Automatic optimum bicycle gear selection according to speed and power requirements - by means of pedal rotation rate and momentum, wheel rotation rate and slope inclination sensors and programmed computer

摘要

A bicycle has sensors attached which measure the angle of the machine to the horizontal, the pressure applied to the pedals, the rate at which the pedal crank rotates and the rate at which one wheel rotates. The information is fed into a computer and the optimum gear ratio selected from the gear change mechanism. The pre-programmed computer (1) contains a sensor (5) which registers the angle of the machine to the horizontal whilst further sensors record speed (4) and pedal pressure (2) and manual input from a switch unit (13) attached to the handlebars. Servo units (14,15) enable gear changes in the conventional mechanism.