Next Generation Bike Sharing Design Concept using axiomatic design theory

Bike sharing systems have been in use since the 1960’s, from the modest beginning to one of the fastest spreading services today. Each generation of bike sharing systems had its challenges, but the advancement in technology was and is a key factor in eliminating any short comings or problem facing it as well as opening new opportunities for enhancing the service and the user experience. The main focus of this thesis is to propose a new design concept of bike sharing system using axiomatic design theory, the concept consist of a modified bike sharing model that can help solve some of the challenges faced by the traditional models while meeting the customer’s needs and the basic functional requirements of a traditional bake sharing program. Axiomatic design theory provides a method for the design of products, it makes it possible to design structure and decompose function at the same time. Utilizing currently available technologies such as electrical components and global positioning systems, the new system will include a new design for the bike, the docking station, central control station, and payment systems.fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format

Next Generation Bike Sharing Design Concept using axiomatic design theory

Bike sharing systems have been in use since the 1960’s, from the modest beginning to one of the fastest spreading services today. Each generation of bike sharing systems had its challenges, but the advancement in technology was and is a key factor in eliminating any short comings or problem facing it as well as opening new opportunities for enhancing the service and the user experience. The main focus of this thesis is to propose a new design concept of bike sharing system using axiomatic design theory, the concept consist of a modified bike sharing model that can help solve some of the challenges faced by the traditional models while meeting the customer’s needs and the basic functional requirements of a traditional bake sharing program. Axiomatic design theory provides a method for the design of products, it makes it possible to design structure and decompose function at the same time. Utilizing currently available technologies such as electrical components and global positioning systems, the new system will include a new design for the bike, the docking station, central control station, and payment systems.fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format

“But, I Don’t Want/Need a Power Wheelchair”: Toward Accessible Power Assistance for Manual Wheelchairs

Power assist devices help manual wheelchair users to propel their wheelchair thus increasing their independence and reducing the risk of upper limb injuries due to excessive use. These benefits can be invaluable for people that already have upper limb joint pain and reduced muscular strength. However, it is not clear if the way that assistance is provided by such devices is what manual wheelchair users need and expect. 12 manual wheelchair users were interviewed to understand: the situations in which they find it difficult to propel their wheelchairs; situations they considered paramount to have power assistance; their experience or knowledge of power assist devices; and likes and dislikes of commercially available power assist devices. Finally, they were asked to comment on their ideal form factor of a power assist device. Users have suggested improvements of the devices' accessibility and visualized new ways in which they could interact with the technology. These interactions involve "chairable" devices independent from, but not excluding, wearable devices and mobile applications. We have identified the need of monitoring emotions and the need for designing an open source do-it-yourself wheelchair propelling assistance device which we believe is required equally in developed and in developing countries

Understanding interactions between autonomous vehicles and other road users: A literature review

This review draws on literature relating to the interactions of vehicles with other vehicles, interactions between vehicles and infrastructure, and interactions between autonomous vehicles and cyclists and autonomous vehicles and pedestrians. The available literature relating to autonomous vehicles interactions is currently limited and hence the review has considered issues which will be relevant to autonomous vehicles from reading and evaluating a broader but still relevant literature.The project is concerned primarily with autonomous vehicles within the urban environment and hence the greatest consideration has been given to interactions on typical urban roads, with specific consideration also being given to shared space. The central questions in relation to autonomous vehicles and other road users revolve around gap acceptance, overtaking behaviour, behaviour at road narrowings, the ability to detect and avoid cyclists taking paths through a junction which conflict with the autonomous vehicle’s path, and the ability of autonomous vehicles to sense and respond to human gestures. A long list of potential research questions has been developed, many of which are not realistically answerable by the Venturer project. However, the important research questions which might potentially be answered by the current project are offered as the basis for the more detailed consideration of the conduct of the interaction trial

