Vehicle Having Front Storage

Abstract

An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a vehicle comprising a vehicle body; and a front storage module coupled to the front of the vehicle body, the front storage module comprising: a drawer; and a drawer actuator configured to move the drawer from a closed position within a cavity of the vehicle body to an open position at least partially extended from the front of the vehicle body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle body; and   a front storage module coupled to the front of the vehicle body, the front storage module comprising:
 a drawer; and 
 a drawer actuator configured to move the drawer from a closed position within a cavity of the vehicle body to an open position at least partially extended from the front of the vehicle body. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one sensor; and   a control unit configured to prevent the drawer from opening based on an input from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor senses an area surrounding the vehicle, and
 wherein the control unit is further configured to prevent the drawer from opening based on a determination that the drawer would collide with an obstacle in the area surrounding the vehicle when opened.   
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor senses a movement of the vehicle, and
 wherein the control unit is further configured to prevent the drawer from opening based on a determination that the vehicle is moving.   
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor senses a movement of the vehicle, and
 wherein the control unit is further configured to prevent the drawer from opening based on a determination that the vehicle movement has exceeded a threshold.   
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the front storage module further comprises a temperature regulator configured to control the temperature of the drawer by heating or cooling the drawer;
 wherein the at least one sensor senses a state of charge of the vehicle, and   wherein the control unit is further configured to control the temperature regulating unit based on the state of charge.   
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the drawer is insulated. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the front storage module further comprises a light, and
 wherein the light is actuated based on a position of the drawer.   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the drawer actuator comprises:
 a motor; and   at least one a cable, belt, chain, or spindle coupled to the motor and drawer.   
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling a vehicle, the method comprising:
 receiving a signal to open a drawer of the vehicle, wherein a front storage module of the vehicle includes the drawer and a drawer actuator configured to move the drawer from a closed position within a cavity of the vehicle body to an open position at least partially extended from the front of the vehicle body;   in response to the signal, sending a drawer signal to the drawer actuator instructing the drawer actuator to move the drawer from a closed position within a cavity of the vehicle body to an open position at least partially extended from the front of the vehicle body.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising:
 receiving input from a sensor; and   in response to the input, preventing the drawer from fully extending based on an input from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor senses an area surrounding the vehicle, and
 wherein preventing the drawer from opening fully comprises:
 determining the input indicates the drawer would collide with an obstacle in the area when fully extended. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor senses whether the vehicle is moving, and
 wherein the drawer signal is sent when the input indicates the vehicle is not moving.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor senses a movement of the vehicle, and wherein the drawer signal is sent when the input indicates the vehicle has not exceeded a threshold speed. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the front storage module further comprises a temperature regulator configured to control the temperature of the drawer by heating or cooling the drawer, and the method comprising:
 receiving a state of charge of the vehicle, and   controlling the temperature regulating unit based on the state of charge.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the front storage module further comprises a light, and the method comprising:
 actuating the light based on a position of the drawer.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the signal is received from a button or a motion sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the signal is received over a wireless link.