Compressible carts and methods for using the same are provided. The compressible carts include a rigid frame having a front wall, a rear wall, a right sidewall, a left sidewall, and a bottom wall. The right sidewall comprising a first right panel rotatably coupled to a second right panel. The compressible carts may also include a first lock assembly integrated with the first right panel and the second right panel. The first lock assembly having a first condition for locking the first right panel to the second right panel, and a second condition for unlocking the first right panel from the second right panel.

A system may include a vehicle having a storage area and a guide rail configured to extend from the storage area. The system may further include a robot having a support portion comprising a placement surface and a base. The robot may also include a plurality of descendible wheels. The robot may also further include a plurality of legs, each connecting the support portion to one of the plurality of descendible wheels.

Compressible carts and methods for using the same are provided. The compressible carts include a rigid frame having a front wall, a rear wall, a right sidewall, a left sidewall, a bottom wall, a rotatable base panel, a rigid cover panel, a handle, and a plurality of wheel assemblies. The compressible carts may also include on each sidewall one or more fastening mechanisms, such as slideable members cooperatively engaging tracks or fastening connectors, and are movable between an open position to allow the sidewall to fold inwardly, to a closed position to selectively lock the panels of the sidewall. The plurality of wheel assemblies may include a plurality of rotatable swivel wheels mounted underneath the bottom wall, or a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to a plurality of spokes, where each spoke is coupled to a revolving spindle.

A method of operating a payload-carrying vehicle having two laterally disposed wheels positioned along a central axis is described. The method includes measuring a force applied by a user to the hand truck, where the measured force comprising a direction and a magnitude, and providing torque to each wheel to cause each wheel to rotate in a respective direction as a function of the measured magnitude and direction. The amount of torque provided to each wheel in response to the force from the user is such that the magnitude of measured force applied by the user is not greater than a predetermined threshold value.

A wheel includes a supporting frame, with a central portion having a center around which the wheel can turn, and a plurality of radial portions extending from the central portion angularly displaced with each other. A housing seat is delimited between two adjacent radial portions. A movable element is radially displaceable between a first working position located at a maximum distance with respect to the center, and a second working position located at a minimum distance with respect to the center of the central portion. The radial portions and the movable element have respective distal sections, with respect to the center, curved with a curvature radius corresponding to the curvature radius of the wheel and being flush with each other. A locking element is displaceable between one locking position, wherein it abuts on the movable element and prevents the radial displacement thereof, and one unlocking position, wherein it allows the radial displacement of the movable element toward the second working position. A returning element of the movable element between the supporting frame and the movable element is configured to bring the movable element back into the first working position. A band made of an elastically deformable material surrounds the distal sections of the plurality of radial portions and the movable element, at the circular perimeter of the wheel.

The present invention discloses a folding stair-climbing trolley comprising a bracket, wherein two insertion posts at a lower end of the bracket are sequentially inserted into a sliding sleeve, a sliding inner sleeve, a supporting sleeve, a toothed tube sleeve, a torsion spring and a foot stand, and ends of the two insertion posts at the lower end of the bracket are rotatably connected to both ends of a blade; a lower end of a supporting seat is connected to a lower portion of a rotating block and is located at an upper side of a connection point between the foot stand and the rotating block; an upper end of the rotating block is connected to a tripod, and three ends of the tripod are rotatably connected to rollers. The folding stair-climbing trolley may realize the function of moving on the stairs by providing three rollers. And the supporting sleeve and foot stand provided can be rotated, which may facilitate the tripods on both sides to be turned over and folded inward to realize the function of storing the rollers, saving the space for storing the trolley. By providing the oblique openings at the upper end of the foot stand and the lower end of the toothed tube sleeve, and providing the torsion spring inside the foot stand, the rotating thrust of the torsion spring facilitates the unfolding of the tripods.

A device for transporting a payload (to include a human user) over varied terrain. A platform accommodates the payload. A pair of wheel clusters are mounted to opposite ends of the platform and are powered in rotation relative thereto. Each includes at least two co-planar wheels powered by electric motors. A latch is hand-operable (without tools) to secure the cluster to the platform and, alternatively, allow the cluster to be detached from the platform and rotated 90 to lie parallel thereto. An electrical connector conducts electric power from the platform to the cluster when the latch is operated/actuated to secure the cluster to the platform, and is configured such that it does not impede or obstruct detaching the wheel cluster from the platform, with no requirement that the user take any additional step (other than actuating the latch) to detach the wheel cluster.

A multi-leg independent mobile carrier device, comprising: a base (1), a traveling mechanism (2), and a posture adjustment mechanism (3). The base (1) is used for carrying a human being or an object. The traveling mechanism (2) comprises a driving unit (21) connected to the base (1) and a connecting rod unit (22) rotatably connected to the driving unit. The traveling mechanism (2) is used for driving the base (1) to travel and get over any obstacles. The posture adjustment mechanism (3) is connected to the base (1) and used for keeping the human being or object balanced. The multi-leg independent mobile carrier device integrates a traveling mechanism and a posture adjustment mechanism. The posture adjustment mechanism is used for keeping the base balanced all the time and the traveling mechanism is used for driving the entire device to travel and turn around more flexibly. Therefore, the technical problem of a carrier device being unable to satisfy requirements of good obstacle performance, comfortable riding experience, and flexible traveling is effectively solved. The obstacle crossing ability of the multi-leg independent mobile carrier device is enhanced, and user experience is improved.

A motorized device for transporting a human or inanimate payload. A platform is configured to accommodate the payload and a pair of wheel clusters are mounted to the platform at opposite ends thereof and are powered in rotation relative to the platform, for example by one or more electric motors housed in or on the platform or wheel clusters. Each of the two wheel clusters comprises three drive wheels arranged in a generally triangular and co-planar configuration, and each is independently powered about its respective axis of rotation by a hub-mounted electric motor. An electronic controller commands the motors powering the two wheel clusters and of each of the six drive wheels. The independent controllability of each wheel and of the wheel clusters relative to the platform allows the device to steer and to ascend and descend steps.

A moving body includes: a plurality of wheels capable of rotating around a plurality of rotating shafts disposed on a circumference around a common axis; and a supporting unit supporting the plurality of rotating shafts to be capable of revolving around the axis. A first power source is connected to the plurality of wheels to be capable of transmitting power so as to rotate the plurality of wheels. A second power source is connected to the supporting unit to be capable of transmitting power so as to revolve the plurality of wheels.