A multidirectional wheel for traversing a surface is provided that includes a magnet and a plurality of rollers disposed around an outer periphery of each of the hubs of the wheels. The rollers are mounted for rotation in a second axial direction that is perpendicular to a first axial direction of the wheel. The rollers are supported by a plurality of magnetically-inducible brackets attached to the hub. The brackets are optimally sized and shaped to reduce the space between the magnetized materials of the wheel and the surface upon which the wheel travels.

An excavator for use on slopes having an incline above 30 degrees, the excavator comprising an undercarriage, a propulsion system and a house rotatably mounted to the undercarriage, wherein a rigid member extends upwardly from the undercarriage, through the house and around which the house rotates, the rigid member supports a cradle to which an engine power pack is mounted within the house, the cradle allowing the engine power pack to tilt within the cradle so that it stays generally horizontal as the excavator travels over a slope.

A wheeled jumping robot includes a body with two wheels, and a board is connected between the two wheels. A driving unit and a jumping unit are respectively connected on two sides of the board. The jumping unit has two rails, and a tubular member is located between the two rails and connected to a threaded rod. A bridge is connected between two rails. Rollers are located between a threaded portion of the threaded rod and a tapered contact face of the bridge. When the threaded rod is rotated, the rollers move toward a pre-set position, the bridge compresses resilient members on the two rails. When the tubular member moves toward the pre-set position, the rollers are separated from the threaded rod due to the tapered contact face, the resilient members bounce back. The wheeled jumping robot includes a processing unit for being communicated with a remote control unit.

Inspection vehicle (1) for under water inspection of coating, marine growth, structural integrity and corrosion on ferromagnetic ship hulls and other ferromagnetic structures. The inspection vehicle is distinctive in that it comprises a non-magnetic element (2), at least one magnetic wheel or device (3) operatively arranged to the element, and a watertight camera (4) for visual inspection attached to the element or other structure of the inspection vehicle, wherein the inspection vehicle comprises one coupling side (5) where the at least one magnetic wheel or device is operatively arranged for the inspection vehicle to couple magnetically through coating, any marine growth and corrosion products and allow rolling the inspection vehicle on said structure, in horizontal to vertical to upside down-orientation while holding the inspection vehicle attached to the structure, and one non-coupling side (6) oriented in substance in opposite direction to the coupling side, where the at least one magnetic wheel is not operatively arranged and the non-coupling side will not couple magnetically to said structure.

A method for operating the inspection vehicle is also provided.

A wheeled jumping robot includes a body with two wheels, and a board is connected between the two wheels. A driving unit and a jumping unit are respectively connected on two sides of the board. The jumping unit has two rails, and a tubular member is located between the two rails and connected to a threaded rod. A bridge is connected between two rails. Rollers are located between a threaded portion of the threaded rod and a tapered contact face of the bridge. When the threaded rod is rotated, the rollers move toward a pre-set position, the bridge compresses resilient members on the two rails. When the tubular member moves toward the pre-set position, the rollers are separated from the threaded rod due to the tapered contact face, the resilient members bounce back. The wheeled jumping robot includes a processing unit for being communicated with a remote control unit.

A kit that may include an interfacing device that includes pool sidewall interface, and a pool cleaning robot that includes a housing and a drive system. The drive system may include a drive motor system, a group of interfacing modules and a transmission system that is arranged to mechanically couple the drive motor system to the group of interfacing modules. At least one interfacing module of the group may include protuberances that are shaped to fit a non-smooth surface of the pool sidewall interface.

A climbing vehicle with wheel or endless-track type propulsion using suction for generating adhering forces is adapted to climbing non-planar surfaces such as intersecting walls, pipes or other structural members. The suction chamber is relatively fixed to the vehicle chassis and moves with the vehicle chassis. A seal is created around the suction chamber through an adaptive sealing mechanism. The adaptive sealing mechanism consists of a series of links that adapt to the climbing surface geometry and forms a seal at the climbing surface. The links in the adaptive sealing mechanism span a portion of the suction chamber along the longitudinal sides of the vehicle and are elastically sprung to maintain contact with the surface. The adaptive sealing mechanism links also span the lateral sides of the vehicle to fully enclose the suction chamber. Thus, the suction chamber is maintained even as the mobile vehicle passes over significant geometry changes in the climbing surface, for example transitioning between surfaces that are orthogonally opposed.

A system for extraction of a pool cleaning robot from a pool, the system may include a base for receiving the pool cleaning robot; and at least one out of (a) an interface device and (b) a pool cleaner electrical power cable winding drum; wherein the interfacing device comprises an interfacing device portion that extends beyond and below the base during a part of the extraction of the pool cleaning robot from the pool; and wherein the pool cleaner electrical power cable winding drum is configured to wind and unwind a power cable of the pool cleaning robot during the part of the extraction of the pool cleaning robot from the pool.

A pool cleaning robot for cleaning a pool, comprising: a housing; and a drive system that is arranged to move the pool cleaning robot in relation to an environment of the pool cleaning robot; wherein the environment comprises the pool and an exterior surface; wherein the drive system comprises: a drive motor system; a group of interfacing modules; a transmission system that is arranged to couple the drive motor system to the group of interfacing modules; and an interface manipulator; wherein interfacing modules of the group are arranged to interface between the pool cleaning robot and the environment; wherein the interface manipulator is arranged to change a spatial relationship between (a) the housing and (b) a selected interfacing module of the group, during an exit process during which the pool cleaning robot exits the pool.

A system for extraction of a pool cleaning robot from a pool, the system may include a base for receiving the pool cleaning robot; and at least one out of (a) an interface device and (b) a pool cleaner electrical power cable winding drum; wherein the interfacing device comprises an interfacing device portion that extends beyond and below the base during a part of the extraction of the pool cleaning robot from the pool; and wherein the pool cleaner electrical power cable winding drum is configured to wind and unwind a power cable of the pool cleaning robot during the part of the extraction of the pool cleaning robot from the pool.