Holonomic bases, and drive shafts and roller assemblies that can be used in the holonomic bases. In some implementations, a holonomic base includes at least two pairs of roller assemblies, with each of the pairs being coupled to a corresponding drive shaft. In some of those implementations, each of the roller assemblies of each pair includes three roller segments that are each coupled to the corresponding drive shaft and that each include an exposed outward facing spherical zone that approximates a portion of the surface of a sphere. The roller segments of each roller assembly are in fixed relation to one another relative to the rotational axis of a drive shaft to which the roller assembly is coupled, but the roller segments each freely rotate about a corresponding roller segment rotational axis that extends outward from the drive shaft.

A lift device includes two vertical extendible tower members, each of the two vertical extendible tower members including, at a first lower distal end, an omnidirectional wheel assembly, and a vertical extension assembly configured to simultaneously raise and lower the two vertical extendible tower members in a vertical direction. The lift device further includes a horizontal extendible transverse member connected between second opposing distal upper ends of the two vertical extendible tower members. The horizontal extendible transverse member further including a horizontal extension assembly configured to extend and retract the horizontal extendible transverse member in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, a traveler carriage configured to move in the horizontal direction upon the horizontal extension assembly between the second opposing distal upper ends of the two vertical extendible tower members, and a payload lifting device configured to raise and lower a payload in the vertical direction with respect to the traveler carriage on the horizontal extension assembly.

A multidirectional wheel assembly for facilitating a cart to be moved in any direction at any time. The assembly includes a cup that is coupled to a leg of a cart. A sphere is rotatably positioned in the cup and the sphere rolls along a support surface. The sphere is rotatable in a selectable direction in the cup to facilitate the cart to be urged in the selectable direction.

A truck for a skateboard utilizes spherical balls mounted for rotation beneath the deck of the skateboard such that the balls are freely rotatable in a direction along the longitudinal axis and are less rotatable in a direction transverse to the axis such that the skateboard exhibits behavior expected from a snowboard in snow.

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.

An omnidirectional wheel is provided. The omnidirectional wheel includes a support unit, a major wheel, a first minor wheel and a second minor wheel. The major wheel is annular and is rotatably disposed on the support unit. The first minor wheel is rotatably disposed on the support unit. The first minor wheel is disposed on one side of the major wheel. The second minor wheel is rotatably disposed on the support unit. The second minor wheel is disposed on the other side of the major wheel. The omnidirectional wheel can easily roll over an obstacle when the omnidirectional wheel rolls laterally or forward.

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.

An article movement system includes an article and at least one ball wheel. The article has first and second article surfaces meeting at a first article edge. The ball wheel is located along the first article edge and includes a ball, a bearing arrangement and a shell. The ball engages a surface underlying the article, the bearing arrangement supports the ball for omni-directional rotational movement, and the shell is located along the first article edge and contains the ball and the bearing arrangement. The shell defines a non-circular ball opening through which a portion of the ball extends to contact the underlying surface. The article, the bearing arrangement and the shell are configured such that the ball wheel is able to support the article for omni-directional rolling motion over the underlying surface with either of the first and article surfaces parallel thereto, and at any orientation therebetween.

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.

A support assembly for a vehicle includes at least two spherical tires travelling on a road surface and rotating relative to the road surface and the vehicle and a drive system magnetically driving rotation of the tires relative to the drive system itself such that no portion of the drive system physically contacts the tires or the road surface.