A robotic vehicle for traversing surfaces is provided. The vehicle is comprised of a front chassis section including a magnetic drive wheel for driving and steering the vehicle and a front support point configured to contact the surface. The vehicle also includes a rear chassis section supporting a follower wheel. The front and rear chassis sections are connected by joints including a hinge joint and a four-bar linkage. The hinge is configured to allow the trailing assembly to move side-to-side while the four-bar linkage allows the trailing assembly to move up and down relative to the front chassis. Collectively, the rear facing mechanism is configured to maintain the follower wheel in contact with and normal to the surface and also maintains the front support in contact with the surface and provides stability and maneuverability to the vehicle while traversing surfaces regardless of surface curvature and vehicle orientation.

A robotic vehicle for traversing surfaces is provided. The vehicle is comprised of a front chassis section including a magnetic drive wheel for driving and steering the vehicle and a front support point configured to contact the surface. The vehicle also includes a rear chassis section supporting a follower wheel. The front and rear chassis sections are connected by joints including a hinge joint and a four-bar linkage. The hinge is configured to allow the trailing assembly to move side-to-side while the four-bar linkage allows the trailing assembly to move up and down relative to the front chassis. Collectively, the rear facing mechanism is configured to maintain the follower wheel in contact with and normal to the surface and also maintains the front support in contact with the surface and provides stability and maneuverability to the vehicle while traversing surfaces regardless of surface curvature and vehicle orientation.

A power transmission assembly for tandem axles of a vehicle, the assembly including an input axle, a first drive axle, a second drive axle, a plurality of engagement/disengagement devices, a locking device, and a differential unit. The differential unit being set for power distribution between the drive axles of the vehicle, from which, in cooperation with the engagement/disengagement devices and the locking device, enables configurations of the drive axles in which the first and the second drive axles are driven, one of the drive axles is driven and the other drive axle is not driven, or all the drive axles are not driven.

A power transmission assembly for tandem axles of a vehicle, the assembly including an input axle, a first drive axle, a second drive axle, a plurality of engagement/disengagement devices, a locking device, and a differential unit. The differential unit being set for power distribution between the drive axles of the vehicle, from which, in cooperation with the engagement/disengagement devices and the locking device, enables configurations of the drive axles in which the first and the second drive axles are driven, one of the drive axles is driven and the other drive axle is not driven, or all the drive axles are not driven.

A robotic vehicle for traversing surfaces is provided. The vehicle is comprised of a front chassis section including a magnetic drive wheel for driving and steering the vehicle and a front support point configured to contact the surface. The vehicle also includes a rear chassis section supporting a follower wheel. The front and rear chassis sections are connected by joints including a hinge joint and a four-bar linkage. The hinge is configured to allow the trailing assembly to move side-to-side while the four-bar linkage allows the trailing assembly to move up and down relative to the front chassis. Collectively, the rear facing mechanism is configured to maintain the follower wheel in contact with and normal to the surface and also maintains the front support in contact with the surface and provides stability and maneuverability to the vehicle while traversing surfaces regardless of surface curvature and vehicle orientation.

A system, method and a device for balancing a vehicle is provided. In one embodiment the system comprises of a control moment gyroscope. In another embodiment two or more control moment gyroscope may be provided. Further, in an embodiment a mechanism to provide stopping of a precession shaft that links the control moment gyroscope to the vehicle is provided. Furthermore, a user operable switch may be provided in an embodiment to stop precession shaft of the control moment gyroscope.

An electric self-balancing vehicle including a top cover, a bottom cover, an inner cover, a rotating mechanism, two wheels, two hub motors, a plurality of sensors, a power supply, and a controller is described herein. The top cover includes a first top cover and a second top cover disposed symmetrically and rotatable relative to each other. The bottom cover is fixed to the top cover and includes a first bottom cover and a second bottom cover disposed symmetrically and rotatable relative to each other. The inner cover is fixed between the top cover and the bottom cover and includes a first inner cover and a second inner cover disposed symmetrically and rotatable relative to each other. The rotating mechanism is fixed between the first inner cover and the second inner cover. The two wheels are rotatably fixed at two sides of the inner cover, respectively. The two hub motors are fixed in the two wheels, respectively. The plurality of sensors is disposed between the bottom cover and the inner cover, respectively. The power supply is fixed between the first bottom cover and the first inner cover. The controller is fixed between the second bottom cover and the second inner cover, the controller is electrically connected with the plurality of sensors, the power supply, and the hub motors, and the controller controls the hub motors to drive the corresponding wheels to rotate according to sensing signals transmitted by the sensors.

An electric self-balancing vehicle including a top cover, a bottom cover, an inner cover, a rotating mechanism, two wheels, two hub motors, a plurality of sensors, a power supply, and a controller is described herein. The top cover includes a first top cover and a second top cover disposed symmetrically and rotatable relative to each other. The bottom cover is fixed to the top cover and includes a first bottom cover and a second bottom cover disposed symmetrically and rotatable relative to each other. The inner cover is fixed between the top cover and the bottom cover and includes a first inner cover and a second inner cover disposed symmetrically and rotatable relative to each other. The rotating mechanism is fixed between the first inner cover and the second inner cover. The two wheels are rotatably fixed at two sides of the inner cover, respectively. The two hub motors are fixed in the two wheels, respectively. The plurality of sensors is disposed between the bottom cover and the inner cover, respectively. The power supply is fixed between the first bottom cover and the first inner cover. The controller is fixed between the second bottom cover and the second inner cover, the controller is electrically connected with the plurality of sensors, the power supply, and the hub motors, and the controller controls the hub motors to drive the corresponding wheels to rotate according to sensing signals transmitted by the sensors.

A robotic motorcycle may include a chassis, driven wheel assemblies, and a control loop stabilizer. The driven wheel assemblies may each include a wheel and a bevel gear. The wheel may be mounted to an axle for rotation about a drive axis and steering about a substantially vertical steering axis. A steer shaft may connect the axle to a steer assembly that controls rotation of the steer shaft about the steering axis to steer the wheel. A drive shaft may be coupled to a drive assembly that controls rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis. The bevel gear may couple the other end of the drive shaft to the axle so that rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis controls rotation of the wheel about the drive axis. The control loop stabilizer may determine parameters for the drive and steer assemblies to balance the motorcycle.

A robotic motorcycle may include a chassis, driven wheel assemblies, and a control loop stabilizer. The driven wheel assemblies may each include a wheel and a bevel gear. The wheel may be mounted to an axle for rotation about a drive axis and steering about a substantially vertical steering axis. A steer shaft may connect the axle to a steer assembly that controls rotation of the steer shaft about the steering axis to steer the wheel. A drive shaft may be coupled to a drive assembly that controls rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis. The bevel gear may couple the other end of the drive shaft to the axle so that rotation of the drive shaft about the steering axis controls rotation of the wheel about the drive axis. The control loop stabilizer may determine parameters for the drive and steer assemblies to balance the motorcycle.