The present teachings relate generally to a small remote vehicle having rotatable flippers and a weight of less than about 10 pounds and that can climb a conventional-sized stairs. The present teachings also relate to a small remote vehicle can be thrown or dropped fifteen feet onto a hard/inelastic surface without incurring structural damage that may impede its mission. The present teachings further relate to a small remote vehicle having a weight of less than about 10 pounds and a power source supporting missions of at least 6 hours.

The present teachings relate generally to a small remote vehicle having rotatable flippers and a weight of less than about 10 pounds and that can climb a conventional-sized stairs. The present teachings also relate to a small remote vehicle can be thrown or dropped fifteen feet onto a hard/inelastic surface without incurring structural damage that may impede its mission. The present teachings further relate to a small remote vehicle having a weight of less than about 10 pounds and a power source supporting missions of at least 6 hours.

A crawler vehicle has a frame; a working tool hinged at the back of the frame around a yaw axis; and actuation system, which is configured to act between the working tool and the frame; and a control device, which is configured to calculate a value of the steering radius of the crawler vehicle and to control the actuation system so as to selectively: enable the working tool to freely oscillate about the yaw axis when the calculated value of the steering radius is comprised within a reference interval; keep the position of the working tool blocked with respect to the frame when the calculated value of the steering radius is outside the reference interval.

A crawler vehicle has a frame; a working tool hinged at the back of the frame around a yaw axis; and actuation system, which is configured to act between the working tool and the frame; and a control device, which is configured to calculate a value of the steering radius of the crawler vehicle and to control the actuation system so as to selectively: enable the working tool to freely oscillate about the yaw axis when the calculated value of the steering radius is comprised within a reference interval; keep the position of the working tool blocked with respect to the frame when the calculated value of the steering radius is outside the reference interval.

A cross-link for tracks of snow groomers, the cross-link comprising a section bar, which has an elongated shape, extends in a first direction, is limited by an outer surface and comprises a portion for fixing to at least one belt of a track of a snow groomer, and it is provided with an inner cavity, which extends through the section bar in the first direction, and is open at the side in the first direction; wherein the inner cavity is filled, at least in part, with a filling material comprising metal foam, and in certain embodiments, the inner cavity is completely filled with the filling material.

A cross-link for tracks of snow groomers, the cross-link comprising a section bar, which has an elongated shape, extends in a first direction, is limited by an outer surface and comprises a portion for fixing to at least one belt of a track of a snow groomer, and it is provided with an inner cavity, which extends through the section bar in the first direction, and is open at the side in the first direction; wherein the inner cavity is filled, at least in part, with a filling material comprising metal foam, and in certain embodiments, the inner cavity is completely filled with the filling material.

The invention relates to a hybrid surface traversing apparatus adapted to be adhered to a (e.g., submerged or in air) surface by a non-flow-through pressure differential, the apparatus includes a frame forming a chamber; a seal (e.g., closed-cell foam) having a closed seal perimeter (e.g., a closed polygon, a quadrilateral, and the like) defining an opening of the chamber, the seal perimeter adapted substantially for rolling relative to the chamber and for contact with the surface to be traversed to prevent leakage and maintain a non-flow-through seal with the surface; a suction pump structured and arranged to produce the (e.g., negative) pressure differential and cooperate with the seal to adhere the apparatus to the surface; and a drive configured to move the apparatus relative to the surface.

The invention relates to a hybrid surface traversing apparatus adapted to be adhered to a (e.g., submerged or in air) surface by a non-flow-through pressure differential, the apparatus includes a frame forming a chamber; a seal (e.g., closed-cell foam) having a closed seal perimeter (e.g., a closed polygon, a quadrilateral, and the like) defining an opening of the chamber, the seal perimeter adapted substantially for rolling relative to the chamber and for contact with the surface to be traversed to prevent leakage and maintain a non-flow-through seal with the surface; a suction pump structured and arranged to produce the (e.g., negative) pressure differential and cooperate with the seal to adhere the apparatus to the surface; and a drive configured to move the apparatus relative to the surface.

A crawler belt is wound around a sprocket and an idler and includes a plurality of track shoe plates. Each track shoe plate has an attachment surface and a ground engaging surface. The track shoe plate has projecting sections on the ground engaging surface. Side surfaces of the projecting sections are each inclined relative to a perpendicular line perpendicular to the attachment surface at an angle greater than a winding angle of the track shoe plate relative to either sprocket or idler.

A crawler belt is wound around a sprocket and an idler and includes a plurality of track shoe plates. Each track shoe plate has an attachment surface and a ground engaging surface. The track shoe plate has projecting sections on the ground engaging surface. Side surfaces of the projecting sections are each inclined relative to a perpendicular line perpendicular to the attachment surface at an angle greater than a winding angle of the track shoe plate relative to either sprocket or idler.