Patents Assigned to Sway Motorsports LLC
  • Patent number: 12005981
    Abstract: A tiltable vehicle is configured to transform between an autonomous mode and a rideable mode by pivoting the handlebars and steering column of the vehicle about a pitch axis. In the autonomous mode, the steering column is folded back toward the chassis and a tiltable chassis of the vehicle is prevented from tilting. In the rideable mode, the steering column is unfolded and the chassis is free to tilt. In some examples, a tiltable vehicle includes features beneficial for vehicle-sharing, such as parking devices or a basket. These features may be included on any suitable vehicle and are not limited to use on transforming vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11904964
    Abstract: A vehicle of the present disclosure may include at least one pair of opposing wheels coupled to a tiltable central chassis by a four-bar linkage or the like, such that the wheels are configured to tilt in unison with the central chassis. A steering actuator and/or a tilting actuator may be discretely controllable by an electronic controller of the vehicle. The controller may include processing logic configured to maintain alignment between a median plane of the chassis and a net force vector caused by gravity and any induced centrifugal forces. Various control algorithms may be utilized to steer the vehicle along a desired path, either autonomously or semi-autonomously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11834130
    Abstract: A tiltable vehicle has a pair of front wheels coupled to a tiltable chassis by a tilt linkage, such that the pair of front wheels and the chassis are configured to tilt in unison with respect to a roll axis of the chassis. The tilt linkage includes a four-bar linkage having a pair of upper bar segments coupled to the chassis at spaced-apart respective inboard joints. In some examples, the inboard joints of the upper bar segments are each disposed outboard of a central chassis joint of a lower bar of the tilt linkage. An orientation sensor is configured to detect directional information regarding a net force vector applied to the chassis, and a tilt actuator operatively coupled to the chassis and configured to selectively tilt the chassis. A controller is configured to selectively control the tilt actuator based on the directional information from the orientation sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11660925
    Abstract: An autonomous tilting three-wheeled vehicle comprises a pair of front wheels coupled to a tiltable chassis by a mechanical linkage, such that the pair of wheels and the chassis are configured to tilt in unison with respect to a roll axis of the chassis. An electronic controller of the autonomous vehicle controls a tilt actuator to selectively tilt the chassis. Optionally, a steering actuator is coupled to the front wheels and controlled by the electronic controller to selectively steer the wheels. A sensor configured to measure orientation-dependent information may be coupled to the chassis by a gimbal configured to compensate for vehicle tilt. In some examples, the autonomous vehicle comprises an autonomous delivery robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11591016
    Abstract: A tiltable vehicle is configured to transform between an autonomous mode and a rideable mode by pivoting the handlebars and steering column of the vehicle about a pitch axis. In the autonomous mode, the steering column is folded back toward the chassis and a tiltable chassis of the vehicle is prevented from tilting. In the rideable mode, the steering column is unfolded and the chassis is free to tilt. In some examples, a tiltable vehicle includes features beneficial for vehicle-sharing, such as parking devices or a basket. These features may be included on any suitable vehicle and are not limited to use on transforming vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11560198
    Abstract: A tiltable vehicle has a pair of front wheels coupled to a tiltable chassis by a tilt linkage, such that the pair of front wheels and the chassis are configured to tilt in unison with respect to a roll axis of the chassis. The tilt linkage includes a four-bar linkage having a pair of upper bar segments coupled to the chassis at spaced-apart respective inboard joints. In some examples, the inboard joints of the upper bar segments are each disposed outboard of a central chassis joint of a lower bar of the tilt linkage. An orientation sensor is configured to detect directional information regarding a net force vector applied to the chassis, and a tilt actuator operatively coupled to the chassis and configured to selectively tilt the chassis. A controller is configured to selectively control the tilt actuator based on the directional information from the orientation sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11427249
    Abstract: A vehicle of the present disclosure may include at least one pair of opposing wheels coupled to a tiltable central chassis by a four-bar linkage or the like, such that the wheels are configured to tilt in unison with the central chassis. A steering actuator and/or a tilting actuator may be discretely controllable by an electronic controller of the vehicle. The controller may include processing logic configured to maintain alignment between a median plane of the chassis and a net force vector caused by gravity and any induced centrifugal forces. Various control algorithms may be utilized to steer the vehicle along a desired path, either autonomously or semi-autonomously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11072389
