Abstract: A terrain traversing device includes an annular rotor element with a plurality of co-planar microspine hooks arranged on the periphery of the annular rotor element. Each microspine hook has an independently flexible suspension configuration that permits the microspine hook to initially engage an irregularity in a terrain surface at a preset initial engagement angle and subsequently engage the irregularity with a continuously varying engagement angle when the annular rotor element is rotated for urging the terrain traversing device to traverse a terrain surface.

Abstract: When a vehicle climbs up/down a step, driving torque suitable for the step climbing operation is applied to a driving wheel, and the center of gravity of a vehicle body is moved in an upward direction of the step. Thus, a stable traveling state and stable posture of the vehicle body can be maintained both when climbing up a step and when climbing down a step, whereby an occupant can operate the vehicle safely and comfortably even on a place having steps. In view of this, the vehicle includes: a vehicle body; a driving wheel rotatably attached to the vehicle body; and a vehicle control apparatus for controlling driving torque that is applied to the driving wheel and controlling posture of the vehicle body. When climbing up/down a step on a road, the vehicle control apparatus controls a position of center of gravity of the vehicle body in accordance with the step.

Abstract: An inverted wheel type moving body according to the present invention includes a right chassis 17 and a left chassis 19 rotationally supporting wheels, motors 34 and 36 rotationally driving a right driving wheel 18 and a left driving wheel 20, a body 12 rotatably supported on the right chassis 17 and the left chassis 19 through a right arm 14 and a left arm 16, lower joint motors 65 and 95 disposed in the right arm 14 and the left arm 16 and varying vehicle height of the moving body 100, and a control unit 80 that controls the lower joint motors 65 and 95 to lower the vehicle height based on a fail signal 88 output when the inverted wheel type moving body is in an abnormal state.

Abstract: vehicle with two independently rotatable wheels arranged opposite from each other and bridged by a linking structure, having a driving motor for each wheel, and having electronic fore-and-aft self-balancing capabilities. The two wheels are capable of tilting side-to-side in unison to execute turns. The vehicle can carry a rider, who may stand on foot supports either between or outside of the wheels and operate the vehicle by leaning forward, backward, or sideways to direct travel in the direction of leaning. Further means are provided for producing advantages in stability and portability.

Abstract: A vehicle with two independently rotatable wheels arranged opposite from each other and bridged by a linking structure, having a driving motor for each wheel, and having electronic fore-and-aft self-balancing capabilities. The two wheels are capable of tilting side-to-side in unison to execute turns. The vehicle is operated by the rider leaning forward, backward, or sideways to direct travel in the direction of leaning. Further means are provided for producing advantages in stability and portability.

