An unmanned vehicle capable of tunneling into soft materials, such as sand, comprises a hollow, bullet-shaped forward outer body with a first drive screw thread integrated into its exterior, a hollow cylindrical rear outer body with a second drive screw thread integrated into its exterior but threaded in the opposed direction of the first drive screw thread, and an inner body that is rotatably coupled to the inside of the forward and rear outer bodies via mechanical gears, and including directional control fins mounted on a housing at the rear end of the inner body.

An all-terrain rover is provided in which the arrangement of flanges of one or more cylinders of first and second cylinder systems allow for forward and backwards motion, as well as turning and sideways motion of the roller. An all-terrain rover is further provided in which the flanges of the first cylinder system are oriented opposite to an orientation of the flanges of the second cylinder system such that, in counter-rotation, a forward or reverse motion results from contact between the flanges and a surface of travel. An all-terrain rover is further still provided in which the flanges of a first cylinder of the first cylinder system is oriented in an opposite orientation to the flanges of a second cylinder of the first cylinder system and the orientation of a first cylinder of the second cylinder system is oriented in an opposite orientation to the flanges of a second cylinder of the second cylinder system such that each cylinder can be rotated in an individual direction and individual speed to create forward and backwards motion along the axis of the cylinders as well as steerable motion.

Various aspects include a robot including a chassis, a rear section, and a forward propulsion auger. The chassis may include a forward section; a first drive motor positioned within the forward section; a rear section; and a maneuvering gimbal. The forward propulsion auger may be positioned on a leading end of the forward section and coupled to the first drive motor. The forward propulsion auger may include at least one fluid nozzle configured to eject a fluid therefrom for fluidizing at least a portion of a viscous mixture. The forward section and the rear section may be configured to be selectively pivoted relative to one another about the pivot axis of the maneuvering gimbal. Also, the forward propulsion auger may be configured to be rotated by the first drive motor relative to the forward section about a rotational axis normal to the pivot axis of the maneuvering gimbal.

An all-terrain rover has a ladder frame having one or more crosspieces, two drive units connected on opposite sides of the frame, first and second auger cylinders engaged with the drive units so as to be urged into rotation by the drive units, each cylinder comprising a sealed hollow cylinder; and a spiral auger flange affixed to the exterior of the cylinder, wherein the drive units are in contact with the axes of the auger cylinders are parallel and the flange of the first cylinder is wound in an opposite direction to the flange of the second cylinder, and wherein the cylinders are each counter-rotated to urge the rover forward. In one embodiment sampling equipment is mounted on the frame. In another, each cylinder further comprises a conical end cap at each end. Each cylinder may have a frustaconical end cap at each end, and each cylinder may be buoyant.

Various aspects include a robot including a chassis, a rear section, and a forward propulsion auger. The chassis may include a forward section; a first drive motor positioned within the forward section; a rear section; and a maneuvering gimbal. The forward propulsion auger may be positioned on a leading end of the forward section and coupled to the first drive motor. The forward propulsion auger may include at least one fluid nozzle configured to eject a fluid therefrom for fluidizing at least a portion of a viscous mixture. The forward section and the rear section may be configured to be selectively pivoted relative to one another about the pivot axis of the maneuvering gimbal. Also, the forward propulsion auger may be configured to be rotated by the first drive motor relative to the forward section about a rotational axis normal to the pivot axis of the maneuvering gimbal.

Various aspects include a robot and method of using the robot, which includes a chassis and a forward propulsion auger. The chassis may include a forward section a rear section; and a maneuvering gimbal. The forward propulsion auger may be positioned on a leading end of the forward section and coupled to a first drive motor. The forward propulsion auger may include at least one fluid nozzle configured to eject a fluid therefrom.

Spiral drive mechanism, particularly for mechanical vehicles, land and water machines, comprises of deformable spiral (1) of spindle shape, on one side resting on a rocker arm (2) with bearing, attached to the vehicle through a moving joint, through an axle (3) that moves the front part of the spiral in vertical, longitudinal and transverse axis. On the other side, it rests on a pendulum-moving driving axle of the vehicle (4), propelling rotating motion of the spiral and thus causing movement of the vehicle.

The present disclosure relates to methods and a vehicle for enhancing the mechanical dewatering of a slurry. In one aspect, the disclosure concerns a method for enhanced dewatering of a settling pond with a mechanical dewatering vehicle including: measuring one or more properties of a slurry to be deposited in the settling pond; determining a buoyancy profile for the vehicle, based on the one or more properties measured and one or more properties of the vehicle, such that the vehicle is neutrally buoyant in the slurry when deposited in the settling pond; and determining an optimal slurry depth for the slurry to be deposited in the settling pond such that the vehicle is able to maintain substantially shear-free traction as the vehicle traverses the slurry.

Various embodiments of a multi-modal screw propelled excavation craft operable for excavating a material as the craft is propelled along a surface are disclosed.

An unmanned vehicle capable of tunneling into soft materials, such as sand, comprises a hollow, bullet-shaped forward outer body with a first drive screw thread integrated into its exterior, a hollow cylindrical rear outer body with a second drive screw thread integrated into its exterior but threaded in the opposed direction of the first drive screw thread, and an inner body that is rotatably coupled to the inside of the forward and rear outer bodies via mechanical gears, and including directional control fins mounted on a housing at the rear end of the inner body.