Abstract: Presented herein are adaptive power assist systems for manually-powered vehicles, methods for operating such systems, and motor-assisted, operator-powered vehicles equipped with such systems. A method for regulating a power assist system includes a vehicle controller receiving torque sensor data indicative of user-generated torque input. The vehicle controller then determines: if the torque input is less than a commanded motor torque generated by a tractive motor; and, if a calibrated motor decay time of the tractive motor is less than a scaled cadence time of the user's cadence speed. Responsive to both determinations being positive, the vehicle controller calculates a torque decay factor based on the current cadence speed, and modifies the commanded motor torque based on this calculated torque decay factor. The vehicle controller then transmits command signals to the tractive motor to output a modulated motor torque according to the modified commanded motor torque.

Abstract: Presented herein are adaptive power assist systems for manually-powered vehicles, methods for operating/constructing such systems, and motor-assisted, operator-powered vehicles with input torque filtering for adaptive power assist operations. A method for regulating a power assist system includes a vehicle controller receiving torque sensor data indicative of user-generated torque input. The vehicle controller then determines: if the torque input is less than a commanded motor torque generated by a tractive motor; and, if a calibrated motor decay time of the tractive motor is less than a scaled cadence time of the user's cadence speed. Responsive to both determinations being positive, the vehicle controller calculates a torque decay factor based on the current cadence speed, and modifies the commanded motor torque based on this calculated torque decay factor.