Abstract: A frictional drive device comprises a pair of drive disks (48) each rotatably supported by a frame (2, 42) around a central axial line (A) in a mutually opposing relationship, and a pair of actuators (64) supported by the frame for individually rotatively actuating the drive disks and coaxially disposed with respect to the corresponding drive disks, a plurality of drive rollers (56) arranged along an outer periphery of each drive disk and each having a rotational center line so as to be rotatable along a plane which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the central axial line, and an annular main wheel (85) disposed approximately coaxially with respect to the central axial line and engaged by the drive rollers of the drive disks, the main wheel comprising an annular member (86) and a plurality of driven rollers (92) supported along the annular member so as to be rotatable around a tangential line of the annular member.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a body, a wheel rotatably supported and coaxially disposed on the body, and an occupant riding portion supported by the body. The motor vehicle is provided with a body attitude detector for detecting an attitude of the body and a body attitude controller for controlling the body attitude detected by the body attitude detector, wherein, in response to an inertial force or a centrifugal force generated by acceleration, deceleration or a turning motion of the motor vehicle, the occupant riding portion is moved so as to balance the inertial force or the centrifugal force. The motor vehicle further includes an occupant attitude controller for controlling an attitude of the occupant riding portion in accordance with a detection value detected by the body attitude detector.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a parallel two-wheeled vehicle in which a rider can ride in safety without executing a predetermined procedure in boarding. A parallel two-wheeled vehicle control apparatus according to the present invention includes a drive unit that drives two wheels arranged on the same axis line in parallel, a rider detection unit that detects a state of a rider on a riding part that is connected to the wheels, a vehicle detection unit that detects a posture of a vehicle body, and a control unit that generates a control command to the drive unit and performs initial control to optimize transition of control from boarding to normal operation based on the detection result by the vehicle detection unit upon detection by the rider detection unit that the rider rides on the riding part while satisfying a certain riding condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hands-free electric scooter including: a bottom housing; a steering housing disposed on the bottom housing; a steering shaft having a pressurizing plate mounted along the lower periphery thereof, a horizontal protrusion formed on one side of the pressurizing plate, a manipulating rod mounted on the underside of the horizontal protrusion, and a stopper mounted along the intermediate periphery thereof; a steering jig having an insertion hole formed at one side thereof, a micro switch mounted at the rear side of the insertion hole and having a grounding stick disposed at one side thereof, and an installation hole formed at the front side of the insertion hole; and a potential meter adapted to control direction changes of the hands-free electric scooter.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus is mounted to a lower end of a front fork that supports a front wheel via a bearing portion. The lighting apparatus has a housing, an upper surface of which includes a bottom case receiving surface formed thereon. The bottom case receiving surface is shaped so that an outer periphery of a bottom case can fit therein. A rubber sheet is placed between the bottom case and the bottom case receiving surface to offer vibration isolation property. A bolt is screwed into a threaded hole in the bottom case so as to penetrate through a mounting portion having the bottom case receiving surface, so that the lighting apparatus is secured to the bottom case.

Abstract: A robotic two-wheeled vehicle comprising a connection body interposed between the two wheels are described. A drum can be coaxially located in a central region of the connection body and can support a hollow arm projecting radially from the drum. A tether can be inserted in the arm and connected to a second drum. Instruments and sensors can be accommodated in a case housed inside each wheel.

Abstract: Enabled is to lighten the load on a rider and to make the rider senses a turning state at the turning time of a transverse two-wheeled vehicle. A transverse acceleration (a) at a turn controlling time is detected to make a next inclination control in accordance with the magnitude of the acceleration. (a) In the case of an acceleration (a)?a predetermined threshold (a0), the vehicle is left uninclined to prevent the vehicle body from being unnecessarily inclined and rocked against a small centrifugal force, thereby to improve the riding comfortableness. (b) In the case of the acceleration (a)>the threshold (a0), a riding portion is inclined such that the inclination angle ?1 may become the larger as the acceleration (a) becomes the higher. This can reduce the load on the rider against the centrifugal force.

Abstract: To provide a coaxial two-wheel vehicle that allows a person to easily get off the vehicle with high safety, and a method of controlling the same. A coaxial two-wheel vehicle according to the present invention includes step portions on which feet are placed, and a handle capable of operating back-and-forth movements, and said vehicle moves with a passenger riding thereon. Upon detecting that the passenger gets off the vehicle by using a getting-off switch or the like, a control device of the coaxial two-wheel vehicle performs an assist control for getting-off the vehicle by increasing an inclination angle of each of the step portions with respect to a direction in which the passenger gets off the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle has a straddle-type seat disposed on a frame. The straddle-type seat has at least one seating portion. A steering device is disposed forwardly of the seat. Left and right side supports are disposed laterally of the seating portion. The side supports have respective support surfaces facing laterally inwardly. The left and right support surfaces move in a direction of a current lateral acceleration of the vehicle in response to a current lateral acceleration of the vehicle. The left and right support surfaces move in a direction of a current rotation of the steering device in response to a current degree of rotation of the steering device. The support surfaces move in a direction of the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle when a force is exerted thereon in a direction opposite a current lateral acceleration of the vehicle. A method of supporting a rider is also described.

