
6 . The transportation system of claim 5 , further comprising a battery and charging system solar energy collector for collecting and converting solar energy to electrical energy; a controller for distributing the electrical energy; a rechargeable battery for storing the electrical energy.
7 . The transportation system of claim 5 wherein the control system is configured to: receive input from the one or more sensors and the drive mechanism; analyze the input; and generate output signals to control the drive mechanism and battery and charging system.
8 . A method for a transportation system, the method comprising:
winding a first foot-like spiral device by inverting, clenching, and abducting it during a swing phase;
simultaneously unwinding a second foot-like spiral device by everting, unclenching, and adducting it during a stance phase;
translating torque generated at a tread hub to a pelvis-like device via a virtual shaft, wheel hub, and axle;
rotating a swivel seat-like device back and forth elliptically around an attachment point while maintaining vertical and mediolateral stability; and
repeating the winding and unwinding processes with the first foot-like spiral device and the second foot-like spiral device reversed to complete a full cycle of movement.