A wheel rim assembly for a wheel of a motor vehicle may include a wheel rim and a cover portion arranged on an outside of the wheel rim. The cover portion may be guided on the wheel rim so as to be movable relative to the wheel rim between an open position allowing an air flow between the outside and an inside of the wheel rim, and a closed position preventing the air flow. Conversion from the open position to the closed position takes place automatically based on an operating state of the wheel. The cover portion may be configured as a disc-like component covering the outside. The cover portion may be arranged movably parallel to an axis of the wheel rim between the open position and the closed position, in the open position opening a ring gap between an edge of the cover portion and the wheel rim.

A bearingless hub assembly comprising a rim hollowed to receive a tube magnet, and magnets embedded around the circumference of the rim on both ends. The rim is capped by front and rear rim plates configured to hold the embedded magnets in place and fitted to receive respective circular magnets. Similar magnets in corresponding front or rear drive plate maintain space (i.e., levitation) vis-à-vis the front and rear rim caps by repelling each other, thus allowing the rim (and, as applied, a mechanically-attached tire assembly) to move freely with no friction. The front and rear drive plate carry forward and reverse electromagnetic actuators as well as forward and reverse levitation control units, power generators and speed sensors. These components mount 360 degrees around the circumference of the drive plates while the embedded magnets of the rim spin through when in motion.

A magnetic hub plug apparatus for sealing a wheel hub and detecting wheel bearing failure includes a plug body having a plug outer side, a plug inner side, and a plug edge. A seal ring has a proximal perimeter coupled to the plug inner side, a distal perimeter, and a seal sidewall extending from the proximal perimeter to the distal perimeter. The seal ring is configured to sealingly fit within a wheel hub cap. A magnet extension is coupled to the seal ring. The magnet extension extends from the seal sidewall and dips within an oil reservoir of the wheel hub cap with each rotation. A magnet insert is coupled within the magnet extension to collect particles from a faulty wheel bearing. A plug grip is coupled to the plug body and extends from the plug outer side.

A system and method control magnetic adhesion of a wheel to a surface using rotating air gaps. First and second discs have apertures. The first disc retains magnets in the apertures. When the apertures of the second disc are not align with the magnets, adhesion is increased. When the apertures of the second disc are aligned with the magnets, air gaps block magnetic flux to decrease the adhesion. A method implements the system.

A system and method control magnetic adhesion of a wheel to a surface using internal short-circuit conductors. The method includes providing the wheel having a first disc, apertures retaining magnets, and a conducting ring, and a second disc. In a first configuration, the second disc is isolated from the conducting ring to generate a first magnetic flux to increase adhesion. In a second configuration, magnetic interaction of the second disc and the conducting ring generates a second magnetic flux to decrease adhesion. The system implements the method.

A robotic vehicle for traversing surfaces comprises a chassis having a plurality of wheels mounted thereto. Two magnetic drive wheels are spaced apart in a lateral direction and rotate about a rotational axis while a stabilizing wheel is provided in front of or behind the two drive wheels. The drive wheels are configured to be driven independently, thereby driving and steering the vehicle along the surface. The vehicle also includes a sensor probe assembly that is supported by the chassis and configured to take measurements of the surface being traversed. In accordance with a salient aspect, the vehicle includes a probe normalization mechanism that is configured to determine the surface curvature and adjust the orientation of the probe transducer as a function of the curvature of the surface, thereby maintaining the probe at the preferred inspection angle irrespective of changes in the surface curvature with vehicle movement.

The present disclosure generally relates to an omni-direction wheel system and methods for controlling the omni-direction wheel system. The omni-direction wheel system includes a plurality of suspension systems that operate independently of one another. Each suspension system may include an electromagnetic steering hub configured to rotate a wheel 360 degrees about a vertical axis based on a polarity of an electromagnetic signal applied to the electromagnetic steering hub. The suspension system may further include an in-wheel motor configured to rotate with the wheel and drive the wheel about a horizontal axis.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a body constructed to enable the UAV to fly and three or more legs connected to the body and configured to land and perch the UAV on a curved ferromagnetic surface. Each leg includes a first portion connected to the body, a second portion including a magnet and configured to magnetically attach and maintain the magnetic attachment of the leg to the ferromagnetic surface during the landing and perching, and a passive articulation joint connecting the first and second portions and configured to passively articulate the second portion with respect to the first portion in response to the second portion approaching the ferromagnetic surface. The UAV further includes a releasable crawler including magnetic wheels which detach the crawler from the body during the perching and maneuver the crawler on the ferromagnetic surface while magnetically attaching the crawler to the ferromagnetic surface after detachment.

Inspection robots with flexible wheel/motor positioning are described. An example inspection robot may have a housing having a first connector positioned on a first side of the housing, and a second connector positioned on a second side of the housing. A first drive module may include a wheel and a motor and be operatively coupled to the first connector. A second drive module may include a wheel and a second motor and be operatively coupled to the second connector, where the wheel may be interposed between the second connector and the second motor.

Systems for reprogrammable inspection robots are described. An example system may include an inspection robot having a housing, a payload interface, a drive module interface, and a tether interface. The system may further include a first electronic board having a primary functionality circuit communicatively coupled to a base station and a second electronic board operationally coupled to the payload interface, the second electronic board having a payload functionality circuit coupled to a selected payload through the payload interface. The example system may further include a third electronic board operationally coupled to the drive module interface, the third electronic board having a drive module functionality circuit communicatively coupled to a selected drive module through the drive module interface.