Abstract: A chassis front assembly, a chassis rear assembly and a chassis intermediate assembly are disclosed. The chassis front assembly and the chassis rear assembly are connected to the chassis intermediate assembly for forming a chassis. A kit is also disclosed. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electric two/three-wheeled vehicle includes: a battery case which houses a battery supplying electric power to an electric motor; a leg shield which covers, from a front, legs of a rider sitting on a riding seat; a cooling air inlet duct which has a downstream end portion thereof connected to the battery case; and a cooling fan which introduces cooling air into the battery case through the cooling air inlet duct. In the electric two/three-wheeled vehicle, an opening (90) open toward a rear of the vehicle is provided in the leg shield (43), and an upstream end of the cooling air inlet duct (88) is connected to the leg shield (43) in such a manner as to continue to the opening (90). Accordingly, it is possible to cool a battery while preventing entry of dust into a battery case as much as possible.

Abstract: A support for a self-balancing vehicle that allows users to operate the vehicle while standing or sitting. The support includes one or more sitting platforms connected to the vehicle. The sitting platforms are rotationally movable between standing and sitting positions. The sitting platforms are connected to the vehicle by support bars that run vertically from the sitting platforms to the body of the vehicle. Displaceable rods moveably attached to the support bars contact the underside of the sitting platforms when in the sitting position and extend past the support bars to the standing platform to activate the vehicle. A plate system interposed between where the displaceable rods extend from the support bars and the standing platform help to evenly distribute pressure exerted by the support bars on the standing platform.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile robot having jump function. An exemplary mobile robot according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a robot body, a pair of wheels, a driving motor, a leaf spring, and a leaf spring control unit. The pair of wheels are rotatably connected to the robot body. The driving motor drives the pair of wheels so as to move the robot body. The leaf spring has a fixed end fixedly connected to the robot body and a free end disposed to face the fixed end in a state of being apart from the robot body. The leaf spring control unit applies force for bending the leaf spring such that the free end of the leaf spring is pulled toward the robot body and then removes the force applied to the leaf spring such that the leaf spring returns to an original state.

Abstract: An inverted wheel type moving body according to the present invention includes a right chassis 17 and a left chassis 19 rotationally supporting wheels, motors 34 and 36 rotationally driving a right driving wheel 18 and a left driving wheel 20, a body 12 rotatably supported on the right chassis 17 and the left chassis 19 through a right arm 14 and a left arm 16, lower joint motors 65 and 95 disposed in the right arm 14 and the left arm 16 and varying vehicle height, a travel control module 81 controlling the motors 34 and 36 so as to follow calculated accelerations, and a posture control module 82 controlling the lower joint motors 65 and 95 to lower the vehicle height and change a position of a center of mass of the body 12 with respect to an axle in a front-back direction in accordance with the accelerations when the accelerations exceeds a certain range.

Abstract: By bending and stretching a link mechanism, both left and right wheels of a vehicle can be inclined toward inside of cornering to generate a camber thrust as a lateral force, i.e. an increase in cornering force. Further, by bending and stretching the link mechanism, the passenger compartment can be inclined in accordance with inclination of a connecting link, and thus the center of gravity of the vehicle can be moved toward its inner wheel during cornering. By preventing lifting of the inner wheel during cornering, cornering performance is improved. Because the passenger compartment is inclined toward the inner wheel during cornering, centrifugal force is less likely to be felt by the occupant.

Abstract: There is provided a motorized cycle comprising a frame, a seat mounted upon the frame, a plurality of suspensions mounted to the frame, a plurality of wheels each coupled to a suspension wherein the operation of the motorized cycle is based on the physical position and movements of the rider. Also provided is a suspension system for a motorized cycle comprising a plurality of suspensions each coupled to the frame of the motorized cycle, and a plurality of wheels each coupled to a suspension such that each wheel is able to move relative to the other wheels and the frame. According to another aspect, there is provided a rider positioning system for a motorized cycle comprising handle bars and a seat wherein the movement of the handle bars affects the movement of the seat.

