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.

A floatable land vehicle is provided that includes a base body having at least one buoyancy body that is detachably fastened to the base body, the buoyancy body containing an at least partially filled tank.

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. The drive units are in contact with the axes of the auger cylinders and the flange of the first cylinder is wound in an opposite direction to the flange of the second cylinder. The cylinders are counter-rotated to urge the rover forward. Sampling equipment is mounted on the frame. In an embodiment, 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.

A multi-modal screw propelled excavation system for small body sample collection includes a craft having screw-shaped wheels to traverse the surface of the target body. When the craft is ready to collect a sample, the craft opens a door to an excavation bin on a bottom face of the craft, and uses the screw-shaped wheels to churn up regolith which is captured by closing the door.

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.

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.