A robotic apparatus comprising first, second, and third wheel assemblies, and a clamping mechanism configured to apply a force for urging the second wheel and the third wheel to pivot in opposing directions towards a plane of the first wheel for securing the first wheel, the second wheel, and the third wheel to the pipe, each wheel assembly including an alignment mechanism for adjusting an orientation of the wheels to allow the robotic apparatus to move along a straight path or a helical path on the pipe. A method for navigating an obstacle on a pipe comprising advancing the robotic apparatus along a helical pathway on the pipe to position an open side of the robotic apparatus in longitudinal alignment with the obstacle, and advancing the robotic apparatus along a straight pathway on the pipe such that the obstacle passes unobstructed through the open side of the robotic apparatus.

A transport cart (3) and a transmission device thereof (32). The transmission device comprises: a crawling assembly (320), a rotary drive assembly and a crawling drive assembly. The crawling assembly comprises: a wheel frame (321), comprising a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the wheel frame extending from the first end to the second end; a driving wheel (322), mounted at the second end and having an axis perpendicular to the extending direction of the wheel frame; and a guide wheel (323), mounted at the second end and having an axis parallel to the extending direction of the wheel frame. The present transport cart provided with the described transmission device may move along both a horizontal rail and a vertical rail and may quickly switch between the horizontal rail and the vertical rail, thus improving the moving efficiency.

In a traveling apparatus, a front wheel supporting member is coupled to a rear wheel supporting member rotatably around a pivot axis and with a support shaft in such a way that a wheel base length will become variable according to a relative posture of the front wheel supporting member and the rear wheel supporting member. Control is performed so that the greater the wheel base length, the greater a speed of the traveling apparatus in a forward direction will become. When the wheel base length is one at which the speed in the forward direction becomes substantially zero, while the front wheel is oriented in a straight traveling direction, an intersection point where the pivot axis crosses a road surface is located at a position offset from a grounding point where the front wheel is grounded on the road surface toward a side of the rear wheel.

Provided is a traveling apparatus including at least, with respect to a traveling direction, a front wheel and a rear wheel and on which a user rides when traveling. The traveling apparatus includes a driving unit configured to drive at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel, an adjusting mechanism including a rotation part configured to rotate a front wheel supporting member and a rear wheel supporting member in relation to each other, the adjusting mechanism being configured to adjust a wheel base length between the front wheel and the rear wheel by an action of the user being transmitted, thereby changing an angle formed by the front wheel supporting member and the rear wheel supporting member, and a control unit configured to control the driving unit based on a parameter, the parameter changing in conjunction with the wheel base length.

An active mounting system for a transfer case in a vehicle drivetrain is provided. The system includes a chassis movable between a first position and a second position. An engine is pivotally coupled to the chassis. A transmission is coupled to the engine. A prop-shaft is operably coupled to the transmission with a transfer case coupled in between. An active mount is operably coupled to selectively rotate the engine and transmission between a first orientation and a second orientation in response to the chassis being moved from the first position to the second position.

An active mounting system for a transfer case in a vehicle drivetrain is provided. The system includes a chassis movable between a first position and a second position. An engine is pivotally coupled to the chassis. A transmission is coupled to the engine. A prop-shaft is operably coupled to the transmission with a transfer case coupled in between. An active mount is operably coupled to selectively rotate the engine and transmission between a first orientation and a second orientation in response to the chassis being moved from the first position to the second position.

The present disclosure is directed to electric vehicles. A modular electric vehicle includes an electric vehicle chassis that includes an energy storage device, chassis control circuitry, and one or more communication interfaces disposed on an upper surface of the chassis. The chassis further includes an electric motor, suspension and drivetrain to provide an operating vehicle. An electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine that drives an electric drive motor for charging a vehicle battery The vehicle may be driven solely by electric power, i.e., the internal combustion engine may provide no drive power to the axles of the vehicle and is used primarily for charging the battery. In some embodiments, electric motors may be coupled to one or both of the vehicle axles and the battery may be coupled to one or both the drive motors under control of a controller.