Abstract: A control method is proposed for a traveling dolly. The traveling dolly may include wheels driven by motors and a body supported by the wheels. The traveling dolly may further include a control computer commanding control command value to the motors, and a centroid of the body positioning above a rotation axis of the wheels. The control method may include the control computer estimating external force moment, which is a moment of inertia around the rotation axis of the wheels generated by external force applied on the body; a tilt angle of the body, which makes a gravity moment around the rotation axis of the centroid of the body balance with the external force moment, being set as a target body tilt angle; and based on the target body tilt angle, calculating a torque command value for the motors.

Abstract: A wheeled inverted pendulum mobile unit having: a driving wheel; a body that is tiltable about an axle of the driving wheel with respect to a vertical direction; a plurality of support members that extend downward from the body in the vertical direction, wherein the bottom ends of the plurality of support members are in contact with a ground before and behind the axle of the driving wheel, and the bottom ends moves up and down, with respect to the body, as the body tilts with respect to the vertical direction; and a lock mechanism that locks positions of the bottom ends of the support members with respect to the body.

Abstract: An electric motor and conversion system includes a direct current power source, a rotor with two sides and two series of permanent magnets alternating in polarity, two stators on opposing sides of the rotor where each stator has a series of winding coils, magnet position identifiers, and a control system comprising a sensor that cooperates with the magnet position identifiers and a microcontroller to individually controls winding drivers. Preferably, the number of magnets on the rotor does not equal the number of winding coils on the stators. Also preferably, the magnet position identifiers are a series of apertures on the rotor through which signals pass. The conversion system can also include connectors for connecting to an axle, a removable throttle, and electric cables for electrically connecting the components.

Abstract: A radiator mounting structure for motorcycle, in which a radiator is disposed forward of a water-cooled engine mounted on a body frame and an upper portion of the radiator is attached to the body frame, in which running-air that passes the radiator is not directed to a rider. The radiator is reliably supported so as not to be affected by heat from the engine with an increase in the number of parts avoided. A shroud for covering the radiator from behind is attached the radiator and has at an upper portion thereof attachment arm portions attached to a body frame. Attachment portions fastened to stays provided on the body frame are provided at a rear lower portion of the shroud.

Abstract: Provided is a launchable remote-control attack device that enables an operator to remotely grasp the status of a target place and to remotely control weapons it has been equipped with to perform an attack using explosives or gas when necessary. The remote-control attack device includes a cylindrical body with a camera, drivers which are made up of two tires that are disposed on opposite sides of the body and can be driven individually, and battery units for supplying power and which are disposed in central openings of the tires of the drivers. The attack device further includes a plurality of storage units and a wireless control unit.

Abstract: An evaporated fuel vapor from a fuel tank is fed through a charging pipe into an evaporated fuel storage canister, and is reserved there. The charging pipe, an upstream end of which is disposed in the fuel tank, is set to penetrate a side wall of the fuel tank and extends from the inside to the outside of the fuel tank. The canister is disposed in a swell-shaped recess on the inside of the front cowl, which recessed portion is situated between the headlight and the fuel tank as seen in side view.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for an AGV that includes a drive unit for propelling the AGV and a steering unit for steering the AGV. The drive unit has a drive motor, drive transmission, and a drive wheel. The steering unit has a steering motor. Both motors are fixedly mounted on the AGV and remain stationary relative to each other while the drive motor rotates the drive wheel and the steering motor steers the drive wheel. The drive transmission couples the drive motor to the drive wheel and can be at least partially mounted within a gear housing that is rotatably mounted via a bearing so that the drive motor can be operated to move the AGV via power transferred to the drive wheel via the drive transmission, and the steering motor can be operated to steer the drive wheel by rotation of the gear housing and drive wheel via the bearing.

Abstract: An electrically driven single-drive-axis vehicle with a platform for a driver, driven about a common wheel axis, which provides the single-drive-axis to improve its handling and its range of uses. The vehicle includes at least one attachment, the attachment being connected to the single-axle vehicle pivotably about at least one first attachment axis.

