Detecting types of travel corridors on which personal mobility vehicles travel

US12018953B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Neutron Holdings, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Henry W. Bradlow · Stanford, US
• Punit Nitin Shah · San Francisco, US
• Wubai Zhou · Mountain View, US
• Jinsong Tan · San Francisco, US
• Emad El-Haraty · Emeryville, US
• Li Jiang · Beijing, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 21, 2019
• Grant date: Jun 25, 2024
• Expiry date: Mar 27, 2043

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B62K2202/00
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to detecting sidewalk riding by a personal mobility vehicle (e.g., an electric scooter). For example, a method includes collecting sensor data (e.g., vibration data of an accelerometer) generated by the scooter while traveling on a surface of a travel pathway. The method further includes identifying a surface type by processing the collected sensor data with a computer model that can distinguish among different surface types, and determining that the travel pathway is unsuitable (e.g., a sidewalk) for the scooter based at least in part on the identified surface type (e.g., a pattern of concrete sections). In response to determining that the travel pathway is a sidewalk, causing the personal mobility vehicle to assist the user in navigating the personal mobility vehicle, alter a mobility operation of the personal mobility vehicle, or notify a surrounding area of a presence of the personal mobility vehicle.