SBIR Phase I: Developing a safer electric bicycle through a pedal-by-wire drivetrain, balance assist, and artificial intelligence

这个小企业创新研究 (SBIR) 第一阶段项目创造了变革性的电动自行车，重新定义了城市交通并增强了环境的可持续性。现代城市环境面临着道路拥堵、汽车尾气排放以及对骑车者安全的紧迫担忧。该项目推出了一款配备创新转向辅助装置和全电子传动系统的电动自行车。这种设计有望增强安全性、用户友好性和多功能性。这种自行车适合从儿童到老年人的广泛用户，尤其是那些可能觉得骑自行车令人生畏或具有挑战性的人。自行车先进的转向系统不仅有助于操纵，还有助于保持平衡。通过电子管理制动和加速，自行车结合了牵引力控制、防抱死制动和防止车把上碰撞的功能。这些创新有望减少自行车事故、促进更健康的生活方式、减轻环境影响并刺激国内制造业。最终目标是让自行车不再只是一项运动或爱好，而是一种在日常生活中流行的更安全、更环保的交通方式。该项目提出了一种创新方法：融合机器人启发的传感、驱动和控制，设计出一款革命性的日常使用电动自行车。自行车的核心是每个车轮上都有一个电动马达，一个控制平衡的转向马达，以及一个捕捉骑手所施加能量的踏板发电机。全电动传动系统可对制动和加速进行细致的控制，通过牵引力控制和防抱死制动提高安全性。由平衡传感器增强的主动转向机构可以帮助骑手保持平衡，这是老年用户特别关心的问题。这项研究的主要技术目标是开发一种补充人类骑手的平衡辅助系统、踏板发电机的用户友好界面以及强大的电子传动系统。通过全面的模拟、台架测试和现实世界的自行车原型测试，该项目旨在验证软件定义自行车的变革潜力和技术可行性。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project creates transformative electric bicycles, redefining urban mobility and enhancing environmental sustainability. Modern urban environments grapple with congested roads, car exhaust emissions, and pressing concerns about cyclist safety. This project introduces an electric bicycle equipped with innovative steering assistance and an all-electronic drivetrain. This design promises enhanced safety, user-friendliness, and versatility. Such a bicycle caters to a wide range of users, from children to seniors, especially those who might find cycling intimidating or challenging. The bicycle's advanced steering not only aids in maneuvering but also helps maintain balance. By electronically managing both braking and acceleration, the bicycle incorporates features of traction control, anti-lock brakes, and safeguards against over-the-handlebar crashes. These innovations are poised to decrease bicycling accidents, promote healthier lifestyles, mitigate environmental impacts, and stimulate domestic manufacturing. The end goal is a society where cycling is not just a sport or hobby, but a safer, greener mode of transport popular in daily life.This project sets forth an innovative approach: blending robotics-inspired sensing, actuation, and control to engineer a revolutionary electric bicycle for daily use. At its core, the bicycle incorporates an electric motor in each wheel, a steering motor to control balance, and a pedal generator to capture the rider's exerted energy. The completely electric drivetrain provides meticulous control over braking and acceleration, improving safety with traction control and anti-lock brakes. An active steering mechanism, augmented by balance sensors, helps the rider balance, a particular concern for older users. The primary technical objectives of this research are to develop a balance assist system that complements human riders, a user-friendly interface for the pedal generator, and a robust electronic drivetrain. Through comprehensive simulations, bench tests, and real-world bicycle prototype testing, the project seeks to validate the transformative potential and technical feasibility of a software-defined bicycle.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.