A wearable device configured to selectively provide roller transportation, the wearable device including a shoe, a plurality of wheel assemblies, each wheel assembly being configured to selectively roll relative to a ground surface about an associated axis of rotation, and a frame connected between the wheel assemblies, the frame comprising a trunk and a plurality of branches extending from the trunk, each of the branches being configured for connection to at least one of the plurality of wheel assemblies, wherein at least a portion of the shoe is located vertically higher than at least a portion of the frame when at least one of the wheel assemblies is in contact with the ground surface and the at least one of the wheel assemblies is positioned to selectively roll relative to the ground surface.

An electrically powered vehicle is disclosed, having a resistor to facilitate dynamic breaking when the electrically powered vehicle is moving downhill or under other external motive force.

A powered skateboard having a powered wheel. The powered wheel formed of a motor within tire of the wheel. The powered wheel fixed to a truck of the powered skateboard. The powered skateboard including at least one onboard battery to provide electrical power to the powered wheel.

A wheeled board device with forward and rearward in-line wheel structures attached to a user platform. The forward wheel may have a forward tilt axle or be otherwise direction-biased to permit lean-based turning. The rear wheel may be singular or comprise two tires or the like and be motorized or not. The wheels are preferably large to more readily handle surface irregularities. A self-balancing wheelie mode is disclosed in one embodiment. Other embodiments include placement of the forward tilt axle within or without the envelope of the front wheel. The user platform is below the top of the rear wheel and preferably near the axis of the rear wheel, among other features.

A pipe transporter traction wheel suitable for mounting on a pipe transporter travelable along an interior surface of a pipe may include a tractor portion configured to be attached to a pipe transporter, the tractor portion having a tractor surface configured to contact an interior surface of a pipe when the pipe transporter is driven in the pipe. The tractor portion may include a harder granular material and a softer matrix material embedding the granular material. The wheel may include a hub and/or a mounting interface. A kit may be provided including one or two adapters and a wheel.

A self-propelled skateboard with at least one front wheel, a rear wheel, and a board, that is propelled without the rider's foot touching the ground. A driving force is generated the rider's weight is continuously shifted up and down in synchrony with the rocking motion of the eccentrically mounted rear wheel, which causes the board to be repeatedly pushed down and bounced back. Mounting multiple axles and one-way sprag clutch bearings on the rear wheel allows the rider to propel the board up inclined surfaces and to stop his/her motion and rest on the board, yet keep the skateboard continuously running.

A foot-deck-based vehicle, a front wheel support, and at least one accessory therefor are provided. The foot-deck-based vehicle having a foot-deck with a front end, a rear end, and at least one rear wheel proximal to the rear end. The foot-deck-based vehicle has a front wheel support comprising a pair of wheel interfaces, each of which is couplable to a front wheel, a main body extending between the wheel interfaces and coupled to the foot-deck, and at least one recess in the main body. At least one accessory is snugly securable within the at least one recess of the front wheel support, wherein the main body has a first stiffness when the at least one accessory is removed from the at least one recess, and has a second stiffness that is greater than the first stiffness when the at least one accessory is snugly secured within the at least one recess, wherein the first stiffness and the second stiffness are resistances to bending under a bending load applied to the front wheel support through the foot-deck when the foot-deck supports a person.

A self-balancing electric vehicle may include a platform having first and second foot placement sections rigidly coupled to each other, and a pair of coaxial, motorized wheels independently mounted between the first and second foot placement sections. The first and second wheels may be coupled to the platform via spring suspensions. Rider presence and turning intentions may be determined based on strain induced in the platform by the rider. The strain may be detected by one or more strain gauge systems. One of the strain gauge systems may be configured for use in a steering control circuit, and may include a strain gauge sensor mounted diagonally with respect to a long axis of the platform, such that the strain gauge detects only twist-induced strain.

The present invention is a personal mobility device having multiple modes of operation, including a deck, and a first and second wheel assembly, and at least one battery powered electric motor, and actuation means. The deck includes an elongate substantially flat body, and each wheel assembly is attached to the deck in the vicinity of a respective end of the elongate body. The respective axle of each wheel assembly is located upon the plane of the deck. The at least one battery powered electric motor is adapted to be actuated via the actuation means when a user steps onto the deck, and adapted to drive the first and second wheel assemblies, and wherein in the first mode of operation, both the first and second wheel assemblies are adapted to roll in a circumferential direction, predominately under the influence of the at least one electric motor, so that the device moves in an orthogonal direction to the longitudinal axis of the deck, and wherein in a second mode of operation, both the first and second wheel assemblies are also adapted to optionally free-roll in an orthogonal direction to the plane of the wheel assembly, thereby allowing the device to move substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the deck. There is a transitional mode of operation, where the device is capable of continuously and smoothly transitioning between the first and second mode of operation, while the device is being ridden.

An electric weight sensing skateboard using one or more strain gauge systems to detect rider-induced strain on one or both trucks, an inertial sensor to detect accelerations and balance position, and wheel speed sensors. Throttle is controlled by rider position, for example, lean forward to increase speed, lean back to slow down. Several drive methods include a rider position detection velocity setpoint control, torque setpoint control, and direct velocity/torque control. A throttle remote is not required. Rider weight activates the motors.