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.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a method and to a control system for controlling an active suspension of a vehicle, the control system comprising one or more controllers, the control system configured to: receive information indicative of the vehicle becoming stationary; and increase a force of the active suspension in dependence on the receiving information indicative of the vehicle becoming stationary.

A device for adjusting the level of a motor vehicle comprises an electric motor (4) and an actuating gear (3) which is connected upstream of a screw drive (2). The actuating gear (3) is formed by three series-connected gears (14, 15, 16) with parallel rotation axes (D14, D15, D16). An input gear (14), the number of teeth of which is at least one and at most five, is coupled to the motor shaft (17) of the electric motor (4) for conjoint rotation. The input gear engages with an intermediate gear (15) which engages with an output gear (16) which is connected to a nut (9) of the screw drive (2) for conjoint rotation.

A device for adjusting the level of a motor vehicle comprises an electric motor (4) and an actuating gear (3) which is connected upstream of a screw drive (2). The actuating gear (3) is formed by three series-connected gears (14, 15, 16) with parallel rotation axes (D14, D15, D16). An input gear (14), the number of teeth of which is at least one and at most five, is coupled to the motor shaft (17) of the electric motor (4) for conjoint rotation. The input gear engages with an intermediate gear (15) which engages with an output gear (16) which is connected to a nut (9) of the screw drive (2) for conjoint rotation.

A shock absorber includes a cylinder, a spring, a receiving member, a sensor, and a coupling member. The sensor includes a coil portion, and a core portion. The coupling member is formed integrally with the core portion. A recessed portion is formed in one of the receiving member and the coupling member, a protruding portion facing the recessed portion is formed in the other one of the receiving member and the coupling member, and the receiving member and the coupling member are coupled to each other via the recessed portion and the protruding portion.

A shock absorber includes a cylinder, a spring, a receiving member, a sensor, and a coupling member. The sensor includes a coil portion, and a core portion. The coupling member is formed integrally with the core portion. A recessed portion is formed in one of the receiving member and the coupling member, a protruding portion facing the recessed portion is formed in the other one of the receiving member and the coupling member, and the receiving member and the coupling member are coupled to each other via the recessed portion and the protruding portion.

Inspection robots with a multi-function piston connecting a drive module to a central chassis and systems thereof are disclosed. An example inspection robot may include a center chassis coupled to a payload coupled to at least two inspection sensors. The inspection robot may further include a drive module coupled to the center chassis, the drive module having a drive wheel to engage an inspection surface and a drive piston mechanically interposed between the center chassis and the drive module. The example may further include wherein the drive piston in a first position couples the drive module to the center chassis at a minimum distance between and the drive piston in a second position couples the drive module to the center chassis at a maximum distance between. The example may further include wherein the drive module is independently rotatable relative to the center chassis.

The present invention discloses an adaptive damping nonlinear spring-variable damping system and a mobile platform system, with the nonlinear spring-variable damping system applied to the mobile platform. The nonlinear spring-variable damping system is characterized in that the system comprises: an oil cylinder accommodating damping oil; a piston, accommodated in the oil cylinder and movable along the oil cylinder to make the damping oil flow; at least one connecting rod, connected to the piston; at least one spring, whose deformation process is constrained by the connecting rod; and a damping adaptive adjustment device, configured to be able to adaptively change the flow resistance of the damping oil according to the vibration of the mobile platform, so as to control the system damping; wherein, when the mobile platform vibrates, the connecting rod and the spring can subject the piston to a nonlinear spring force. The amplitude of the nonlinear spring-variable damping system, compared with the linear spring-damping system, is greatly suppressed.

The present invention discloses an adaptive damping nonlinear spring-variable damping system and a mobile platform system, with the nonlinear spring-variable damping system applied to the mobile platform. The nonlinear spring-variable damping system is characterized in that the system comprises: an oil cylinder accommodating damping oil; a piston, accommodated in the oil cylinder and movable along the oil cylinder to make the damping oil flow; at least one connecting rod, connected to the piston; at least one spring, whose deformation process is constrained by the connecting rod; and a damping adaptive adjustment device, configured to be able to adaptively change the flow resistance of the damping oil according to the vibration of the mobile platform, so as to control the system damping; wherein, when the mobile platform vibrates, the connecting rod and the spring can subject the piston to a nonlinear spring force. The amplitude of the nonlinear spring-variable damping system, compared with the linear spring-damping system, is greatly suppressed.

An adjustment assembly for compensating a length variation of a spring element for a vehicle is enabled. The adjustment assembly can comprise a first adjustment element having a primary abutment surface and a primary support surface. The adjustment assembly can comprise a second adjustment element having a secondary abutment surface and a secondary support surface. The first adjustment element and the second adjustment element can be arranged adjacent to one another along an axis such that the primary abutment surface and the secondary abutment surface contact each other. The primary abutment surface and the secondary abutment surface can extend circumferentially around the axis respectively and can be sloping, such that a distance between the primary support surface and the secondary support surface is adaptable by rotating the first adjustment element and the second adjustment element relative to one another.