Abstract: Provided is a throw-type compact reconnaissance robot, which is used for military purposes or counter-terrorism and is capable of ensuring a long operational time as well as drop safety by efficient spatial layout of a battery. The throw-type compact reconnaissance robot includes a cylindrical body (100) with a camera (140), drivers (200) made up of two tires (270) that are disposed on opposite sides of the body (100) and is drivable individually, and battery units (300) supplying power used to operate the robot and disposed in inner spaces of the tires (270) of the drivers (200) on the opposite outermost sides of the robot.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hands-free electric scooter including: a bottom housing; a steering housing disposed on the bottom housing; a steering shaft having a pressurizing plate mounted along the lower periphery thereof, a horizontal protrusion formed on one side of the pressurizing plate, a manipulating rod mounted on the underside of the horizontal protrusion, and a stopper mounted along the intermediate periphery thereof; a steering jig having an insertion hole formed at one side thereof, a micro switch mounted at the rear side of the insertion hole and having a grounding stick disposed at one side thereof, and an installation hole formed at the front side of the insertion hole; and a potential meter adapted to control direction changes of the hands-free electric scooter.

Abstract: A coaxial two-wheel vehicle comprises a detection means that obtains get-on/off information indicating whether an occupant is on the vehicle or not. In the coaxial two-wheel vehicle, a control means performs attitude control by using a control gain set with respect to an occupied state is used if the control means determines that the vehicle is in the occupied state. The control means performs attitude control by using a control gain set with respect to an unoccupied state is used if the control means determines that the vehicle is in the unoccupied state.

Abstract: A coaxial two-wheel vehicle with which a rider stably travels without the upper body being swayed left and right in a riding state of the center of gravity being positioned high. The coaxial two-wheel vehicle includes: a step plate for a driver to ride; a vehicle body that supports the step plate to be capable of changing a posture in a roll direction of rotating around a roll axis as the center, when a traveling direction is made the roll axis; a pair of wheels with one wheel disposed on each side of the body on the same axis in the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the vehicle body and rotatably supported by the vehicle body; a pair of wheel drive means to drive and rotate the pair of wheels independently; and a handle for directly changing a posture of the step plate or indirectly changing the posture through the vehicle body.

Abstract: A travel device includes a plurality of wheels disposed parallel to one another, a step plate mounted between the wheels, a handle mounted to the step plate, and a driving motor that allows the step plate and handle to tilt in a roll axis direction. The device further includes a control unit that drives the motor so as to maintain the step plate horizontal or the handle vertical. The device also includes a measurement unit that measures a shift operation of the step plate or the handle. The plurality of wheels may change direction based on the value determined by the measuring unit.

Abstract: To provide an inverted wheel type moving body capable of improving the operability, and a method of controlling the same. An inverted wheel type moving body in accordance with one aspect of the present invention includes motors 34 and 36 for rotationally driving a right driving wheel 18 and a left driving wheel 20 respectively, a passenger seat 74 rotationally supported on mounts 26 and 28 through swing arms 17 and 19, a passenger seat drive motor 70 for driving the passenger seat 74, a control portion 80 for determining whether the manipulation amount exceeds the threshold value or not, and a motor driver 70a for control the passenger seat drive motor 70 such that the passenger seat 74 is moved in accordance with the manipulation amount when the manipulation amount does not exceed the threshold value and the movement of the passenger seat 74 is restored after the manipulation amount exceeds the threshold value.

Abstract: The weight balance of an electric motorcycle including a battery, a power drive unit, and a driving power generating motor, in the left-and-right direction or in the frontward-and-rearward direction is easily secured. An electric motorcycle includes a power drive unit and a driving power generating motor which are mounted to a swing arm swinging about a pivot shaft in an upward-and-downward direction. A rear wheel WR is driven by the power generating motor. The electric motorcycle includes a battery to supply electric power to the power generating motor. A center of gravity (BC) of the battery is located at the side opposite to the power drive unit and the power generating motor about a central line CX of a motorcycle body.

