USE MULTIFUNCTIONNAL DOCKING SYSTEMS FOR THE BIXI STATIONS
With a mandate from Michel Dallaire to overcome the existing self-service bicycle system patents, and provide a unique system distinct to Montreal, Charles Khairallah, with inspiration from ANAT modular robotic technology, created the bike dock to be easily deployable and removable, and completely modular. A BIXI station is a platform with four slots which, thanks to the modularity of the system, can support a bike dock, a pay station, or an additional power generator. Maintenance of the system was greatly simplified through modularity, as the locking system for the bikes, the system that identifies bikes and their users, the keypad and sensors are contained in an internal module in the bike dock, which is what is what makes the BIXI so unique. In case of damage to key components in the system, this module can be easily replaced with an identical one. The power consumption of the system had to be optimized, to ensure it would not exceed the capacity of the solar panels. Robotics Design chose the low power consuming components of the system, including the locking system, which patents have been applied for with Charles Khairallah as primary inventor. This locking system is based on an energy efficient actuator currently employed in the medical sector and inspired by the quick connect locking system. The entire system is robust, resilient and theft-proof, and the system has been from Boston to London, and continues to grow worldwide. PCT/CA2009/000539 US 2009/0301976 Al
