A system includes an inspection robot having a plurality of input sensors, the plurality of input sensors distributed horizontally relative to an inspection surface and configured to provide inspection data of the inspection surface at selected horizontal positions; a controller, comprising: a position definition circuit structured to determine an inspection robot position of the inspection robot on the inspection surface; a data positioning circuit structured to interpret the inspection data, and to correlate the inspection data to the inspection robot position on the inspection surface; and wherein the data positioning circuit is further structured to determine position informed inspection data in response to the correlating of the inspection data with the inspection robot position.

A caster wheel assembly for an outdoor power equipment machine includes a wheel mount and provides a double bell-shaped caster wheel including two bell-shaped halves, each bell-shaped half includes a central hub, a smooth transition portion, an outer circumferential rim, and a planar face. A ground contacting tread can be provided by the outer circumferential rims. A ground contacting tread can be provided by a resilient tread ring positioned between the two bell-shaped halves.

A system including an inspection robot having a plurality of sensors, a further sensor, and a controller. The controller having circuitry to receive inspection data with a first resolution from the plurality of sensors, determine a characteristic on the inspection surface based on the inspection data, and provide an inspection operation adjustment in response to the characteristic, wherein the inspection operation adjustment includes a change from the first resolution to a second resolution. The change from the first resolution to the second resolution includes enabling the further sensor where the further sensor is at least one of: horizontally distributed with or vertically displaced from the plurality of sensors relative to a travel path of the plurality of sensors, and at least one of: offset in alignment from the travel path of the plurality of sensors, or operated out of phase with the plurality of sensors.

A magnetic wheel driving device and a driving method using the same. The magnetic wheel driving device includes a vehicle body, a guide rail system, at least two magnetic wheel systems and a power system. The guide rail system includes two conductor plates, respectively arranged at two sides of the vehicle body. The at least two magnetic wheel systems are symmetrically arranged at two side walls of the vehicle body. A gap is provided between each magnetic wheel system and the corresponding conductor plate. The power system is configured to drive the at least two magnetic wheel systems to rotate.

An apparatus for applying a force to a vehicle (2) on a track (4), the apparatus comprising one or more magnets (6), the one or more magnets being rotatably mountable with respect to at least part of the vehicle. The track comprises one or more electrically conductive portions and the magnets are configured such that their rotation relative to the track induces one or more electrical currents in the track, such that a force is applied to the vehicle.

A system and method control magnetic adhesion of a wheel to a surface using internal cancellation magnets. An inner annular disc of the wheel comprises a non-magnetic material and has first and second apertures which retain magnets while an outer annular disc comprises a ferromagnetic material and is disposed on a side of the inner annular disc and has a non-magnetic isolator ring which extends in a serpentine manner. In one configuration, the curves of the serpentine isolator ring isolate the first magnets from the second magnets. In another configuration, the outer annular disc rotates relative to the inner annular disc to dispose the curves of the serpentine isolator ring in a second position to allow magnetic interaction between the first and second magnets to generate a second magnetic flux between the second magnets and the ferromagnetic surface to thereby decrease the adhesion of the wheel to the ferromagnetic surface.

A system and method control magnetic adhesion of a wheel to a surface using rotating air gaps. First and second discs have apertures. The first disc retains magnets in the apertures. When the apertures of the second disc are not align with the magnets, adhesion is increased. When the apertures of the second disc are aligned with the magnets, air gaps block magnetic flux to decrease the adhesion. A method implements the system.

A system and method control magnetic adhesion of a wheel to a surface using internal short-circuit conductors. The method includes providing the wheel having a first disc, apertures retaining magnets, and a conducting ring, and a second disc. In a first configuration, the second disc is isolated from the conducting ring to generate a first magnetic flux to increase adhesion. In a second configuration, magnetic interaction of the second disc and the conducting ring generates a second magnetic flux to decrease adhesion. The system implements the method.

A system and method control magnetic adhesion of a wheel to a ferromagnetic surface using sliding magnets, which slide in and out of a disc. Moving the magnets into the apertures generates a magnetic flux, increasing the magnetic adhesion. The system implements the method.

A system and method use a magnetic cancellation loop to control magnetic wheel adhesion. The wheel has an inner annular disc composed of a non-magnetic material with apertures to retain ferromagnetic structures and magnets, and an outer annular discs composed of a ferromagnetic material and are disposed on either side of the inner annular disc. Each outer annular disc has a non-magnetic isolator ring having curves extending in a serpentine manner. In a first configuration, the curves isolate the ferromagnetic structures from the magnets, thereby generating a first magnetic flux to increase the adhesion of the wheel to the ferromagnetic surface. In a second configuration, at least one outer annular disc is rotated to dispose the curves to allow magnetic interaction between the ferromagnetic structures and magnets, thereby generating a second magnetic to decrease the adhesion of the wheel to the ferromagnetic surface. The method implements the system.