An electric trailer with regenerative braking is adaptive to both EV and ICE tractors, extending towing range of such vehicles, coordinating with performance characteristics of a tractor for maximum tractor-trailer efficiency. Differential electrical control of wheel drives provides enhanced performance safety and driving control. Embodiments optimize performance using real-time road conditions and terrain information. The trailer provides fail-safe operation in the event of system malfunction.

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.

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.

An automated guided trolley for transporting and/or handling a load. The trolley has a main frame for receiving the load and a supporting frame having two walking beams extending respectively towards the front and the rear of the trolley. The walking beams are mounted rotatably with respect to the main frame respectively about a first axis and a second axis and such a walking beam includes elements for securing one arm of one walking beam to one arm of the other walking beam and for supporting the first of these arms on the other arm.

An automated guided trolley for transporting and/or handling a load. The trolley has a main frame for receiving the load and a supporting frame having two walking beams extending respectively towards the front and the rear of the trolley. The walking beams are mounted rotatably with respect to the main frame respectively about a first axis and a second axis and such a walking beam includes elements for securing one arm of one walking beam to one arm of the other walking beam and for supporting the first of these arms on the other arm.

Vehicles are disclosed which have a lower center of gravity than existing all-terrain, amphibious, and unmanned ground vehicles due to the location of propulsion units and other vehicle components inside the wheels of the vehicle. The vehicles can climb over large obstacles yet are also able to corner at high speeds. The vehicles can be configured for direct manual operation or operation by remote control, and can also be configured for a wide variety of missions.

Vehicles are disclosed which have a lower center of gravity than existing all-terrain, amphibious, and unmanned ground vehicles due to the location of propulsion units and other vehicle components inside the wheels of the vehicle. The vehicles can climb over large obstacles yet are also able to corner at high speeds. The vehicles can be configured for direct manual operation or operation by remote control, and can also be configured for a wide variety of missions.

A lug drive system for a wheel such as that found on a motorcycle. The lug drive system includes a 2-piece lug drive hub assembly mourned on one side of the wheel to apply a driving force thereto. The lug drive hub assembly includes a lug drive sprocket and a hub that are detachably connected together by an inner retaining ring. The lug drive sprocket includes an outer drive ring and an inner carrier disk that are detachably connected together by an outer retaining ring. The lug drive system also includes a 2-piece lug drive rotor assembly mounted on the opposite side of the wheel to apply a braking force thereto. The lug drive rotor assembly includes a lug brake rotor and a hub that are detachably connected together by an inner retaining ring. The lug brake rotor includes an outer friction ring and an inner carrier disk that are detachably connected together by an outer retaining ring.