A wheel suspension and retraction apparatus (2) for an amphibious vehicle comprises a suspension unit having transverse upper and lower suspension links (4, 8); spring and damper unit (12), and suspension upright (6) supporting wheel (10), and pivotally connected to outboard ends of links (4 and 8). The wheel retraction mechanism has a retraction linkage (14, 16, 18), pivotably connectable to the vehicle, and an actuator (38) for moving the wheel suspension between a protracted position for land use and a retracted position for use on water. The retraction mechanism supports the suspension unit spaced apart transversely from the vehicle. Tie bar (16) is connected to upper retraction arm (14) at an intermediate location (30) to ensure a large angle of tilt on retraction, to ensure that the wheel is retracted above hull line (156). The wheel suspension does not have to be compressed on retraction.

The present invention includes a retractable single front wheel or track drive assembly for an amphibian comprising a single front wheel or track drive. The retractable single front wheel or track drive assembly comprises an actuator, a suspension assembly movable between a protracted position and a retracted position, and a single front wheel or track drive. When the suspension assembly is protracted then the suspension assembly supports and/or holds the single front wheel or track drive in a ground engaging position for use on land, and the front single wheel is moved forward and upwards on retraction. The present invention also provides a retractable single rear wheel or track drive assembly for an amphibian. The present invention further provides an amphibian comprising the retractable single front or rear wheel or track drive assembly.

A retractable wheel and/or track drive assembly for an amphibian comprising an actuator, a retraction linkage assembly movable between a protracted position and a retracted position, a suspension assembly at least partially connected to the retraction linkage assembly and movable between a protracted position and a retracted position, and at least one wheel and/or track drive, wherein when the retraction linkage assembly and the suspension assembly are protracted then the retraction linkage and/or suspension assembly supports and/or holds at least one wheel and/or track drive in a ground engaging position for use on land.

A shock absorbing system of an amphibious and remotely controlled vehicle is provided, including a chassis, a controller, a transmission shaft, six transmission members, a front wheel driving mechanism, a rear wheel driving mechanism and a smart electronic device. When the smart electronic device transmits a first control message, the controller drives the transmission shaft to pivot toward a first direction, the transmission shaft leads the six transmission members to pivot and the controller and the chassis move away from the casing of the remotely controlled vehicle. When the smart electronic device transmits a second control message, the controller drives the transmission shaft to pivot toward a second direction, the transmission shaft leads the six transmission members to pivot and the controller and the chassis move toward the casing of the remotely controlled vehicle.

A shock absorbing system of an amphibious and remotely controlled vehicle is provided, including a chassis, a controller, a transmission shaft, six transmission members, a front wheel driving mechanism, a rear wheel driving mechanism and a smart electronic device. When the smart electronic device transmits a first control message, the controller drives the transmission shaft to pivot toward a first direction, the transmission shaft leads the six transmission members to pivot and the controller and the chassis move away from the casing of the remotely controlled vehicle. When the smart electronic device transmits a second control message, the controller drives the transmission shaft to pivot toward a second direction, the transmission shaft leads the six transmission members to pivot and the controller and the chassis move toward the casing of the remotely controlled vehicle.

An amphibious multi-terrain water planing vehicle including: a. a hull having a top, a bottom, a front end, a rear end, a first side and a second side; b. at least one track frame, in exemplary embodiments a pair of track frames, mounted to the hull; c. a sole propulsion and water planing device including at least one continuous rotatable track having an outside surface and an inside surface, in exemplary embodiments a pair of continuous rotatable tracks, mounted to the at least one track frame, in exemplary embodiments each of the pair of continuous rotatable tracks mounted to each of the pair of track frames; the at least one continuous rotatable track, in exemplary embodiments the pair of continuous rotatable tracks not vertically adjustable relative to the hull wherein the vehicle when transitioning from land to water and vice versa requiring no modification, and wherein the vehicle is able to plane on water from a stand still position.

The present invention provides a smart mobile vehicle comprising a vehicle body, a chassis, driving wheels, a battery module, a plurality of motors and a vehicle control unit. The chassis has a suspension system, a brake system and a steering system. The two driving wheels are composed of a plurality of circular units, and the driving wheels are embedded in two-wheel frames on two sides of the vehicle body. The battery module provides the smart mobile vehicle with driving power. The plurality of motors disposed between the two circular units or on a surface of any one of the circular units; wherein the motors are electrically connected to the battery module, and the torque and directional outputs of the motors is used to drive the rotation of the two driving wheels. The vehicle control unit is electrically connected to the motors and the battery module to transmit a monitoring signal.

A system for use in a vehicle, the system comprising sensors located on the front and back fascia of the vehicle; processors coupled to the sensors; and a memory including instructions, which when executed by the processors, cause the processors to perform a method. The method comprising detecting a change in first acoustic impedance at a first sensor while detecting a change in second acoustic impedance at a second sensor. In accordance with a determination that the change in first acoustic impedance and the second acoustic impedance are between a threshold range for at least a threshold period of time, the method executing a precautionary measure. In accordance with a determination that the change in first acoustic impedance and the change in second acoustic impedance are not between the threshold range for at least the threshold period of time, the method forgoing executing the precautionary measure.

Vehicle comprising a hull and motorised aquatic propulsion members and motorised land propulsion members, this vehicle being able to move between a navigation position and a land transport position in which it rests on sets of caterpillar tracks. Each set of caterpillar tracks (1) is equipped with an even number of rollers (7) so as to define a set of adjacent roller pairs (71, 72). The rollers (71, 72) of each pair are connected to the chassis (2) by suspension means comprising a set (12) of at least two superposed curved elastic leaves made of a fibre-reinforced thermosetting resin, namely an upper leaf (131) and a lower leaf (132), the set being fixed on the one hand to the axles (9) of the rollers (71, 72) at its respective ends and, on the other hand, to the chassis (2) in its central part, and the upper leaf (13i) and the lower leaf (132) of each of the sets of leaves (12) are joined together and covered with a layer of elastomer (14).

Provided herein are a suspension apparatus and a specialized vehicle including the same. The suspension apparatus includes a crankshaft fixed to a vehicle body, a housing rotatably connected to the crankshaft, a first damping portion arranged in the housing and having a damping fluid accommodated in the first damping portion, an amount of the damping fluid in the first damping portion being adjusted according to an external force applied to the vehicle body, a second damping portion arranged in the housing, connected to the first damping portion such that the damping fluid moves between the first damping portion and the second damping portion, and including: a first space accommodating a compressed gas; and a second space accommodating the damping fluid, the first space facing the second space; and a rotational force applier arranged in the housing and configured to apply a rotational force to the housing by adjusting an amount of a working fluid in the rotational force applier.