Powered vehicle convoying systems and methods of convoying powered vehicles

US8326473B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education · US

Inventors

• Rich Callaghan Simpson · Pittsburgh, US
• Vinod Sharma · Maple Grove, US
• Joseph John Olson · Baltimore, US
• Jeremy Robert Puhlman · Gibsonia, US
• Edmund LoPresti · Pittsburgh, US
• Leonard Casimir Mostowy, Jr. · Ross Township, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 7, 2008
• Grant date: Dec 4, 2012
• Expiry date: Sep 6, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05D1/0255
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A vehicle convoy system for use in connection with a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes at least one drive mechanism to impart drive to the vehicle, includes at least a first processor that is adapted to be placed in operative or communicative connection with the drive mechanism to effect control of the drive mechanism based upon data of the position of a leading vehicle in front of the vehicle so that the vehicle moves to follow movement of the leading vehicle. The vehicle can, for example, be a self-propelled wheelchair.