An embodiment wheel includes a wheel frame unit including a plurality of peripheral regions, a driving power unit disposed at a first side of the wheel frame unit and configured to provide a rotational force that allows the wheel frame unit to perform a rotational motion about a central axis, and a walking power unit disposed at the first side of the wheel frame unit and configured to provide power that changes relative positions between the plurality of peripheral regions.

A convertible ducted fan engine and mounting system. The convertible ducted fan engine has a shroud encircling a mechanical fan. The convertible ducted fan engine includes a fluid-propulsion configuration in which the mechanical fan rotates freely with respect to the shroud to produce thrust through fluid flow, and a drive-wheel configuration in which the shroud rotates about the rotational axis.

An embodiment is developed for a cylindrically shaped, elliptical rolling robot that has the ability to morph its outer surface as it rolls. The morphing actuation alters lengths of the major and minor axes, resulting in a torque imbalance that rolls the robot along faster or brakes its motion. A control scheme is implemented, whereby angular position and horizontal velocity are used as feedback to trigger and define morphing actuation. A goal of the control scheme is to cause the robot to follow a given velocity profile comprised of steps and ramps. Equations of motion for the rolling robot are formulated, which include rolling resistance torque caused by deformation of the outer surface tread. A computer program solves the equations of motion, and resulting plots show that by automatically morphing its shape in a periodic fashion, the rolling robot is able to commence from an initial position, achieve constant average velocity and slow itself.

An embodiment is developed for a cylindrically shaped, elliptical rolling robot that has the ability to morph its outer surface as it rolls. The morphing actuation alters lengths of the major and minor axes, resulting in a torque imbalance that rolls the robot along faster or brakes its motion. A control scheme is implemented, whereby angular position and horizontal velocity are used as feedback to trigger and define morphing actuation. A goal of the control scheme is to cause the robot to follow a given velocity profile comprised of steps and ramps. Equations of motion for the rolling robot are formulated, which include rolling resistance torque caused by deformation of the outer surface tread. A computer program solves the equations of motion, and resulting plots show that by automatically morphing its shape in a periodic fashion, the rolling robot is able to commence from an initial position, achieve constant average velocity and slow itself.

Embodiments of collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Autonomously drivable vehicles, selectively controllable by on-board and remote controllers and capable of travel on both conventional railways and conventional roadways by virtue of bimodal wheel combinations of roadways wheels and railway wheels, the latter of slightly smaller radius than that of the former, are disclosed. Vehicle direction and speed are alternatively and selectively controlled by (1) an onboard vehicle controller (autonomous and/or personal) or (2) a remote controller (as in a locomotive or central rail network management system). In railway mode, direction is controlled by track-following railway wheels and movement is propelled either by an on-board motor or motors or by locomotive force supplied by a connected vehicle such as a conventional locomotive.

Autonomously drivable vehicles, selectively controllable by on-board and remote controllers and capable of travel on both conventional railways and conventional roadways by virtue of bimodal wheel combinations of roadways wheels and railway wheels, the latter of slightly smaller radius than that of the former, are disclosed. Vehicle direction and speed are alternatively and selectively controlled by (1) an onboard vehicle controller (autonomous and/or personal) or (2) a remote controller (as in a locomotive or central rail network management system). In railway mode, direction is controlled by track-following railway wheels and movement is propelled either by an on-board motor or motors or by locomotive force supplied by a connected vehicle such as a conventional locomotive.

A vehicle includes a frame including a front frame part and a rear frame part. A single front wheel is rotatably connected to the front frame part. A single rear wheel is rotatably connected to the rear frame part. Each of the front wheel and the rear wheel is adapted to have a cylindrical shape in top view when the vehicle is traveling in a straight direction, and at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel is adapted to expand and have a frustoconical shape in top view in a turning condition of the vehicle.

A transformable wheel includes a wheel frame including a plurality of contact portions and a plurality of recessed portions. A plurality of transforming members is provided wherein one side of each transforming member is rotatably coupled to a corresponding one of the recessed portions and an outer surface of each transforming member forming a portion of the wheel frame. A rotating member is provided at one side surface of the wheel frame, and includes a plurality of transformation locking members arranged radially from the central axis of the wheel frame to correspond to the plurality of transforming members, respectively. A driving member is configured to rotate the rotating members by a preset angle about the central axis of the wheel frame.

A transformable wheel includes a wheel frame including a plurality of contact portions and a plurality of recessed portions. A plurality of transforming members is provided wherein one side of each transforming member is rotatably coupled to a corresponding one of the recessed portions and an outer surface of each transforming member forming a portion of the wheel frame. A rotating member is provided at one side surface of the wheel frame, and includes a plurality of transformation locking members arranged radially from the central axis of the wheel frame to correspond to the plurality of transforming members, respectively. A driving member is configured to rotate the rotating members by a preset angle about the central axis of the wheel frame.