For a vehicle having left and right powered front wheels and a rear axle having left and right casters, with at least one of the casters being steerable, the steering angle of the steerable caster is controlled when the vehicle is stationary and executing a direction orientation maneuver prior to transitioning to a turn. The rotations of the steerable caster and at least one of the left and right wheels may be autonomously adjusted using a controller. The controller rotates the steerable caster about a caster axis in a direction consistent with the direction of the turn through a steering angle proportion to the magnitude of the turn, and rotates at least one of the left and right wheels to turn the vehicle in a direction consistent with the direction of the turn and in proportion to the magnitude of the turn.

For a vehicle having left and right powered front wheels and a rear axle having left and right casters, with at least one of the casters being steerable, the steering angle of the steerable caster is controlled when the vehicle is stationary and executing a direction orientation maneuver prior to transitioning to a turn. The rotations of the steerable caster and at least one of the left and right wheels may be autonomously adjusted using a controller. The controller rotates the steerable caster about a caster axis in a direction consistent with the direction of the turn through a steering angle proportion to the magnitude of the turn, and rotates at least one of the left and right wheels to turn the vehicle in a direction consistent with the direction of the turn and in proportion to the magnitude of the turn.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for landing and perching on a curved ferromagnetic surface is provided. The UAV includes a plurality of articulated legs. Each articulated leg includes: a magnet configured to magnetically attach to the curved ferromagnetic surface; and a magnetic foot for housing the magnet and configured to magnetically articulate towards and attach to the curved ferromagnetic surface using the magnet in a perpendicular orientation with respect to the curved ferromagnetic surface, in response to the UAV approaching the curved ferromagnetic surface, in order to land the UAV on the curved ferromagnetic surface and for the UAV to perch on the curved ferromagnetic surface after the landing. The magnetic foot is configured to remain magnetically attached to the curved ferromagnetic surface while the UAV is perched on the curved ferromagnetic surface.

A utility vehicle includes a frame, a power source, and a plurality of steerable structures. Ground engaging members are connected to the steerable structures. An operator seating area includes a steering control and a speed control. Controllers receive input from the steering control and the speed control. Motors drive the ground engaging members at different speeds and in different directions. A controller integrates a steering input with a speed input to effect rotation of the steerable structures and effect rotation of the ground engaging members. The steering control, speed control, controllers, steerable structures, and motors are configured to work together to control the rotational speed of all of the ground engaging members based upon a steering angle input and the lateral side the ground engaging member is connected to. Other examples include braking mechanisms, adjustable track width, and a sealed tubular frame.

Generally described, an articulated wheel fairing system for a vehicle having a steering system with a neutral steering input and a non-neutral steering input is provided. The articulated wheel fairing system provides clearance to the steer tire and wheel of the vehicle during non-neutral steering input, such as when the vehicle is turning at slower road speeds. The wheel fairing system generally includes an articulating fairing panel configured to cover at least a portion of the steer wheel, where the fairing panel movable from a first position adjacent to the steer wheel, such as when the vehicle is traveling at higher road speeds, to a second position outwardly from the first position. The wheel fairing system includes a mechanical linkage or actuator coupled to the fairing panel and the vehicle and configured to move the frame between the first position and the second position relative to the vehicle.

Generally described, an articulated wheel fairing system for a vehicle having a steering system with a neutral steering input and a non-neutral steering input is provided. The articulated wheel fairing system provides clearance to the steer tire and wheel of the vehicle during non-neutral steering input, such as when the vehicle is turning at slower road speeds. The wheel fairing system generally includes an articulating fairing panel configured to cover at least a portion of the steer wheel, where the fairing panel movable from a first position adjacent to the steer wheel, such as when the vehicle is traveling at higher road speeds, to a second position outwardly from the first position. The wheel fairing system includes a mechanical linkage or actuator coupled to the fairing panel and the vehicle and configured to move the frame between the first position and the second position relative to the vehicle.

An automatic tilting vehicle includes a pair of wheels that are non-steering driving wheels, a braking/driving device, a vehicle tilting device, and a control device, and the control unit calculates a target tilt angle of the vehicle for tilting the vehicle turning inward and controls the vehicle tilting device so that a tilt angle of the vehicle becomes the target tilt angle. The control unit calculates target braking/driving forces of the pair of wheels based on a braking/driving operation of a driver, corrects the target braking/driving forces so that a difference between vertical forces acting on the wheels caused by the braking/driving forces of the pair of wheels is reduced, and controls the braking/driving device such that braking/driving forces of the pair of wheels becomes the corrected target braking/driving forces.

Mower castor swivel and steering control systems may include a pair of castor wheel engaging assemblies carried by the lawnmower frame of the riding lawnmower. The pair of castor wheel engaging assemblies may be configured for selective actuation to prevent swiveling of the pair of front castor wheels, respectively, on the riding lawnmower. At least one actuating device may operably engage the pair of castor wheel engaging assemblies. The at least one actuating device may be configured to actuate the pair of castor wheel engaging assemblies responsive to selective actuation by a mower operator of the riding lawnmower. A castor wheel steering assembly may operably engage the pair of castor wheel engaging assemblies. The castor wheel steering assembly may be configured to steer the pair of front castor wheels responsive to selective actuation by the mower operator simultaneous with actuation of the at least one actuating device.

Mower castor swivel and steering control systems may include a pair of castor wheel engaging assemblies carried by the lawnmower frame of the riding lawnmower. The pair of castor wheel engaging assemblies may be configured for selective actuation to prevent swiveling of the pair of front castor wheels, respectively, on the riding lawnmower. At least one actuating device may operably engage the pair of castor wheel engaging assemblies. The at least one actuating device may be configured to actuate the pair of castor wheel engaging assemblies responsive to selective actuation by a mower operator of the riding lawnmower. A castor wheel steering assembly may operably engage the pair of castor wheel engaging assemblies. The castor wheel steering assembly may be configured to steer the pair of front castor wheels responsive to selective actuation by the mower operator simultaneous with actuation of the at least one actuating device.

In a broad respect, vehicles that are capable of making a low- to zero-radius turn using the independent rotation of drive wheels and by turning the non-driving steerable structure or structures (such as wheels) with a steering input device (in some embodiments, the driving wheels also may be capable of being turned). This may be accomplished using a steering system, a speed control system and an integration device (together, a control system) that are configured to work together to provide correct steering in forward and reverse, and, in some embodiments, to reduce the speed of the outboard drive wheel of the vehicle when it enters an extreme turn under constant speed input. Different systems configured for use in such vehicles are included.