Patent ID: 6357544
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B62K,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for stabilizing a vehicle in a fore-aft plane with respect to tipping forward, the vehicle having a platform and a first and second wheel, each of the first and second wheels having a center, the center of the first wheel and the center of the second wheel defining a lateral axis, the first and second wheels being substantially coaxially disposed, the vehicle further having a motorized drive for causing locomotion of the vehicle in an operating position that is always unstable with respect to tipping in the fore-aft plane when the motorized drive is not powered, the method comprising:a) coupling the first wheel to the platform in such a manner as to rotate about a first rotational axis such that a non-zero vertical angle is defined between the first rotational axis and the lateral axis; b) coupling the second wheel to the platform in such a manner as to rotate about a second rotational axis, such that a non-zero vertical angle is defined between the second rotational axis and the lateral axis; and c) balancing the vehicle on the first and second wheels with respect to tipping in the fore-aft plane.