An omnidirectional wheel including a rim with at least one plate member and a means of attaching the wheel to a vehicle; a plurality of rollers comprising at least two toroidal rows of rollers disposed around the rim for mounting a tire; and a means of actuating the tire around its axis, defined, for example, by the never-ending torus axial member of the tire, whereby, when the wheel is engaging the ground, the tire rolling on the rim causes a side movement of the wheel, parallel to the wheel axis, in a plan orthogonal to the normal plan of rotation of the wheel when attached to the vehicle. A tire having a never-ending torus axial member, a helical bearing member, and a resilient toroidal shape is also provided.

The present disclosure may relate to centerless wheel assembly that includes a centerless rim including a first center point laying in a first plane generally defined by the centerless rim. The centerless wheel assembly may also include a centerless ring gear coupled to the centerless rim such that rotation of the centerless ring gear causes a corresponding rotation of the centerless rim. The centerless ring gear may include a second center point laying in a second plane generally defined by the centerless ring gear, and the first plane may be generally parallel to the second plane. Additionally, the centerless ring gear may be shaped to interface with a drive gear that drives the centerless ring gear.

The present disclosure may relate to centerless wheel assembly that includes a centerless rim including a first center point laying in a first plane generally defined by the centerless rim. The centerless wheel assembly may also include a centerless ring gear coupled to the centerless rim such that rotation of the centerless ring gear causes a corresponding rotation of the centerless rim. The centerless ring gear may include a second center point laying in a second plane generally defined by the centerless ring gear, and the first plane may be generally parallel to the second plane. Additionally, the centerless ring gear may be shaped to interface with a drive gear that drives the centerless ring gear.

A caster apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, there is provided a caster apparatus including a caster wheel and a first driving wheel disposed on a first side of the caster wheel. The first driving wheel is configured to be driven by a first motor. A second driving wheel is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side of the caster wheel. The second driving wheel is configured to be driven by a second motor different from the first motor. A first actuator is configured to move the first driving wheel in a vertical direction to a ground according to a curvature of the ground. A second actuator is configured to move the second driving wheel in a vertical direction to the ground according to a curvature of the ground, wherein the first and second driving wheels are configured to steer the caster wheel.

A bicycle wheel assembly may include a rim, a hub assembly, a plurality of spokes and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes a damping element configured to apply a damping force against at least one spoke of the plurality of spokes. The damping force may be applied in an axial direction of the bicycle wheel and/or to a segment of the at least one spoke near the hub assembly.

An attachment is provided for a vehicle wheel, having a rim and a tire arranged on the rim, for enabling a driving operation with a restricted tire function in an operating state in which the attachment is fastened on the vehicle wheel. The attachment may include a stationary section configured to be fastened immovably with respect to the rim in the operating state in which the attachment is fastened on the vehicle wheel, a tread section with a tread for contacting the road, and at least two clamping devices configured to engage behind a section of the rim to fasten the attachment on the vehicle wheel, wherein the tread includes at least one tread segment arranged movably in a circumferential direction with respect to the stationary section in the operating state in which the attachment is fastened on the vehicle wheel.

A wheel rotated by a load applied to an axle remaining stationary at an eccentric position is disclosed. The present invention comprises: the wheel configured such that the outer periphery of an inner rim of the wheel assembled to a wheel hub provided at the axle to which the load is applied applies pressure to a plurality of compressive force elastic bodies provided at the inner periphery of an outer rim of the wheel; and a control roller for pushing the outer rim of the wheel at a gap of a predetermined range such that the axle provided at the wheel hub always remains stationary at the eccentric position of the wheel.

A wheel rotated by a load applied to an axle remaining stationary at an eccentric position is disclosed. The present invention comprises: the wheel configured such that the outer periphery of an inner rim of the wheel assembled to a wheel hub provided at the axle to which the load is applied applies pressure to a plurality of compressive force elastic bodies provided at the inner periphery of an outer rim of the wheel; and a control roller for pushing the outer rim of the wheel at a gap of a predetermined range such that the axle provided at the wheel hub always remains stationary at the eccentric position of the wheel.

Inspection vehicle for under water inspection of coating, marine growth, structural integrity and corrosion on ferromagnetic ship hulls and other ferromagnetic structures. The inspection vehicle is distinctive in that it comprises a non-magnetic element, at least one magnetic wheel or device operatively arranged to the element, and a watertight camera for visual inspection attached to the element or other structure of the inspection vehicle, wherein the inspection vehicle comprises one coupling side where the at least one magnetic wheel or device is operatively arranged for the inspection vehicle to couple magnetically through coating, any marine growth and corrosion products and allow rolling the inspection vehicle on said structure, in horizontal to vertical to upside down-orientation while holding the inspection vehicle attached to the structure, and one non-coupling side oriented in substance in opposite direction to the coupling side, where the at least one magnetic wheel is not operatively arranged and the non-coupling side will not couple magnetically to said structure. A method for operating the inspection vehicle is also provided.

Automated storage and retrieval systems which include robots that move along ceilings and/or walls to retrieve and/or transport goods. The robots use magnetic adhesion to hold to the surfaces. The robots adjust the magnetic adhesion force in response to changes in weight or other conditions.