Eco-Driving planification profile for electric motorcycles

Los perfiles de Eco-Driving son algoritmos capaces de utilizar información adicional para crear recomendaciones o limitaciones sobre las capacidades del conductor. Aumentan la autonomía del vehículo, pero actualmente su uso no está relacionado con la autonomía requerida por el conductor. Por esta razón, en este trabajo, el desafío de la conducción ecológica se traduce en un controlador óptimo de dos capas diseñado para vehículos eléctricos puros. Este controlador está orientado a asegurar que la energía disponible sea suficiente para completar un viaje demandado, agregando límites de velocidad para controlar la tasa de consumo de energía. Se exponen y analizan los modelos mecánicos y eléctricos requeridos. La función de costo está optimizada para corresponder a las necesidades de cada viaje de acuerdo con el comportamiento del conductor, el vehículo y la información de la trayectoria. El controlador óptimo propuesto en este trabajo es un controlador predictivo de modelo no lineal (NMPC) asociado a una optimización unidimensional no lineal. La combinación de ambos algoritmos permite aumentar alrededor de un 50% la autonomía con una limitación del 30% de las capacidades de velocidad y aceleración. Además, el algoritmo es capaz de asegurar una autonomía final con un 1,25% de error en presencia de ruido de sensor y actuador.The Eco-Driving profiles are algorithms capable to use additional information in order to create recommendations or limitation over the driver capabilities. They increase the autonomy of the vehicle but currently its usage is not related to the autonomy required by the driver. For this reason, in this paper, the Eco-Driving challenge is translated into two layers optimal controller designed for pure electric vehicles. This controller is oriented to ensure that the energy available is enough to complete a demanded trip, adding speed limits to control the energy consumption rate. The mechanical and electrical models required are exposed and analyzed. The cost function is optimized to correspond to the needs of each trip according to driver behavior, vehicle and trajectory information. The optimal controller proposed in this paper is a nonlinear model predictive controller (NMPC) associated to a nonlinear unidimensional optimization. The combination of both algorithms lets to increase around 50% the autonomy with a limitation of the 30% of the speed and acceleration capabilities. Also, the algorithm is capable to ensure a final autonomy with a 1.25% of error in the presence of sensor and actuator noise.Doctor en IngenieríaDoctorad

New Perspectives on Electric Vehicles

Modern transportation systems have adverse effects on the climate, emitting greenhouse gases and polluting the air. As such, new modes of non-polluting transportation, including electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, are a major focus of current research and development. This book explores the future of transportation. It is divided into four sections: “Electric Vehicles Infrastructures,” “Architectures of the Electric Vehicles,” “Technologies of the Electric Vehicles,” and “Propulsion Systems.” The chapter authors share their research experience regarding the main barriers in electric vehicle implementation, their thoughts on electric vehicle modelling and control, and network communication challenges

Effort reduction and collision avoidance for powered wheelchairs : SCAD assistive mobility system

The new research described in this dissertation created systems and methods to assist wheelchair users and provide them with new realistic and interesting driving opportunities. The work also created and applied novel effort reduction and collision avoidance systems and some new electronic interactive devices. A Scanning Collision Avoidance Device (SCAD) was created that attached to standard powered wheelchairs to help prevent children from driving into things. Initially, mechanical bumpers were used but they made many wheelchairs unwieldy, so a novel system that rotated a single ultra-sonic transducer was created. The SCAD provided wheelchair guidance and assisted with steering. Optical side object detectors were included to cover blind spots and also assist with doorway navigation. A steering lockout mode was also included for training, which stopped the wheelchair from driving towards a detected object. Some drivers did not have sufficient manual dexterity to operate a reverse control. A reverse turn manoeuvring mode was added that applied a sequential reverse and turn function, enabling a driver to escape from a confined situation by operating a single turn control. A new generation of Proportional SCAD was created that operated with proportional control inputs rather than switches and new systems were created to reduce veer, including effort reduction systems. New variable switches were created that provided variable speed control in place of standard digital switches and all that research reduced the number of control actions required by a driver. Finally, some new systems were created to motivate individuals to try new activities. These included a track guided train and an adventure playground that including new interactive systems. The research was initially inspired by the needs of young people at Chailey Heritage, the novel systems provided new and more autonomous driving opportunities for many powered wheelchair users in less structured environments.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Mobility Design

Climate change and the scarcity of resources, but also the steadily increasing amount of traffic, make it indispensable to develop new solutions for environmentally friendly and people-friendly mobility. With the expansion of digital information systems, we will in future be able to easily combine different modes of transport according to our needs. These developments are a great challenge for the design of different mobility spaces. While the focus in Volume 1 was on practice, Volume 2 now brings together research from the fields of design, architecture, urban planning, geography, social science, transport planning, psychology and communication technology. The current discussion about the traffic turnaround is expanded to include the perspective of user-centred mobility design

Paradigm shift: the aesthetic of the automobile in the age of sustainability

A great challenge for a future sustainable society is to create a new design culture protecting environmental value. A new product’s language is determinant not only for marketing success and public acceptance, but also for a new understanding of the conflict between aesthetics and ethics that haunts the development of this new design language. The designer’s approach to the new trends will certainly deal with the relationship between industry and society, form and function, package and architecture, and it is an opportunity to create new and coherent design