Abstract: The motor suitcase is a combination of a motorcycle and luggage suitcase. It is composed of a suitcase that is adequately dimensioned and ergonomically designed to safely carry the stored content as well as the driver. Adequate wheels with break mechanism are installed on the bottom side and a steering mechanism with commands to control the engine and breaks, connected to the front wheel, is installed on the upper side. It is driven by an electric engine or an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided for the independent inspection of hard-to-reach inner spaces which are bounded by ferromagnetic inner walls, especially in large cast parts, such as steam chests of a steam turbine. The vehicle includes at least two wheels which are rotatable around a common axis, are at a distance from each other in the axial direction, and can be driven independently of each other. With such a vehicle, the entire inner space can be inspected if the vehicle has adherence elements which hold the vehicle against the gravity force with the wheels on the respective inner wall.

Abstract: To provide an air-inlet structure of a motorcycle in which air-inlet ducts can be connected to an air box without providing through holes for allowing passage of the air-inlet ducts on the main frame or bending the air-inlet ducts to bypass a main frame. An engine is supported on a pair of left and right front frames that extend from a head pipe that supports a front wheel rearward and downward. An air box supplies air to the engine and is arranged above the engine. Air-inlet ducts introduce air to the air box and extend on the outer sides of the front frames in a fore-and-aft direction of a vehicle body to be connected to an air-inlet port of the air box at the back of the front frames.

Abstract: A SEGWAY adapted with a mechanism to manually override the rider detection mechanical sensors to allow a golfer to choose to ride or not ride the SEGWAY while playing golf. A handle attachment extends outwardly enabling the golfer to manually steer and thus control the speed and direction of the SEGWAY while not riding the SEGWAY. The golfer can ride, walk, or run as desired in unison with the improved SEGWAY. A rider detection override mechanism is positioned under each existing step pad. A counterweight is placed at the rear of the SEGWAY to balance the SEGWAY when there is no rider present.

Abstract: A coaxial two-wheel vehicle on which a rider stably travels without the upper body being swayed left and right in a riding state of the center of gravity being positioned high is provided. The coaxial two-wheel vehicle includes: a step plate for a driver to ride; a vehicle body that supports the step plate so as to be capable of changing a posture in a roll direction of rotating around a roll axis as the center, when a traveling direction is made the roll axis; a pair of wheels disposed on both sides on the same axis in the direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the vehicle body and rotatably supported by the vehicle body; a pair of wheel drive means to drive and rotate the pair of wheels independently; and a handle for directly changing a posture of the step plate or indirectly changing the posture through the vehicle body.

Abstract: To provide a coaxial two-wheeled vehicle capable of performing a turning movement with stability and its control method. A coaxial two-wheeled vehicle in accordance with the present invention includes drive means to drive two coaxially-arranged wheels, turning reference-input input means to input a turning reference input, and control means to control the drive means according to a turning gain based on a turning reference-input input by the turning reference-input input means to thereby perform a turning movement. The control means preferably brings the turning gain to substantially zero when the coaxial two-wheeled vehicle is in a backward traveling state with a backward speed greater than or equal to a first speed, and sets the turning gain to a value greater than zero when a vehicle speed is substantially zero.

Abstract: A method for the locomotion of devices on opposite sides of a surface, one or more of which are mobile robots. Devices on opposing sides of the surface are coupled by an attractive force, which helps generate enough friction between said devices and the surface to allow devices to move across the surface.

Abstract: An electric motorcycle is provided that can air-cool a power drive unit without the provision of a plurality of cooling fans. In an electric vehicle in which a battery box housing batteries is disposed below a foot rest space and electricity supplied from the batteries is supplied to a running-purpose power-generating motor via a power drive unit, the power drive unit is attached to a swing arm turning around a pivot shaft and the battery box is formed with an air introduction port and an air discharge port used to cool the batteries. A cooling fan is provided which sucks air in the battery box from the air discharge port and sends the air toward the power drive unit. The cooling fan is disposed rearward of the air discharge port of the battery box and close to the pivot shaft.