    Abstract: A tiltable vehicle is configured to transform between an autonomous mode and a rideable mode by pivoting the handlebars and steering column of the vehicle about a pitch axis. In the autonomous mode, the steering column is folded back toward the chassis and a tiltable chassis of the vehicle is prevented from tilting. In the rideable mode, the steering column is unfolded and the chassis is free to tilt. In some examples, a tiltable vehicle includes features beneficial for vehicle-sharing, such as parking devices or a basket. These features may be included on any suitable vehicle and are not limited to use on transforming vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox
  • Patent number: 11052942
    Abstract: A tiltable vehicle is configured to transform between an autonomous mode and a rideable mode by pivoting the handlebars and steering column of the vehicle about a pitch axis. In the autonomous mode, the steering column is folded back toward the chassis and a tiltable chassis of the vehicle is prevented from tilting. In the rideable mode, the steering column is unfolded and the chassis is free to tilt. In some examples, a tiltable vehicle includes features beneficial for vehicle-sharing, such as parking devices or a basket. These features may be included on any suitable vehicle and are not limited to use on transforming vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20200283092
    Abstract: A tiltable vehicle is configured to transform between an autonomous mode and a rideable mode by pivoting the handlebars and steering column of the vehicle about a pitch axis. In the autonomous mode, the steering column is folded back toward the chassis and a tiltable chassis of the vehicle is prevented from tilting. In the rideable mode, the steering column is unfolded and the chassis is free to tilt. In some examples, a tiltable vehicle includes features beneficial for vehicle-sharing, such as parking devices or a basket. These features may be included on any suitable vehicle and are not limited to use on transforming vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Applicant: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan DOERKSEN, Joseph WILCOX
  • Publication number: 20200269916
    Abstract: A tiltable vehicle is configured to transform between an autonomous mode and a rideable mode by pivoting the handlebars and steering column of the vehicle about a pitch axis. In the autonomous mode, the steering column is folded back toward the chassis and a tiltable chassis of the vehicle is prevented from tilting. In the rideable mode, the steering column is unfolded and the chassis is free to tilt. In some examples, a tiltable vehicle includes features beneficial for vehicle-sharing, such as parking devices or a basket. These features may be included on any suitable vehicle and are not limited to use on transforming vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan DOERKSEN, Joseph WILCOX
  • Publication number: 20200262263
    Abstract: An autonomous tilting three-wheeled vehicle comprises a pair of front wheels coupled to a tiltable chassis by a mechanical linkage, such that the pair of wheels and the chassis are configured to tilt in unison with respect to a roll axis of the chassis. An electronic controller of the autonomous vehicle controls a tilt actuator to selectively tilt the chassis. Optionally, a steering actuator is coupled to the front wheels and controlled by the electronic controller to selectively steer the wheels. A sensor configured to measure orientation-dependent information may be coupled to the chassis by a gimbal configured to compensate for vehicle tilt. In some examples, the autonomous vehicle comprises an autonomous delivery robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan DOERKSEN, Joseph WILCOX
  • Publication number: 20200114966
    Abstract: A vehicle of the present disclosure may include at least one pair of opposing wheels coupled to a tiltable central chassis by a four-bar linkage or the like, such that the wheels are configured to tilt in unison with the central chassis. A steering actuator and/or a tilting actuator may be discretely controllable by an electronic controller of the vehicle. The controller may include processing logic configured to maintain alignment between a median plane of the chassis and a net force vector caused by gravity and any induced centrifugal forces. Various control algorithms may be utilized to steer the vehicle along a desired path, either autonomously or semi-autonomously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle DOERKSEN, Joseph WILCOX
  • Patent number: 10501119
    Abstract: A vehicle of the present disclosure may include at least one pair of opposing wheels coupled to a tiltable central chassis by a four-bar linkage or the like, such that the wheels are configured to tilt in unison with the central chassis. A steering actuator and/or a tilting actuator may be discretely controllable by an electronic controller of the vehicle. The controller may include processing logic configured to maintain alignment between a median plane of the chassis and a net force vector caused by gravity and any induced centrifugal forces. Various control algorithms may be utilized to steer the vehicle along a desired path, either autonomously or semi-autonomously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Sway Motorsports LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Jonathan Doerksen, Joseph Wilcox