This disclosure presents a robotic device for multi-terrain inspection, composed by a robot body, a quick reconfigurable locomotion module and a mapping unit capable to model the inspected environment through a 3D colored point cloud. The robot has different locomotion mechanisms that can be quickly replaced, thereby changing the robot mobility characteristics. The device is controlled through teleoperation or autonomously. When in teleoperated mode, an operating assist module provides relevant locomotion information to the operator including a map that shows areas where the robot may not transpose or tip-over. This module also suggests to the operator other locomotion configurations to overcome obstacles presented in the map. When in autonomous mode, the navigation module provides a strategy to explore unknown environments and trace optimal locomotion path considering the traveled distance, tipping-over risk and energy consumption. Regarding the invention characteristics described above, the main objective is to perform inspections of confined and risk areas, i.e., caves, sewer and dam spillway galleries, and areas with risk of collapse.

In a moving object including a plurality of supporting legs with casters, stability in wheel driving is improved. The moving object includes the plurality of supporting legs in which bases are mounted on a body and the casters are mounted on distal ends, a stabilizer, and a caster angle control unit. The stabilizer controls a position in contact with the ground of the caster of each of the plurality of supporting legs based on a target value of a posture of the body. The caster angle control unit controls a caster angle of each of the casters based on the target value.

In a moving object including a plurality of supporting legs with casters, stability in wheel driving is improved. The moving object includes the plurality of supporting legs in which bases are mounted on a body and the casters are mounted on distal ends, a stabilizer, and a caster angle control unit. The stabilizer controls a position in contact with the ground of the caster of each of the plurality of supporting legs based on a target value of a posture of the body. The caster angle control unit controls a caster angle of each of the casters based on the target value.

An information processing device (10) includes a sensing section (140) that senses a pressure variation of a fluid filling a deformable filled section (130) that is provided to a portion of a leg of a mobile body (100) that is in either a contact state or a non-contact state at which portion the leg contacts an external environment, and a determining section (150) that determines a state of the leg of the mobile body (100) on the basis of the pressure variation of the fluid sensed by the sensing section (140).

A crawler comprising: (a) a body; (b) a camera head in or connected to said body; (c) a plurality of motorized hub assemblies; and (d) a plurality of legs, each of said plurality of legs having a first end and a distal second end, said first end being connected to said body, and said second end being connected to one of said plurality of motorized hub assemblies, wherein said legs are actuatable to define a minimum extended position and an extended position, wherein said motorized hub assemblies are close to said body in said minimum extended position, and distal from said body in said extended position.

A suspension damping device installed at a chassis of a mobile robot comprises a vehicle frame, a controlling arm set and a damping device. The vehicle frame is fixed to the chassis and arranged on the ground. One end of the controlling arm set is hinged to the vehicle frame, and the other end of the controlling arm set is hinged to a steering device, so the controlling arm set controls the motion stability of the steering device. One end of the damping device opposite to the ground is hinged to the vehicle frame, and the other end of the damping device faced to the ground is hinged to the steering device. A six-wheeled bionic chassis which comprises a chassis frame, a controller, a sensor, front wheel suspension assemblies, middle wheel suspension assemblies and rear wheel suspension assemblies is also disclosed in the present invention.

A suspension damping device installed at a chassis of a mobile robot comprises a vehicle frame, a controlling arm set and a damping device. The vehicle frame is fixed to the chassis and arranged on the ground. One end of the controlling arm set is hinged to the vehicle frame, and the other end of the controlling arm set is hinged to a steering device, so the controlling arm set controls the motion stability of the steering device. One end of the damping device opposite to the ground is hinged to the vehicle frame, and the other end of the damping device faced to the ground is hinged to the steering device. A six-wheeled bionic chassis which comprises a chassis frame, a controller, a sensor, front wheel suspension assemblies, middle wheel suspension assemblies and rear wheel suspension assemblies is also disclosed in the present invention.

A robot is provided, the robot comprising a body carrying a first drive arrangement, a second drive arrangement and a stabiliser. The robot further comprises actuators operable to cause relative movement of the first drive arrangement, the second drive arrangement and the stabiliser, and to drive the first and the second drive arrangements. The robot is arrangeable in first, second and third configurations each having static stability. In the first configuration, the stabiliser and the first drive arrangement are arranged to contact the ground. In the second configuration, the stabiliser and the second drive arrangement are arranged to contact the ground. In the third configuration, the first and the second drive arrangements are arranged to contact the ground. No other ground contacting point is involved in conferring said static stability in said configurations.

A robot is provided, the robot comprising a body carrying a first drive arrangement, a second drive arrangement and a stabiliser. The robot further comprises actuators operable to cause relative movement of the first drive arrangement, the second drive arrangement and the stabiliser, and to drive the first and the second drive arrangements. The robot is arrangeable in first, second and third configurations each having static stability. In the first configuration, the stabiliser and the first drive arrangement are arranged to contact the ground. In the second configuration, the stabiliser and the second drive arrangement are arranged to contact the ground. In the third configuration, the first and the second drive arrangements are arranged to contact the ground. No other ground contacting point is involved in conferring said static stability in said configurations.

A mobile robot includes a non-inverted pendulum body hereafter referred to as NPB with at least one pivot axis and this pivot axis divides the NPB into two portions. One portion of the NPB contains the center of mass of the NPB that can have structures to carry external payloads. The second portion of the NPB can have one or more manipulator arm and vision units. On the pivot axis is disposed at least one leg rotatabily coupled to the NPB. The other end of the leg has a foot joint on which is disposed a drive wheel or a foot. With additional degrees of freedom for each leg the robot can move similar to humanoids, be able to carry and sustain heavy loads with minimal leg joint torques and/or manipulate heavy loads and forces with self-compensating mass of the NPB while using minimal leg joint torques.