Abstract: An inverted pendulum type omnidirectional vehicle includes: a pair of wheels; a drive mechanism; a control apparatus; an auxiliary wheel; and a vehicle body. Each of the wheels includes: a rotation member capable of rotating about the wheel axis; a plurality of free rollers which are disposed all around an outer circumference of the rotation member, and each of which is brought into contact with a road surface at a lowest position of the rotation member and is rotatable about a rotation axis diagonal with respect to the wheel axis. The free rollers on both sides in contact with the road surface at ground contact portions each have the rotation axis extending in parallel with the road surface, and are arranged in an orientation in which a distance between the rotation axes of the free rollers is shorter toward a side of the auxiliary wheel.

Abstract: A moving base for robotic vacuum cleaner includes a base; a motor mounted in a motor chamber on the base to alternatively drive a drive shaft thereof to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise: a primary wheel fixed to and rotating along with the drive shaft of the motor; a clutch assembly connected to the primary wheel; an axle connected at an end to the clutch assembly, so as to be driven by tile primary wheel to rotate when the drive shaft of the motor rotates clockwise, or to disengage from the driving by the primary wheel when the drive shaft of the motor rotates counterclockwise: and a secondary wheel connected to another end of the axle to rotate along with the axle. Since only one motor is needed to control a moving direction thereof, the robotic vacuum cleaner can have effectively reduced manufacturing cost and overall volume.

Abstract: A vehicle (1) having a frame, at least two wheels (14, 16), a straddle seat (28), a handlebar (18) with first (20) and second (22) handles, an engine (30), and a semi-automatic transmission (32). A reverse actuator (152) is electronically connected to a control unit (46) of the semi-automatic transmission. At least one shifter (108) is electronically connected to the control unit such that moving the at least one shifter to an up-shift position causes the control unit to send a signal to the semi-automatic transmission to shift up and moving the at least one shifter to the down-shift position causes the control unit to send a signal to the semi-automatic transmission to shift down. The control unit sends a signal to the semi-automatic transmission to select the at least one reverse gear (34) only when the reverse actuator is actuated while the at least one shifter is moved. A method of controlling a semi-automatic transmission is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle (10) has a frame (12), at least two wheels (14, 16), a straddle seat (28), a handlebar (18) having first (20) and second (22) handles, an engine (30), a semi-automatic transmission (32), and a housing (24) disposed adjacent the first handle. A shift lever (108) is pivotally connected to the housing. At least a portion of the shift lever extends away from the handle side of the housing towards an end of the first handle and is disposed at least in part vertically below the first handle. The shift lever has rear (140) and front surfaces (142). The shift lever is movable to an up-shift position by pressing one of the front and rear surfaces, is movable to a down-shift position by pressing a remaining one of the front and rear surfaces, and is biased towards a rest position intermediate the up-shift and down-shift positions. The shift lever is operatively connected to the semi-automatic transmission.

Abstract: A motorcycle is provided with a vehicle body, front and rear wheels, an engine and a power transmission mechanism for connecting the engine to the rear wheel. A centrifugal clutch and a transmission having a plurality of gears are arranged in the power transmission mechanism. A handle is provided on the vehicle body. An accelerator grip is provided on the right side of the handle and a clutch lever is provided on the left side. A shift pedal for changing the transmission gear ratio of the transmission and a side stand are provided on the left side of the vehicle body. A rear brake pedal for braking the rear wheel is provided on the right side of the vehicle body. The motorcycle is also provided with a rotation suppression mechanism for suppressing the rotation of the rear wheel at least when the engine is stopped.

Abstract: A coaxial two-wheeled vehicle includes a plurality of wheels disposed in parallel, a vehicle body, at least one of a step plate and a seat, an operating member, and a mechanism. The vehicle body supports plurality of wheels rotatably. The step plate is coupled to the vehicle body to carry a driver in an upright attitude. The seat is coupled to the vehicle body to seat the driver. The operating member is coupled to the vehicle body and operated by the driver for inputting driver's operation including an accelerating operation and a decelerating operation. The mechanism is configured to move at least one of the step plate and the seat in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body in accordance with an operation of the operating member.