An omni-directional wheel includes: a center wheel configured to rotate about a first rotation axis extending in a first direction; a plurality of peripheral wheels arranged along a circumference of the center wheel and configured to rotate about a second rotation axis extending in a second direction different from the first direction; and a plurality of variable supports provided on the center wheel and configured to respectively support the plurality of peripheral wheels. At least one of the plurality of variable supports is configured to absorb, when an impact force is applied to at least one of the plurality of peripheral wheels being supported by the at least one of the plurality of variable supports, the impact by changing a distance between the center wheel and the at least one of the plurality of peripheral wheels.

An omni-directional wheel includes: a center wheel configured to rotate about a first rotation axis extending in a first direction; a plurality of peripheral wheels arranged along a circumference of the center wheel and configured to rotate about a second rotation axis extending in a second direction different from the first direction; and a plurality of variable supports provided on the center wheel and configured to respectively support the plurality of peripheral wheels. At least one of the plurality of variable supports is configured to absorb, when an impact force is applied to at least one of the plurality of peripheral wheels being supported by the at least one of the plurality of variable supports, the impact by changing a distance between the center wheel and the at least one of the plurality of peripheral wheels.

An omnidirectional wheel including a rim with at least one plate member and a means of attaching the wheel to a vehicle; a plurality of rollers comprising at least two toroidal rows of rollers disposed around the rim for mounting a tire; and a means of actuating the tire around its axis, defined, for example, by the never-ending torus axial member of the tire, whereby, when the wheel is engaging the ground, the tire rolling on the rim causes a side movement of the wheel, parallel to the wheel axis, in a plan orthogonal to the normal plan of rotation of the wheel when attached to the vehicle. A tire having a never-ending torus axial member, a helical bearing member, and a resilient toroidal shape is also provided.

A caster apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, there is provided a caster apparatus including a caster wheel and a first driving wheel disposed on a first side of the caster wheel. The first driving wheel is configured to be driven by a first motor. A second driving wheel is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side of the caster wheel. The second driving wheel is configured to be driven by a second motor different from the first motor. A first actuator is configured to move the first driving wheel in a vertical direction to a ground according to a curvature of the ground. A second actuator is configured to move the second driving wheel in a vertical direction to the ground according to a curvature of the ground, wherein the first and second driving wheels are configured to steer the caster wheel.

A caster apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, there is provided a caster apparatus including a caster wheel and a first driving wheel disposed on a first side of the caster wheel. The first driving wheel is configured to be driven by a first motor. A second driving wheel is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side of the caster wheel. The second driving wheel is configured to be driven by a second motor different from the first motor. A first actuator is configured to move the first driving wheel in a vertical direction to a ground according to a curvature of the ground. A second actuator is configured to move the second driving wheel in a vertical direction to the ground according to a curvature of the ground, wherein the first and second driving wheels are configured to steer the caster wheel.

A high temperature-resistant wheel, comprising: an elastic hub assembly (1), which has a thermal insulation layer integrated therewith so as to insulate the elastic hub assembly (1) from exterior high temperatures; and a rigid wheel barbed ring (2), which has the elastic hub assembly (1) fastened inside and rotates together with the elastic hub assembly (1). A robot, which comprises the high temperature-resistant wheel.

The invention relates to an electric motor (24) designed for driving a vehicle (10) which can be moved by a person, particularly a pram (11), walker or the like, having a rotor (52), which comprises at least one holder (80) for a wheel (14, 16), and a stator (54) which can be connected through a housing (38) to a load-bearing structure (12) of the vehicle (10). According to the invention, the housing (38) has a status display (84) on which parameters, particularly power parameters, of the electric motor (24) can be displayed so as to be visible from the outside.

A snake board apparatus includes: a front footboard part (100) on which a user puts one foot; a rear footboard part (200) on which a user puts the other foot; and a connecting part (300) connecting the front footboard part (100) and the rear footboard part (200) to each other. The connecting part (300) includes: a first finishing member (310) inserted into the housing (120) of the front footboard part (100); a first pipe (320) having one end portion connected to surround a portion of the first finishing member (310) and the other end portion provided with a concave part (322); a second pipe (330) having one end portion integrally provided with a first stopper (332), an outer circumferential surface provided with a coil spring (340), and the other end portion provided with a concave part (334), wherein a locking part (336) is formed at an end portion with a certain interval from the concave part, and second pipe 330 penetrating the first pipe 320 and inserted into the first pipe at a predetermined depth, and the second pipe (330) passes through the first pipe (320) and is inserted into the first pipe by a certain depth; a third pipe (370) having one end portion integrally provided with a third stopper (372) contacting the first finishing member (310), an outer circumferential surface provided with a coil spring (380), and an end portion provided with a locking part (374), wherein the third pipe (370) passes through the second pipe (330) and is inserted into the first pipe (320); a hollow second finishing member (392) inserted through the other end portion of the third pipe (370); a third finishing member (394) having a hollow cap shape and inserted into the second finishing member (392) at a certain depth; and an elastic member (396) having one end portion connected to the first finishing member (310) through the first pipe (320), the second pipe (330), and the third pipe (370), and the other end portion connected to the third finishing member (394) to prevent a separation thereof.

An electric vehicle, an automatic driving method and equipment, and an automatic freight transportation method and system, the electric vehicle (1) comprising a plurality of sets of wheel assemblies (2) disposed at the lower surface of a chassis (10), wherein the plurality of sets of wheel assemblies (2) are independent of each other; each wheel assembly (2) comprises a wheel (21), a driving device (22) and a displacement device (23); the driving devices (22) drives the wheels (21) to rotate, and the displacement devices (23) at least drives the wheels (21) to move along the vehicle body width direction (X) of the electric vehicle (1). Each set of wheel assemblies (2) of the electric vehicle (1) has an independent power system, and the wheels (21) of each of the wheel assemblies (2) are independently controlled by means of the driving devices (22) and the displacement devices (23), so that when used to carry people, the electric vehicle (1) may meet the driving requirements of being highly flexible, stable, safe and comfortable; and when used for loading goods, the electric vehicle (1) may meet the cargo transportation requirements of being fully automated, highly efficient, highly accurate, low cost and highly safe.

Drive disks are configured to rotate a main wheel by applying a frictional force thereto. Each of the drive disks includes a base and a plurality of rollers. The base includes a first sheet metal member and a second sheet metal member. The first sheet metal member includes a first central part and a plurality of first arm parts. The second sheet metal member includes a second central part and a plurality of second arm parts. Each of the rollers has a first end and a second end. Each of the first arm parts includes a first supporting part and a second supporting part. Each of the second arm parts includes a third supporting part and a fourth supporting part. The first supporting part and the second supporting part are inclined to each other. The third supporting part and the fourth supporting part are inclined to each other.