Are you an actual firm in 2024 for those who do not announce plans to leverage AI? Sure positive, there is a large distinction between saying plans to make use of AI and, , really doing it… however a not too long ago revealed patent software from Shimano describes use of a trainable machine studying program for the automated management of mountain bike suspension and a dropper seat submit. Automatic management of suspension itself is nothing new. Fox Live Valve, RockShox Flight Attendant and extra not too long ago, SR Suntour’s TACT suspension merchandise have been robotically adjusting suspension damping, with various ranges of success, for an excellent variety of years now. However, the programming behind the perform of those merchandise is comparatively fastened. There isn’t any scope for the rider to provide the system suggestions on its efficiency. It cannot “be taught” what the rider’s preferences are.In distinction, what Shimano describes in US Patent 11866114 B2, is a system that may robotically modify suspension conduct and seatpost and saddle place on-the-fly, that may also be “educated” by the rider to carry out optimally for a given observe.I’ll admit that this patent made for a few of the driest studying I’ll (hopefully) do all yr. Like, as dry because the Sahara desert in a yr of notably low rainfall. Fear not. Here, I’ve tried to distill it into an ever so barely extra hydrated and digestible format.Machine Learning for Automatic Bicycle Suspension Control The setup includes a complete information acquisition system with a bunch of sensors measuring numerous parameters regarding how the bike is being ridden, and over what sort of terrain. Speed, cadence, torque, accelerations, tire strain and brake utilization are all measured, in addition to the bike’s yaw, roll, and pitch. Also in there are accelerometers on the suspension, recording details about how nicely the suspension is absorbing forces arising from the wheel. There’s additionally a digicam up entrance. All that data is fed right into a management unit, which is itself linked to a wide range of electrical motors or solenoid valves which are capable of modify issues like spring fee, damper place, stroke size, lock-out, seat submit peak, in addition to saddle place.It’s not so troublesome to think about how a chunk of software program might be programmed to actuate adjustments in suspension settings to make sure that the bike’s conduct is acceptable to the terrain at any given second. Though they do not use all the sensors talked about right here, Fox Live Valve and RockShox Flight Attendant suspension elements function on that foundation. What’s distinctive to Shimano’s patent, is that this system can be taught and alter itself accordingly because it collects an increasing number of information – information that might be thought of “coaching information” in AI and machine studying circles. And, a few of that information could be within the type of direct suggestions from the rider.Fig.11 reveals a range display screen, whereby the rider is requested to offer suggestions on suspension settings and seatpost peak adjustments that have been applied throughout the final 10 seconds of driving. The rider can choose “Like” or “Dislike” (rendered considerably hilariously in Facebook’s icons) to approve or disapprove of the change in query, suggestions that then informs the training module. This is a type of supervised studying the place the system is ready to bear in mind the rider’s preferences to make higher selections in future.The doc reads, “[the invention] achieves automated management of the telescopic mechanism acceptable for the driving traits and the desire of the consumer being the rider of the human-powered car.”Fig.15 reveals one other display screen stating which hypothetical programs have been realized by this system already – “Olympic Course” and “ABC Downhill”. It’s totally presumably my creativeness is working a bit of wild right here. But, is it doable that the goal is to develop a system for automated suspension management that’s extremely particular to each the observe being raced, and the rider’s desire? Let’s take into consideration how that may work over a World Cup XCO weekend. An athlete will get entry to the course for 2-3 hours per day forward of race day. They may get 6 or 7 full laps of the course, with the choice to session the extra technical sections of observe the place plethora line selection is on supply. On the primary few laps, the rider makes use of the guide mode, and the training module learns from the rider’s guide management of the suspension and seat submit, whereas accumulating data from the varied sensors distributed in regards to the bike. Thus, it can have a load of contextual data regarding when the rider determined to lock out their suspension, drop their submit, and so on., and so on.Later on, the rider would change to the re-learning mode, whereby the system would take over operation of the seat submit peak and suspension changes. A short while after making every adjustment, the system would ask the rider for suggestions on the change, with the easy “like” or “dislike”. That would offer the training module with the rider-specific information wanted to optimize the system additional.In patent converse, “automated management of the telescopic mechanism suited for every of the journey programs relying on varied conditions or working environments in accordance with number of enter data could be achieved by coaching the training mannequin for every of the completely different touring environments”.Of course, the rider would not really race with all of that {hardware}, owing to the burden penalty, however they might be blissful sufficient to lug it round apply laps if it means their setup is optimized to the nth diploma come race day.But, Shimano Doesn’t Produce Suspension Components This is the elephant within the room. While Shimano does manufacture the Koryak dropper seat submit below the PRO Components model, it doesn’t produce suspension. So, what enterprise have they patenting a machine studying methodology for automated management of suspension changes?It positive has left us pondering. I am unable to actually see this ever coming to market. It may merely be an R&D software that Shimano is utilizing to assist their race groups. We reached out to Shimano for remark, to which they responded, “Shimano is consistently in improvement of latest merchandise however doesn’t touch upon rumors, innuendo, or hypothesis about merchandise, whether or not they’re in improvement or not”.A Natural Evolution of the Dropper Seat Post? While a lot of the patent contents concentrate on the implementation of a user-trainable machine studying program for the automated adjustment of elements, additionally tucked away in there’s a description of what may be thought of the following logical evolution of the dropper seat submit.It isn’t solely capable of telescope up and down to regulate saddle peak, it could possibly additionally modify saddle tilt angle and fore-aft place on the rails by way of an electrical motor. Such a dropper would permit a rider to dial of their saddle place whereas driving alongside, primarily permitting them to vary their efficient seat tube angle whereas driving. It’s simple that the optimum mixture for saddle peak, tilt angle and fore-aft place for climbing isn’t the identical because the optimum mixture for descending. For a sustained uphill effort, the dropper will probably be at top-out, maybe with the saddle nostril angled down barely to assist the rider maintain their weight ahead, and presumably additionally shifted ahead on the rails to maintain the rider’s place biased ahead to take care of a commanding place for pedaling. For descending, that saddle must be proper out of the best way; along with the apparent dropped place, it is also helpful to slip the saddle backwards on its rails with an altered tilt place. You’d primarily be trying the for the candy spot whereby the saddle by no means interferes together with your legs on a descent.What Shimano has outlined might be loosely described as an electronically adjustable model of the Aenomaly Switchgrade. But, on prime of the flexibility to adjustable saddle tilt, it could possibly additionally modify the fore-aft place. Mention of such a dropper submit would not essentially imply that Shimano is definitely growing it. Sure, it might be our first glimpse of the following technology seat submit from PRO. More possible, Shimano has added in these additional adjustable options to make sure their patent covers all bases, primarily future-proofing the scope of the patent.
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/shimano-files-patent-detailing-machine-learning-for-automatic-suspension-control.html
Shimano Files Patent Detailing Machine Learning for Automatic Suspension Control
