Energy absorbing means on an autonomous ground robot, which is intended for delivering packages in an uncontrolled and unprotected environment, include elastically deformable padding, crushable material, and spring-loaded or like mechanical devices.

A joint is connected between floors of a vehicle that are movable relative to each other. The joint includes a plurality of hinged segments to accommodate vertical and longitudinal relative motion between the floors. At least one of the hinged segments includes a flat, walkable surface aligned with the floors.

A joint is connected between floors of a vehicle that are movable relative to each other. The joint includes a plurality of hinged segments to accommodate vertical and longitudinal relative motion between the floors. At least one of the hinged segments includes a flat, walkable surface aligned with the floors.

An elastic mount for absorbing static and dynamic loads includes an inner part, an outer part, and at least one elastomer mount that elastically connects the parts. The elastomer mount transfers from a first position to a second position when absorbing a static load acting in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the mount, and may have a first elastomer body, second elastomer body, and an intermediate element arranged between the two elastomer bodies. The intermediate element may have a first connection surface aligned with the longitudinal axis such that in the second position the first elastomer body is soft in shear in the Z-direction, and rigid in the X-direction and/or the Y-direction; and a second connection surface aligned with the longitudinal axis such that in the second position the second elastomer body is soft in shear in the X-direction and/or in the Y-direction and rigid in the Z-direction.

A vehicle includes a trailer assembly supported by a rear chassis system. The rear chassis system includes a chassis frame having at least two longitudinal chassis members. The rear chassis system includes a rear suspension frame coupled to a back rear axle. The rear suspension frame includes a bearing head with a bearing aperture. Equalizing beams extend between the front rear axle and the back rear axle, with each equalizing beam including a bushing aperture. The rear chassis system also includes a plurality of suspension mounts. To minimize relative translations experienced by the suspension mounts during operation of the vehicle, opposing end sections of a spindle cross member, along with the bearing aperture and the bushing aperture are coaxially aligned. Likewise, the opposing spindle end sections, the bearing aperture, the bushing aperture, and a top plate of each suspension mount are coplanar.

A vehicle includes a trailer assembly supported by a rear chassis system. The rear chassis system includes a chassis frame having at least two longitudinal chassis members. The rear chassis system includes a rear suspension frame coupled to a back rear axle. The rear suspension frame includes a bearing head with a bearing aperture. Equalizing beams extend between the front rear axle and the back rear axle, with each equalizing beam including a bushing aperture. The rear chassis system also includes a plurality of suspension mounts. To minimize relative translations experienced by the suspension mounts during operation of the vehicle, opposing end sections of a spindle cross member, along with the bearing aperture and the bushing aperture are coaxially aligned. Likewise, the opposing spindle end sections, the bearing aperture, the bushing aperture, and a top plate of each suspension mount are coplanar.

A connecting arrangement is provided between joining partners which are braced separably against each other in the chassis region of a vehicle, wherein the joining partners are braced against each other via their contact surfaces by at least one releasable fastening element. Hard particles are applied to the contact surface at least of one of the joining partners before the production of the connecting arrangement and therefore before the bracing mounting of the joining partners and of the fastening element. The hard particles at least partially project into the respectively other contact surface as a result of the bracing mounting. The hard particles are applied so as to be at least approximately abrasion-proof, for example by a blasting process.

A suspension mechanism has a tube member that is movably attached to an attachment shaft and includes an outer peripheral surface of approximately hemispherical shape, a first attachment shaft retaining member provided on the chassis to swingably retain the attachment shaft with an outer peripheral surface of the tube member abutted on its inside surface, a shaft lower end portion of slip surface shape provided at lowermost part of the attachment shaft, a second attachment shaft retaining member provided on the chassis below the first attachment shaft retaining member and having a vertex equivalent section of approximately conical shape and a slope equivalent section to retain the attachment shaft with the slip surface shape shaft lower end portion abutted onto the vertex equivalent section or the slope equivalent section, and a biasing member that biases the tube member and the shaft lower end portion away from each other.

A suspension mechanism has a tube member that is movably attached to an attachment shaft and includes an outer peripheral surface of approximately hemispherical shape, a first attachment shaft retaining member provided on the chassis to swingably retain the attachment shaft with an outer peripheral surface of the tube member abutted on its inside surface, a shaft lower end portion of slip surface shape provided at lowermost part of the attachment shaft, a second attachment shaft retaining member provided on the chassis below the first attachment shaft retaining member and having a vertex equivalent section of approximately conical shape and a slope equivalent section to retain the attachment shaft with the slip surface shape shaft lower end portion abutted onto the vertex equivalent section or the slope equivalent section, and a biasing member that biases the tube member and the shaft lower end portion away from each other.

A vehicle includes a trailer assembly supported by a rear chassis system. The rear chassis system includes a chassis frame having at least two longitudinal chassis members. The rear chassis system includes a rear suspension frame coupled to a back rear axle. The rear suspension frame includes a bearing head with a bearing aperture. Equalizing beams extend between the front rear axle and the back rear axle, with each equalizing beam including a bushing aperture. The rear chassis system also includes a plurality of suspension mounts. To minimize relative translations experienced by the suspension mounts during operation of the vehicle, opposing end sections of a spindle cross member, along with the bearing aperture and the bushing aperture are coaxially aligned. Likewise, the opposing spindle end sections, the bearing aperture, the bushing aperture, and a top plate of each suspension mount are coplanar.