A propulsion system for a vehicle or toy vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises rotary drive means for driving the vehicle along ground, the rotary drive means operating in a plane and having a peripheral ground-engagement part. The system further comprises a rotor comprising one or more rotor blades rotatable about a rotor axis for producing thrust, wherein the rotary drive means and the rotor are positioned relative to each other so that during rotation of the rotor, the rotor blades pass through the plane of the rotary drive means, inside the peripheral ground-engagement part. In this way, the rotor blades are protected by the peripheral ground-engagement part.

A propulsion system for a vehicle or toy vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises rotary drive means for driving the vehicle along ground, the rotary drive means operating in a plane and having a peripheral ground-engagement part. The system further comprises a rotor comprising one or more rotor blades rotatable about a rotor axis for producing thrust, wherein the rotary drive means and the rotor are positioned relative to each other so that during rotation of the rotor, the rotor blades pass through the plane of the rotary drive means, inside the peripheral ground-engagement part. In this way, the rotor blades are protected by the peripheral ground-engagement part.

A system includes an inspection robot having an input sensor comprising a laser profiler and a plurality of wheels structured to engage a curved portion of an inspection surface, wherein the laser profiler is configured to provide laser profiler data of the inspection surface; a controller, comprising: a profiler data circuit structured to interpret the laser profiler data; determine a feature of interest is present at a location of the inspection surface in response to the laser profiler data; and wherein the feature of interest comprises a shape description of the inspection surface at the location of the feature of interest.

The present disclosure may relate to a wheel that may include first and second exoskeleton plates. The wheel may also include first and second roller guide assemblies that each include one or more bearings, a roller guide coupled with the one or more bearings, and a shaft spanning the first and second exoskeleton plates and coupled with the roller guide such that the roller guide rotates around the shaft. The wheel may also include a tire and a centerless rim coupled with the tire. The centerless rim may be configured to have a shape that corresponds to a shape of the roller guide, and the roller guide may be configured to contact the centerless rim as the centerless rim rotates. The wheel may also include a first limiter to maintain contact between the centerless rim and the roller guide, and a second limiter.

The present disclosure may relate to a wheel that may include first and second exoskeleton plates. The wheel may also include first and second roller guide assemblies that each include one or more bearings, a roller guide coupled with the one or more bearings, and a shaft spanning the first and second exoskeleton plates and coupled with the roller guide such that the roller guide rotates around the shaft. The wheel may also include a tire and a centerless rim coupled with the tire. The centerless rim may be configured to have a shape that corresponds to a shape of the roller guide, and the roller guide may be configured to contact the centerless rim as the centerless rim rotates. The wheel may also include a first limiter to maintain contact between the centerless rim and the roller guide, and a second limiter.

In various embodiments, a zero-turn radius robotic base may comprise a substantially rectangular (e.g., rectangular) base portion that comprises a plurality of wheels. In various embodiments, the plurality of wheels are configured to support the robotic base adjacent a support surface (e.g., the ground, a suitable flooring surface within a building, etc.). In some embodiments, the robotic base comprises a first and second driving wheel and a plurality of stability wheels. In some embodiments, an axis of rotation of the first and the second driving wheel are collinear. In various embodiments, the plurality of stability wheels are spaces apart from the axis of rotation of the first and second driving wheels to provide stability to the robotic base.

Systems and methods are provided for a drive mechanism of a vehicle, that may include: a rotor comprising a ring of a plurality of magnets located about a circumference of a rim of a wheel of the vehicle, the plurality of magnets generating a first magnetic field; a stator comprising a plurality of coils, the stator mounted to a body of the vehicle, and located outside a wheel of the vehicle and proximate to an outer edge of the ring of the plurality of magnets; and wherein the plurality of coils of the stator, when energized by an AC waveform, generate a second magnetic field stator, and further wherein an interaction between the first and second magnetic fields creates an attractive force causing tractive motion of the wheel about an axis of rotation of the wheel.

There is provided an air spring for supporting a load, the air spring comprises a chamber for holding a pressurized gas in use, a load-bearing surface arranged to transmit a force from a load in use to the pressurized gas held in the chamber. Importantly, in order to lower the spring rate, the chamber contains a mass of adsorptive material. There is also provided a use of an adsorptive material for the purpose of lowering the spring rate of an air spring, including a gas strut and a pneumatic wheel. There is also provided a method of designing an air spring using an adsorptive material to lower the spring rate.

A portable device to drill holes has a platform. A plurality of wheel sets is coupled to the platform. A drive system is used for driving the plurality of wheels. An attachment mechanism is positioned on an underside of the platform for securing the device to a surface. A control board is used for controlling the operation of the device. A drill spindle assembly is coupled to the platform. A drill feed assembly is coupled to the drill spindle assembly for raising and lowering the drill spindle assembly. A plurality of sensors are operable to sense one or more magnets disposed below the surface. A drive table is used for positioning the drill spindle assembly in an XY plane based on an output of said plurality of sensors.

The present disclosure generally relates to an omni-direction wheel system and methods for controlling the omni-direction wheel system. The omni-direction wheel system includes a plurality of suspension systems that operate independently of one another. Each suspension system may include an electromagnetic steering hub configured to rotate a wheel 360 degrees about a vertical axis based on a polarity of an electromagnetic signal applied to the electromagnetic steering hub. The suspension system may further include an in-wheel motor configured to rotate with the wheel and drive the wheel about a horizontal axis.