Vehicles are disclosed which have a lower center of gravity than existing all-terrain, amphibious, and unmanned ground vehicles due to the location of propulsion units and other vehicle components inside the wheels of the vehicle. The vehicles can climb over large obstacles yet are also able to corner at high speeds. The vehicles can be configured for direct manual operation or operation by remote control, and can also be configured for a wide variety of missions.

A three wheeled stand-up or sit down foldable and portable electric personal mobility vehicle suited to fulfilling the needs of a broad spectrum of users. The front end wheel assembly comprises an electrically powered front wheel hub motor that provides power to move forward and backward. An electric control box mounted flush to the steering fork assembly with means of electrically connecting hub motor, battery, and controls. An upper sub-part comprises a telescopic handlebar to control direction of the front wheel, controls comprising a brake lever, throttle, and forward/reverse switch to control speed, and an ignition headlight assembly with removable keys. Below the handle bars comprise a folding column enabling the steering column and handlebar assembly to fold down. A lower subpart comprises a foldable metal support frame comprising hinged pivot points at the lower rear to mate with rear chassis allowing front wheel assembly to fold down upon the rear chassis, comprising a mechanism to secure the front frame assembly into a locked, unfolded position (ready to drive) or in an unlocked folded position (ready to stow). Continuing further down the front support frame comprises a kick out support wheel which drops down and touches the ground when moving to folded position allowing for the rear chassis to form a tri pod stance between the two rear wheels and the kick out wheel. Conversely, when moving into unfolded position, said support wheel tucks back under rear chassis. A second part, a rear chassis assembly comprising a flat platform surface mounted on a rectangular metal frame. Said metal frame comprises a mounting bracket for a removable seat post and a rear axle connected to the frame in which respective left and right rear wheels are mounted. Rear chassis further comprises a metal housing recessed under said flat platform which comprises a removable battery pack and electrical means for charging and providing power to the front frame assembly electrical systems. The front end of the rear chassis frame comprises respective pivot points to mate with front frame assembly comprising a centered U shaped notch in the frame to allow the fastening or releasing mechanism to set into place securely connecting front chassis to rear chassis into upright and ready to drive position or releasing from ready to drive position and folding for stowing.

A three-wheeled vehicle includes a chassis, a first wheel rotatably connected to the chassis, the first wheel having a first perimeter, a first diameter and a first geometric center, a second wheel rotatably connected to the chassis, the second wheel having a second perimeter, a second diameter and a second geometric center, a first motor and a second motor, a first drive and a second drive gear, a first plurality of teeth disposed about the first wheel and mechanically engaged with the first drive gear at a location closer to the first perimeter than to the first geometric center, a second plurality of teeth disposed about the second wheel and mechanically engaged with the second drive gear at a location closer to the second perimeter than to the second geometric center, a mount rotatably connected to the chassis and a third wheel rotatably connected to the mount.

A three-wheeled vehicle includes a chassis, a first wheel rotatably connected to the chassis, the first wheel having a first perimeter, a first diameter and a first geometric center, a second wheel rotatably connected to the chassis, the second wheel having a second perimeter, a second diameter and a second geometric center, a first motor and a second motor, a first drive and a second drive gear, a first plurality of teeth disposed about the first wheel and mechanically engaged with the first drive gear at a location closer to the first perimeter than to the first geometric center, a second plurality of teeth disposed about the second wheel and mechanically engaged with the second drive gear at a location closer to the second perimeter than to the second geometric center, a mount rotatably connected to the chassis and a third wheel rotatably connected to the mount.

Provided is an autonomous moving body that controls driving wheels by allowing a trailing caster to be located on a front side with respect to a traveling direction when it is recognized that there is no step in a traveling direction and controls the driving wheels to change the orientation of a base body in which the driving wheels and the trailing caster are arranged and approach the step so that at least one of two driving wheels contacts the step before the trailing caster contacts the step when it is recognized that there is a step in the traveling direction.

Provided is an autonomous moving body that controls driving wheels by allowing a trailing caster to be located on a front side with respect to a traveling direction when it is recognized that there is no step in a traveling direction and controls the driving wheels to change the orientation of a base body in which the driving wheels and the trailing caster are arranged and approach the step so that at least one of two driving wheels contacts the step before the trailing caster contacts the step when it is recognized that there is a step in the traveling direction.

A three-wheeled vehicle includes a vehicle frame defining an occupant compartment. The vehicle frame has a front. The vehicle frame includes a first side extending vehicle-rearward from the front. The vehicle frame includes a second side extending vehicle-rearward from the front. The vehicle frame includes a bottom segment and a top segment. The top segment and the bottom segment extend along the front and the first side and the second side of the vehicle frame. The bottom segment and the top segment are tubular. The three-wheeled vehicle includes a first wheel at a midline of the front of the vehicle frame, a second wheel on the first side of the vehicle frame, and a third wheel on the second side of the vehicle frame. The three-wheeled vehicle includes an airbag supported by the bottom segment. The airbag is inflatable exterior to the vehicle frame upwardly toward the top segment from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The airbag in the uninflated position is elongated along the front and the first side and the second side of the vehicle frame.

A three-wheeled vehicle includes a vehicle frame defining an occupant compartment. The vehicle frame has a front. The vehicle frame includes a first side extending vehicle-rearward from the front. The vehicle frame includes a second side extending vehicle-rearward from the front. The vehicle frame includes a bottom segment and a top segment. The top segment and the bottom segment extend along the front and the first side and the second side of the vehicle frame. The bottom segment and the top segment are tubular. The three-wheeled vehicle includes a first wheel at a midline of the front of the vehicle frame, a second wheel on the first side of the vehicle frame, and a third wheel on the second side of the vehicle frame. The three-wheeled vehicle includes an airbag supported by the bottom segment. The airbag is inflatable exterior to the vehicle frame upwardly toward the top segment from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The airbag in the uninflated position is elongated along the front and the first side and the second side of the vehicle frame.

Some implementations can include a zero turn radius utility vehicle that is operated in a standing position by an operator using foot controls provided on the utility vehicle. Accordingly, the operator's hands are free to operate handheld equipment (e.g., a line trimmer, edger, blower, etc.) while the operator controls the utility vehicle via the foot controls. Further, the utility vehicle may have a single third wheel (and no mower deck or other deck or protrusion) extending from the front of the vehicle frame so as to minimize any protrusions to the front of the vehicle, which can permit the operator to work on the ground in front of the utility vehicle using handheld equipment without interference from a mower deck, while remaining in a standing position on the utility vehicle and being able to simultaneously control the utility vehicle (via foot controls) and perform work with handheld equipment.

Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn.