An agile manufacturing platform for manufacture of an object includes a substantially planar body (301) supporting a computer processor (303) and a plurality of articulated legs (305). An articulated robotic arm (307) is rotatably mounted to the planar body and includes at least one articulated joint to providing at least 3 degrees of freedom relative to the planar body. A machine tool (315) is coupled to the articulated robotic arm.

A robotic apparatus moveable between a bipod mode and a tripod mode includes a housing, a first leg and a second leg extending from the housing, and a retractable third leg positioned between the first leg and the second leg. The third leg is configured to extend from the housing in the tripod mode and retract at least partially into the housing in the bipod mode. The robotic apparatus also includes a motor disposed within the housing and a transmission system coupled between the motor and at least one of the first leg, the second leg, and the third leg. The transmission system is configured to move the robotic apparatus between the bipod mode where the first leg and the second leg support the housing and the tripod mode where the first leg, the second leg, and the third leg support the housing.

A robotic apparatus moveable between a bipod mode and a tripod mode includes a housing, a first leg and a second leg extending from the housing, and a retractable third leg positioned between the first leg and the second leg. The third leg is configured to extend from the housing in the tripod mode and retract at least partially into the housing in the bipod mode. The robotic apparatus also includes a motor disposed within the housing and a transmission system coupled between the motor and at least one of the first leg, the second leg, and the third leg. The transmission system is configured to move the robotic apparatus between the bipod mode where the first leg and the second leg support the housing and the tripod mode where the first leg, the second leg, and the third leg support the housing.

A robotic vehicle for traversing surfaces is provided. The vehicle is comprised of a chassis supporting a magnetic drive wheel for driving and steering the vehicle and a stabilization mechanism. The magnetic wheel comprises two flux concentrator yokes and an axially magnetized hub extending therebetween. The hub includes a central housing configured to house a sensor probe and enhance the magnetic pull force of the wheel by providing a continuous pathway of high magnetic permeability material for magnetic flux to flow axially through the drive wheel. The stabilization mechanism comprises a front and rear facing support element moveably coupled to the chassis and configured to contact the surface and move symmetrically relative to the chassis thereby maintaining the vehicle and probe normal to the surface and providing stability to the vehicle while traversing surfaces regardless of surface curvature and vehicle orientation.

A robotic vehicle for traversing surfaces is provided. The vehicle is comprised of a chassis supporting a magnetic drive wheel for driving and steering the vehicle and a stabilization mechanism. The magnetic wheel comprises two flux concentrator yokes and an axially magnetized hub extending therebetween. The hub includes a central housing configured to house a sensor probe and enhance the magnetic pull force of the wheel by providing a continuous pathway of high magnetic permeability material for magnetic flux to flow axially through the drive wheel. The stabilization mechanism comprises a front and rear facing support element moveably coupled to the chassis and configured to contact the surface and move symmetrically relative to the chassis thereby maintaining the vehicle and probe normal to the surface and providing stability to the vehicle while traversing surfaces regardless of surface curvature and vehicle orientation.

A ball hitting device that includes a ball; a device body with (i) a drive device that causes the device body to at least move forward and turn, (ii) a hitting device with at least one hitting section that contacts the ball to hit it forward, and (iii) ball holding pieces that are provided on respective left and right sides of the hitting section and extend in front of the device body; and an external controller which operates the drive device and the hitting device remotely. The ball hitting device is configured so that the ball is freely movable between the left and right ball holding pieces.

A ball hitting device that includes a ball; a device body with (i) a drive device that causes the device body to at least move forward and turn, (ii) a hitting device with at least one hitting section that contacts the ball to hit it forward, and (iii) ball holding pieces that are provided on respective left and right sides of the hitting section and extend in front of the device body; and an external controller which operates the drive device and the hitting device remotely. The ball hitting device is configured so that the ball is freely movable between the left and right ball holding pieces.

A device for allowing work to be carried out on or about an object includes at least one gripping arrangement. The at least one gripping arrangement is configured to grip and traverse the object so as to reach a desired location on the object and to anchor the device thereto for allowing the work to be carried out.

A device for allowing work to be carried out on or about an object includes at least one gripping arrangement. The at least one gripping arrangement is configured to grip and traverse the object so as to reach a desired location on the object and to anchor the device thereto for allowing the work to be carried out.

An apparatus includes a robot has an effector head and a motorized wheel coupled to the effector head. The wheel is configured to roll the effector head along a roll axis of a surface. The robot also has a foot, coupled to the effector head, that is operable to walk the effector head along a step axis that is orthogonal to the roll axis. To walk the effector head, the foot engages the surface, lifts the wheel from the surface and while the wheel remains lifted from the surface, advances the effector head along the step axis. The wheel is then returned to the surface, and the foot disengages from the surface. Other embodiments are also described.