B60G21/002

Systems and methods for driving an inspection robot with motor having magnetic shielding

An inspection robot may include an inspection chassis and a drive module with magnetic wheels coupled to the inspection chassis. The drive module may further include a motor and a gear box located between the motor and a magnetic wheels. The gear box may include a flex spline cup which interacts with the ring gear. The inspection robot may further include a magnetic shielding assembly to shield the motor and an associated electromagnetic sensor from electromagnetic interference generated by the magnetic wheels.

VEHICLE CONTROL BASED ON LOCALIZATION AND ROAD DATA

Systems and methods for determining the location of a vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for localizing a vehicle includes driving over a first road segment, identifying by a first localization system a set of candidate road segments, obtaining vertical motion data while driving over the first road segment, comparing the obtained vertical motion data to reference vertical motion data associated with at least one candidate road segment, and identifying, based on the comparison, a location of the vehicle. The use of such localization methods and systems in coordination with various advanced vehicle systems such as, for example, active suspension systems or autonomous driving features, is contemplated.

Inspection robot having vertically distributed payloads with horizontally distributed sensor sleds

A system includes an inspection robot having mounted sleds, and a number of sensors each mounted to a sled. A couplant chamber is disposed within at least two of the sleds, each couplant chamber between a transducer of the sensor and an inspection surface. Each couplant chamber includes a cone, the cone having a cone tip portion at an inspection surface end, and a sensor mounting end opposite the cone tip portion. A couplant entry for each couplant chamber is at a vertically upper side of the cone in the intended orientation of the inspection robot on the inspection surface.

Tandem wheel assembly with wheel end brake assembly

A tandem wheel assembly for a work vehicle includes a tandem wheel housing, a center drive member rotatably disposed within the housing, first and second wheel end assemblies, a coupler between each wheel end drive member and the center drive member, and a brake assembly. Each wheel end assembly includes an input shaft, a wheel end drive member mounted thereon, a wheel end gear train coupled to the input shaft, an output shaft coupled to the wheel end gear train, and a wheel end hub coupled to the output shaft for supporting one of the wheels. The brake assembly is coupled to the tandem wheel housing and to the input shaft or the output shaft of at least one of the first wheel end assembly or the second wheel end assembly and reduces the amount of backlash.

System, method, and apparatus to perform a surface inspection using real-time position information

A system includes an inspection robot for performing an inspection on an inspection surface with ultrasonic and magnetic induction sensors, the apparatus comprising a position definition circuit structured to determine an inspection robot position on the inspection surface; a data positioning circuit structured to interpret 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.

DUAL-WHEELS CORNER SYSTEM WITH TRANSVERSE SUSPENSION

A vehicle corner system for a dual-axle wheels assembly may include: a sub-frame; a first wheel interface having a first spinning axis about which a first wheel spins when connected to the first wheel interface; a first suspension linkage connected to and being transverse to the first wheel interface and to the sub-frame; a second wheel interface having a second spinning axis about which a second wheel spins when connected to the second wheel interface; a second suspension linkage connected to and being transverse to the second wheel interface and to the sub-frame; and a motion restrainer comprising a spring interconnecting the first suspension linkage and the second suspension linkage.

Torque compensated walking beam assembly with journal joint
10434836 · 2019-10-08 · ·

A vehicle walking beam assembly includes a support beam and a mount member configured to rotatably mount the support beam on the chassis. A gear assembly with a gear train and a gear housing is supported by the support beam. The gear train includes a gear with a first journal surface, and the housing includes a second journal surface. The walking beam assembly additionally includes an input drive assembly that delivers input torque from the engine to the gear train. Moreover, the walking beam assembly includes a reaction member connected to one of the gear housing and the gear of the gear train. The reaction member is configured to transfer a reaction force between the chassis and the one of the gear housing and the gear of the gear train as the first journal surface journals on the second journal surface.

Payload with adjustable and rotatable sensor sleds for robotic inspection

Systems, methods, and apparatus for acoustic inspection of a surface are described. An example system may include an inspection robot structured to traverse an inspection surface in a direction of travel. The inspection robot may include a payload having a plurality of arms, connected to the inspection robot, to rotate around respective ones of a plurality of axes while the inspection robot traverses the inspection surface, where each of the plurality of axes is in the direction of travel. A plurality of sleds may be connected to the plurality of arms, and a plurality of inspection sensors connected to the plurality of sleds. The plurality of inspection sensors may be spaced apart from each other at adjustable positions to inspect the inspection surface at an adjustable resolution.

System, method, and apparatus for inspecting a surface

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.

Inspection robot having adjustable resolution

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.