The present application discloses an automated restaurant comprising: a kitchen; a customer-tracking area comprising a dining area; and a plurality of vehicles. The kitchen comprises a storage apparatus to store ingredient containers, a transfer apparatus to move ingredient containers, and one or more cooking stations. Each vehicle is configured to move one or more food containers from cooking stations to dining tables. A tracking system comprises cameras, lidars, etc., which are fixedly mounted. The tracking system can dynamically map out the fixtures, humans and vehicles in the restaurant. Information from the tracking system is used to control the motion of the vehicles. The tracking system can dynamically track the positions of customers in the customer-tracking area, so that foods ordered by specific customers may be automatically sent by vehicles to the customers' locations.

The present application discloses a vehicle. The vehicle comprises: a first support component and a second support component which may rotate relative to each other; a first drive wheel which is rotatable relative to the first support component; a second drive wheel which is rotatable relative to the second support component; a first universal wheel mounted on the first support component; and a second universal wheel mounted on the second support component. If the vehicle is placed on a horizontal floor and if both drive wheels touch the horizontal floor, then the axis of the first drive wheel and the axis of the second drive wheel may be contained or nearly contained in a vertical plane. The vehicle further comprises motors, sensors and a computer.

The present application discloses a vehicle. The vehicle comprises: a first support component and a second support component which may rotate relative to each other; a first drive wheel which is rotatable relative to the first support component; a second drive wheel which is rotatable relative to the second support component; a first universal wheel mounted on the first support component; and a second universal wheel mounted on the second support component. If the vehicle is placed on a horizontal floor and if both drive wheels touch the horizontal floor, then the axis of the first drive wheel and the axis of the second drive wheel may be contained or nearly contained in a vertical plane. The vehicle further comprises motors, sensors and a computer.

A method for attaching a rear frame suspension module to an existing vehicle that will operate on the existing automotive engine, heating, and cooling system. The rear frame suspension module supports passengers sitting straddled in a front to back position to give an existing vehicle a motorcycle-like appearance. The rear suspension module can be attached and removed from an existing automobile front frame suspension module. The resulting wider front structure of the vehicle makes for safer riding compared to a two wheel motorcycle. Vehicle maintenance can be done at most automotive repair shops.

A linkage-based shifting assembly comprises first and second arms, having a first wheel rotatably coupled to a proximal end of the first arm and a second wheel rotatably coupled to a proximal end of the second arm. A shifting assembly is configured to couple to a chassis, wherein the shifting assembly is coupled to distal ends of the first and second arms and configured to cause a relative shifting motion between the chassis and the first and second wheels. The linkage-based shifting assembly can form part of a vehicle. The vehicle can be a two-wheeled vehicle. The vehicle can be a mobile carrier. The mobile carrier can be a two-wheeled vehicle.

A mobile carrier apparatus comprises a chassis, a drive mechanism supported by the chassis and arranged to drive a plurality of wheels, a body supported by the chassis and an internal volume defined within the body, and an opening in the body that provides access to the internal volume, a rim formed within the opening and including a support surface configured to receive and support a removable payload above the chassis. A payload can be provided that is configured for use with a mobile carrier.

A self-propelled device is disclosed that includes a center of mass drive system. The self-propelled device includes a substantially cylindrical body and wheels, with each wheel having a diameter substantially equivalent to the body. The self-propelled device may further include an internal drive system with a center of mass below a rotational axis of the wheels. Operation and maneuvering of the self-propelled device may be performed via active displacement of the center of mass.

A self-propelled device is disclosed that includes a center of mass drive system. The self-propelled device includes a substantially cylindrical body and wheels, with each wheel having a diameter substantially equivalent to the body. The self-propelled device may further include an internal drive system with a center of mass below a rotational axis of the wheels. Operation and maneuvering of the self-propelled device may be performed via active displacement of the center of mass.

An electrical passenger car, the electrical passenger car including: an electrically driven motor; differential speed control; and wheels, where the wheels include a first front wheel, a second front wheel, a first back wheel, and a second back wheel, where at least one of the wheels has a radius larger than 80 cm, where the differential speed control includes an ability to have a turning speed of the first front wheel greater than a turning speed of the second front wheel, and where the electrical passenger car is designed to travel for a greater distance for the same axial to wheel friction energy loss than a similar electrical passenger car having wheels of a smaller radius.

A four-wheel chassis comprising a body, and a front wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly detachably coupled to the body. After detached from the body, one of the front wheel assembly and the rear wheel assembly independently moves as a two-wheel chassis. The one of the front wheel assembly and the rear wheel assembly is connected to a wheel driving controller that controls wheels of the two-wheel chassis.