A two-wheeled vehicle is provided. The two-wheeled vehicle includes a chassis having a height, a length and a width, in a first wheel rotatably connected to the chassis, the first wheel having a perimeter, a diameter and a geometric center, and the diameter of the first wheel being at least 75% of the height of the chassis, a motor for providing a drive energy to the first wheel, an axle rotated by the motor, a drive gear connected with the axle such that the drive gear rotates with a rotation of the axle, and a plurality of teeth disposed about the first wheel and mechanically engaged with the drive gear at a location closer to the perimeter of the first wheel than to the geometric center of the first wheel.

A system includes an inspection robot comprising a plurality of sensor sleds; a plurality of ultra-sonic (UT) sensors; a couplant chamber mounted to each of the plurality of sleds, each couplant chamber comprising: a cone, the cone comprising a cone tip portion at an inspection surface end of the cone; a sensor mounting end opposite the cone tip portion; a couplant entry fluidly coupled to the cone at a position between the cone tip portion and the sensor mounting end; and wherein each of the UT sensors is mounted to the sensor mounting end of one of the couplant chambers.

A system includes an inspection robot comprising a plurality of sensor sleds; a plurality of ultra-sonic (UT) sensors; a couplant chamber mounted to each of the plurality of sleds, each couplant chamber comprising: a cone, the cone comprising a cone tip portion at an inspection surface end of the cone; a sensor mounting end opposite the cone tip portion; a couplant entry fluidly coupled to the cone at a position between the cone tip portion and the sensor mounting end; and wherein each of the UT sensors is mounted to the sensor mounting end of one of the couplant chambers.

Disclosed is a mobile robot having a receiving unit and capable of moving, the mobile robot including: at least three wheels arranged at a lower portion of the mobile robot; a sensing unit configured to measure a weight of the mobile robot applied to each of the at least three wheels; a linear actuator connected to the receiving unit and configured to apply a linear motion to the receiving unit in a direction toward a front section or a rearward section of the mobile robot; and a processor configured to, based on the weight applied to each of the at least three wheels measured by the sensing unit, control the linear actuator so as to apply the linear motion to the receiving unit. In addition, disclosed are a method for controlling a center of mass of a mobile robot, including a method performed by the aforementioned mobile robot, and a non-volatile computer readable storage medium in which a computer program for implementing the aforementioned method is stored.

Disclosed is a mobile robot having a receiving unit and capable of moving, the mobile robot including: at least three wheels arranged at a lower portion of the mobile robot; a sensing unit configured to measure a weight of the mobile robot applied to each of the at least three wheels; a linear actuator connected to the receiving unit and configured to apply a linear motion to the receiving unit in a direction toward a front section or a rearward section of the mobile robot; and a processor configured to, based on the weight applied to each of the at least three wheels measured by the sensing unit, control the linear actuator so as to apply the linear motion to the receiving unit. In addition, disclosed are a method for controlling a center of mass of a mobile robot, including a method performed by the aforementioned mobile robot, and a non-volatile computer readable storage medium in which a computer program for implementing the aforementioned method is stored.

A driverless transportation vehicle for piece goods has a chassis, a traction drive, a load-transfer device with a load-transfer drive, and a control system. The chassis has at least two wheels arranged on an axle and the traction drive is configured to drive the wheels. The load-transfer device picks up an item of piece goods and transfer its center of mass on the vehicle. The control system controls the traction drive to prevent the transportation vehicle from tilting about the axle of the chassis, while the driverless transportation vehicle balances on only the at least two wheels. The control system additionally actuates the load-transfer drive in such a way that the position of the center of mass of the cargo is adapted for a driving maneuver that is to be carried out.

A driverless transportation vehicle for piece goods has a chassis, a traction drive, a load-transfer device with a load-transfer drive, and a control system. The chassis has at least two wheels arranged on an axle and the traction drive is configured to drive the wheels. The load-transfer device picks up an item of piece goods and transfer its center of mass on the vehicle. The control system controls the traction drive to prevent the transportation vehicle from tilting about the axle of the chassis, while the driverless transportation vehicle balances on only the at least two wheels. The control system additionally actuates the load-transfer drive in such a way that the position of the center of mass of the cargo is adapted for a driving maneuver that is to be carried out.

Disclosed is a mobile robot including: at least three wheels; a sensing unit configured to measure a weight of the mobile robot applied to each of the three wheels; a support member connected to at least one of the at least three wheels; a length adjustment member connected to the support member so as to adjust a length of the support member; and a processor control the length adjustment member for effectively controlling a center of mass of a mobile robot. In addition, disclosed are a method implemented by the mobile robot to control a center of mass of the mobile robot, and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium in which a computer program for implementing the method for controlling the center of mass of the mobile robot.

A motor vehicle having a first portion and a second portion movable relative thereto; the vehicle further includes an actuator arrangement by which the second portion is drivable relative to the first portion; and the vehicle having a control apparatus that is coupled to the actuator arrangement and controls the operation of the actuator arrangement; the actuator arrangement including at least two separate actuators arranged remotely from one another, which are each switchable between an operating state wherein an output member of the actuator outputs a force and/or a motion, and a passive state in which the output member does not, the actuators are synchronously operable in a synchronous operating mode, wherein one actuator, constituting a master actuator, is coupled directly to the control apparatus, and the at least one further actuator is connected to the energy supply of the master actuator only such that the at least one further actuator is supplied with operating energy, and is in the operating state, only when the master actuator is switched by the control apparatus into the operating state.

A motor vehicle having a first portion and a second portion movable relative thereto; the vehicle further includes an actuator arrangement by which the second portion is drivable relative to the first portion; and the vehicle having a control apparatus that is coupled to the actuator arrangement and controls the operation of the actuator arrangement; the actuator arrangement including at least two separate actuators arranged remotely from one another, which are each switchable between an operating state wherein an output member of the actuator outputs a force and/or a motion, and a passive state in which the output member does not, the actuators are synchronously operable in a synchronous operating mode, wherein one actuator, constituting a master actuator, is coupled directly to the control apparatus, and the at least one further actuator is connected to the energy supply of the master actuator only such that the at least one further actuator is supplied with operating energy, and is in the operating state, only when the master actuator is switched by the control apparatus into the operating state.