A drive assembly for a vehicle may selectively couple a motor of the vehicle to a mobility assembly of the vehicle. The drive assembly may include a worm gear assembly having a worm engaged with a worm gear. The worm may be operably coupled to the motor of the vehicle, and the worm gear may be selectively coupled to a shaft of the mobility assembly. The drive assembly may be configured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration. In response to the drive assembly being in the first configuration, the worm gear assembly and the shaft of the mobility assembly may be operably coupled, and the worm gear assembly may be configured to selectively transfer power from the motor to the mobility assembly to provide mobility to the vehicle. In response to the drive assembly being in a second configuration, the worm gear assembly and the shaft of the mobility assembly may be decoupled, and the worm gear assembly may be prevented from transferring the power from the motor to the mobility assembly.

A drive assembly for a vehicle may selectively couple a motor of the vehicle to a mobility assembly of the vehicle. The drive assembly may include a worm gear assembly having a worm engaged with a worm gear. The worm may be operably coupled to the motor of the vehicle, and the worm gear may be selectively coupled to a shaft of the mobility assembly. The drive assembly may be configured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration. In response to the drive assembly being in the first configuration, the worm gear assembly and the shaft of the mobility assembly may be operably coupled, and the worm gear assembly may be configured to selectively transfer power from the motor to the mobility assembly to provide mobility to the vehicle. In response to the drive assembly being in a second configuration, the worm gear assembly and the shaft of the mobility assembly may be decoupled, and the worm gear assembly may be prevented from transferring the power from the motor to the mobility assembly.

An electric or hybrid electric vehicle comprises a vehicle chassis extending along a longitudinal axis and a rotatable vehicle drive axle disposed along a transverse axis and having opposed ends that are configured for attachment to a pair of opposed drive wheels. The electric vehicle also comprises a selectively movable electric propulsion motor comprising a rotatable motor shaft rotatable about a motor axis, the electric propulsion motor configured to be mounted within the vehicle chassis and operatively coupled to the rotatable vehicle drive axle and opposed drive wheels, the motor axis configured to be oriented in a substantially vertical direction, a selectively movable differential disposed on the drive axle and configured to operatively couple motive power of the electric propulsion motor that is transmitted to the rotatable motor shaft to the drive axle, and a motor actuator operatively coupled to the electric propulsion motor and the vehicle chassis.

A self-propelled platform for monitoring field crop phenotype is provided. The monitoring platform includes a traveling and steering mechanism, wheel track and ground clearance adjustment devices, damping devices, and a case. The traveling and steering mechanism includes wheel side motors, wheels, and torque motors. The wheels are connected to respective upright posts of the platform through respective rigid independent suspensions. Each upright post is of sleeve structure and includes an upper sleeve and a lower sleeve. A corresponding damping device is connected between the upper sleeve and the lower sleeve. The wheel track and ground clearance adjustment devices are configured for adjusting the height of the case and the tracks between the wheels. The lower ends of the wheel track and ground clearance adjustment devices are rotatably connected to respective upright posts, and the upper ends are rotatably connected to the case.

A method for determining state values of a wheel (R) of a wheel drive module that includes the wheel (R), a speed modulation gearbox (G), a first electric motor (M1) and a second electric motor (M2), as well as at least one first sensor (S1) for sensing state values of the first electric motor (M1), at least one second sensor (S2) for sensing state values of the second electric motor (M2), wherein additional state value sources of the electric motors (M1, M2) and/or the wheel (R) are provided and the sensed state values are compared with each other in order to compensate for and to recognize errors in the sensing of the state values so that actual state values of the wheel (R) are determined from the individual sensed state values.

A wheel drive module comprises wheel (R), speed modulation gearbox (G), first electric motor (M1), and second electric motor (M2). First and second electric motors (M1, M2) jointly drive wheel (R) about wheel axis (A) by the speed modulation gearbox (G) and steer said wheel about steering axis (L). Wheel drive module comprises first motor electronics (10) for controlling first electric motor (M1) and second motor electronics (20) for controlling second electric motor (M2) and central electronics (30) connected to first and second motor electronics (10, 20), allowing a signal transfer. Wheel drive module comprises control logic for controlling first and second electric motors (M1, M2), which logic is provided by first and second motor electronics (10, 20), central electronics (30), application electronics (40) connected to the central electronics (30), allowing a signal transfer, or jointly by the central electronics (30) and the first and second motor electronics (10, 20).

The present disclosure provides a machine and mechanism of an electrically controlled low-unsprung-mass wheel unit for vehicles. The design incorporates independent propulsion/braking, axle control, steering, and suspension (IPASS) of each wheel during vehicle movement. The purpose of the design is for a traction-adaptively-optimization (TAO) control which include but not limited as the following: 1) better road surface gripping and ride quality by lower unsprung mass; 2) safer, quicker, and sharper turning ability—transformative turning; 3) adaptive obstacle avoidance; 4) a list of new, unique, and advanced vehicle motion features. The mechanism comprises at least: an axle adjustment that controls the distance of a 1165 wheel from the vehicle body, which allows for the outward extension of the wheel via a slider. The slider is connected to a linear actuator, which is powered by the first independent electric motor for track width adjustment. A steering system includes a pinion, powered by the second independent motor, rolls against an inner gear at the top of the unit turn in opposing directions. Hiding the motor and gears in the hollow shaft results in an extremely low profile. A propulsion system, powered by the third independent electric motor, controls the wheel's forward and backward motions using a spline, bevel gear reducer, and planetary gear reducer. Each wheel unit also has an independent suspension system located inside the wheel rim. The suspension uses a hydraulic dampening and supporting system and springs to absorb the shock from vertical movement when driving on uneven surfaces.

Included is a stabilizer wheel assembly that may assist in stabilizing a medical device during a medical procedure. A medical device may comprise a body; and a plurality of stabilizer wheel assemblies coupled to the body, wherein the stabilizer wheel assemblies each comprise a motor assembly and a stabilization leg, wherein the motor assembly is configured to drive the stabilization leg onto a contact surface to stabilize the body.

An omnidirectional cart transport mechanism includes an automatic guided vehicle that includes a drive wheel and a drive mechanism that drives the drive wheel, and travels on a road surface by driving the drive wheel using the drive mechanism, a side guide mechanism that includes a pair of side plates movable in a first direction of approaching or separating from each other, and guides a cart to be coupled to the automatic guided vehicle to a coupled position by bringing the pair of side plates closer to each other with the cart positioned between the pair of side plates, and a cart lift mechanism that lifts a coupled portion of the cart guided to the coupled position.

A drill rig with a steering system may include a substructure having a wheelhouse, a drill floor arranged atop the substructure, a mast extending upwardly and above the drill floor, and a steering system arranged within the wheelhouse. The steering system may include a wheel assembly comprising an electric motor configured for driving rotational motion of a wheel, a deployment device configuring for deploying the wheel assembly to carry the drill rig, and a steering mechanism configured for selective engagement with the wheel assembly and rotating the wheel assembly.