A coupling mechanism is provided for coupling a supporting element to a frame, and includes a base member and a C-shaped retainer. The frame includes a frame body and a leg member that has a leg body extending downwardly from the frame body to terminate at an enlarged leg end. The base member defines therein a recess for the enlarged leg end therein. The supporting element is coupled to a lower major surface of the base wall. The C-shaped retainer extends to be disposed about the leg body, and is configured to be detachably coupled to a surrounding wall of the base member for retaining the enlarged leg end in the recess.

The Reconfigurable Wheel-Track (RWT) is a novel mechanism that allows a wheel to transform into a track, and vice-versa. The wheel permits a vehicle to travel quickly over smooth and semi-rough terrain, then, on-the-fly, transform rapidly into a powered track for crossing extreme terrain. The reconfigurable wheel-track consists of several main components: an outer tire/tread, drive mechanisms for the wheel and track, support mechanisms for the outer tread when in either wheel mode or track mode, and a reconfiguration mechanism that facilitates the transformation from a wheel to a track and vice-versa. The reconfigurable wheel-track includes sensing, actuation, and controls to facilitate efficient and effective transition from wheel to track and vice-versa, and securely maintain each shape.

The Reconfigurable Wheel-Track (RWT) is a novel mechanism that allows a wheel to transform into a track, and vice-versa. The wheel permits a vehicle to travel quickly over smooth and semi-rough terrain, then, on-the-fly, transform rapidly into a powered track for crossing extreme terrain. The reconfigurable wheel-track consists of several main components: an outer tire/tread, drive mechanisms for the wheel and track, support mechanisms for the outer tread when in either wheel mode or track mode, and a reconfiguration mechanism that facilitates the transformation from a wheel to a track and vice-versa. The reconfigurable wheel-track includes sensing, actuation, and controls to facilitate efficient and effective transition from wheel to track and vice-versa, and securely maintain each shape.

A multi-mode switchable car includes a car body, a bogie, a wheel assembly, a steering driving module, a steering locking structure and a locking sensing structure. The car body is provided with a control module, and multiple wheel driving programs are preset. The bogie is rotatably connected to the car body. The wheel assembly includes a hub motor connected to the bogie or the car body and a wheel-type component detachably connected to the hub motor, wheel forms are switchable by connecting different wheel-type components to the hub motor. The steering driving module drives the bogie. The steering locking structure locks the bogie when located in a locking position. The locking sensing structure acquires a position of the steering locking structure and is electrically connected with the control module, and the control module switches the wheel driving programs according to position information acquired by the locking sensing structure.

A method and apparatus for connected deployable arms off of cylindrical surfaces including an outer cylinder defining an outer circumference and an inner cylinder concentric with the outer cylinder around a central aperture, one or more primary developable mechanisms linked to one or more secondary developable mechanisms. The deployable arms transition from a first closed state wherein the primary developable mechanisms and secondary developable mechanisms are contained entirely within the outer cylinder outer circumference to a second open state wherein the inner cylinder rotates relative to the outer cylinder, forcing the primary developable mechanisms and secondary developable mechanisms to extend outside the outer cylinder outer circumference.

A method and apparatus for connected deployable arms off of cylindrical surfaces including an outer cylinder defining an outer circumference and an inner cylinder concentric with the outer cylinder around a central aperture, one or more primary developable mechanisms linked to one or more secondary developable mechanisms. The deployable arms transition from a first closed state wherein the primary developable mechanisms and secondary developable mechanisms are contained entirely within the outer cylinder outer circumference to a second open state wherein the inner cylinder rotates relative to the outer cylinder, forcing the primary developable mechanisms and secondary developable mechanisms to extend outside the outer cylinder outer circumference.

A wheel-legged amphibious mobile robot with a variable attack angle, which belongs to the technical field of robot structure technology. The robot includes three parts: motion unit, body trunk and power unit. As a key structure, the motion unit mainly includes a moving mechanism, a wheel assembly, a telescopic mechanism and a transmission device. The robot drives the telescopic mechanism to reciprocate linearly through a gear and rack set, and pushes “legs” to expand and retract, so as to realize a mutual switching between a wheeled mode and a gait mode. Under transmission of bevel gear set, the blades can rotate at any same angle at the same time, to change the attack angle and realize the steering. The robot provided by the present disclosure can effectively adapt to a complex and harsh amphibious environment, and meet a series of operation requirements such as rapid movement, obstacle climbing, underwater steering.

A deformable wheel according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a plurality of lobes; wheel spokes connected to the plurality of lobes, respectively; and hinges pivotably connecting the wheel spokes to the lobes, wherein the wheel spokes are capable of two degree-of-freedom motion, and the plurality of lobes either form a circular shape due to the two degree-of-freedom motion of the wheel spokes, or separate from each other to form a deformed shape.

A deformable wheel according to the present invention is characterized by comprising: a plurality of lobes; wheel spokes connected to the plurality of lobes, respectively; and hinges pivotably connecting the wheel spokes to the lobes, wherein the wheel spokes are capable of two degree-of-freedom motion, and the plurality of lobes either form a circular shape due to the two degree-of-freedom motion of the wheel spokes, or separate from each other to form a deformed shape.

A mower front caster wheel system that includes a caster wheel assembly that rotates about a caster axis, and a stabilizer to be disposed in a bearing housing coupled to a frame of a mower such that a first portion of the stabilizer is in contact with a component that rotates with the caster wheel assembly and a second portion of the stabilizer is in contact with an internal surface of the bearing housing, to provide resistance to rotation of the caster wheel assembly relative to the bearing housing.