Two-wheel self-balancing vehicle with platform borne sensor control

Abstract

A two-wheel, self-balancing transportation device having a foot platform zone associated with each wheel. Various sensor or control arrangements are disclosed. In one embodiment, torsion sensing is used to determine a rider's fore-aft weight distribution on one foot platform zone relative to the other. The torsion-based sensing is preferably combined with fore-aft platform position sensing to achieve a driving and turning of the device. In another embodiment, pressure sensors are used to determine a rider's fore-aft weight distribution on one foot platform zone relative to the other. In yet another embodiment, a relative position sensor is used to determine the relative position of movable platforms sections. Other features and embodiments are also disclosed.

1 . A two-wheel, self-balancing device, comprising:
 a first and a second wheel, and a first and a second foot platform zone respectively corresponding to the first and second wheel;   a position sensor; and   a pressure sensor provided on or in the platform and used to control the speed at which the first and second wheel are driven.