Vehicles for variably sized transportation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10882575-B2
Application number	US-201715799656-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2017
Priority date	Oct 31, 2017
Publication date	Jan 5, 2021
Grant date	Jan 5, 2021

Abstract

A vehicle for variably sized transportation may include a vehicle basis and exterior elements coupled to the vehicle basis. At least some exterior elements may be collapsible or movably coupled to the vehicle basis at a first set of positions or a first set of extended or collapsed states to form a first operational configuration, or at a second set of positions or a second set of extended or collapsed states to form a second operational configuration. The first or second operational configuration may provide for a first or second shadow and a first or second passenger or cargo space for the vehicle. The first and second shadows and the first and second passenger or cargo spaces may differ in at least their longitudinal dimensions or in latitudinal dimensions. Other embodiments may also be described and claimed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle for variably sized transportation, comprising:
a vehicle basis; and
a plurality of exterior elements and a plurality of interior elements coupled to the vehicle basis;
wherein at least some exterior or interior elements are collapsible or movably coupled to the vehicle basis to provide the plurality of exterior or interior elements to be coupled to the vehicle basis at a first set of positions or a first set of extended or collapsed states to form a first operational configuration, and coupled to the vehicle basis at a second set of positions or a second set of extended or collapsed states to form a second operational configuration;
wherein the first operational configuration provides for a first shadow and a first passenger or cargo space for a first number of passengers or cargos, the second operational configuration provides for a second shadow and a second passenger or cargo space for a second number of passengers or cargos larger than the first number of passengers or cargos, the first shadow is determined by a first exterior longitudinal dimension and a first exterior latitudinal dimension of the first operational configuration, the second shadow is determined by a second exterior longitudinal dimension and a second exterior latitudinal dimension of the second operational configuration;
wherein the second shadow and the second passenger or cargo space have at least a longitudinal dimension or a latitudinal dimension respectively larger than a longitudinal dimension or a latitudinal dimension of the first shadow and the first passenger or cargo space; and
wherein the vehicle basis comprises an adjustment actuator, the adjustment actuator is to facilitate reconfiguring or repositioning of at least some of the plurality of exterior or interior elements from the first operational configuration to the second operational configuration; and wherein the at least some of the plurality of exterior or interior elements reconfigured or repositioned from the first operational configuration to the second operational configuration include one or more of an engine, a fuel system, a cooling and lubrication system, an exhaust and emission control system, a drive train system, a suspension, a steering wheel, or a brake system.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the second shadow and the second passenger or cargo space further has a highest point higher than a highest point of the first shadow and the first passenger or cargo space.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle basis together with the plurality of exterior elements in the first operational configuration has a first length, and the vehicle basis together with the plurality of exterior elements in the second operational configuration has a second length, wherein the first length is longer than the second length.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of exterior elements include one or more of a part of a frame or a body of the vehicle, a wheel, a mirror, a door, a rim, a valance, or a fender.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein an exterior element of the plurality of exterior elements is of a circular shape, an elliptical shape, a rectangle shape, or a polygon shape.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle basis further includes a vehicle main computer, or an adjustment controller coupled to the adjustment actuator to determine to move at least some of the plurality of exterior or interior elements, or to collapse or extend at least some of the plurality of exterior or interior elements to change the vehicle from the first operational configuration to the second operational configuration.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle basis together with the plurality of exterior elements in the first operational configuration is for no human or no cargo within the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a first variably sized vehicle, and the first variable sized vehicle further includes an attachment part attached to the vehicle basis of the first variable sized vehicle, to combine with a second variable sized vehicle through the attachment part, while the first variable sized vehicle is in the first operational configuration with the first shadow, and the second variable sized vehicle is in one of at least two configurations that provides for a smaller of at least two shadows.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle basis further comprises an adjustment communication controller coupled to the adjustment actuator, wherein the adjustment communication controller is to communicate with the second variably sized vehicle to combine the first variably sized vehicle and the second variably sized vehicle through the attachment part.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the second variably sized vehicle is to be combined with the first variably sized vehicle in parallel relative to a surface of a road to obtain a combined vehicle, wherein the combined vehicle has a shadow size that fits into a driving lane of the road.

11. The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the second variably sized vehicle is to be combined with the first variably sized vehicle in sequence relative to a surface of a road to obtain a combined vehicle, wherein the combined vehicle has a shadow size that fits into a driving lane of the road.

12. A method for a vehicle for variably sized transportation, comprising:
identifying a transportation task having a source, a destination, a route between the source and the destination, and a number of people;
gathering external environment and route information including route width, height, or traffic condition for the transportation task;
adjusting a plurality of exterior and interior elements coupled to a vehicle basis of the vehicle from a first operational configuration to a second operational configuration, wherein the plurality of exterior and interior elements are to be coupled to the vehicle basis of the vehicle, at least some exterior and interior elements of the plurality of exterior and interior elements are collapsible or movably coupled to the vehicle basis to provide the plurality of exterior and interior elements to be coupled to the vehicle basis at a first set of positions or a first set of extended or collapsed states to form the first operational configuration, and coupled to the vehicle basis at a second set of positions or a second set of extended or collapsed states to form the second operational configuration, the first operational configuration provides for a first shadow and a first passenger or cargo space for a first number of passengers or cargos, the second operational configuration provides for a second shadow and a second passenger or cargo space for a second number of passengers or cargos larger than the first number of passengers or cargos, and the second shadow and the second passenger or cargo space have at least a longitudinal dimension or a latitudinal dimension respectively larger than a longitudinal dimension or a latitudinal dimension of the first shadow and the first passenger or cargo space, wherein the first shadow is determined by a first exterior longitudinal dimension and a first exterior latitudinal dimension of the first operational configuration, the second shadow is determined by a second exterior longitudinal dimension and a second exterior latitudinal dimension of the second operational configuration, wherein the vehicle basis comprises an adjustment actuator, the adjustment actuator is to facilitate reconfiguring or repositioning at least some of the exterior and interior elements from the first operational configuration to the second operational configuration, and wherein the at least some of the plurality

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Priev Avi

Classifications

• B62D39/00 Primary

  Vehicle bodies not otherwise provided for {, e.g. safety vehicles (safety equipment B60R21/00)} · CPC title

• B62D63/02

  Motor vehicles · CPC title

• B60K5/10

  providing for ready detachment of engine · CPC title

• B62D63/025 Primary

  Modular vehicles (superstructures for busses having modular sections B62D31/025) · CPC title

• B62D63/04

  Component parts or accessories · CPC title