Abstract: A single chain drive is disclosed that includes a drive sprocket, a drive motor, idler sprockets, front and rear axle sprockets, and a single chain. The drive motor rotates the drive sprocket, which rotates the idler sprockets, which rotate the single chain, which rotates the front and rear axle sprockets. The drive sprocket can be a lantern gear with covers, and pins that connect the cover, and the idler sprockets can have teeth that mesh with the pins between the covers of the drive sprocket. A drive shaft can couple the drive motor and drive sprocket, and an integrated parking brake can prevent rotation of the drive shaft when engaged. A chain case with lubricant can enclose the drive sprocket, idler sprockets, chain, and axle sprockets. The drive sprocket, idler sprockets and axle sprockets can be sized to provide a desired gear reduction.

Abstract: A modular multiple mobility base assembly apparatus is described for transporting an item being shipped having a base adapter plate and two cooperating and coordinating modular mobility bases that are each coupled to the bottom of the base adapter plate and collectively support the base adapter plate. One of the modular mobility bases operations a master autonomous mobile vehicle, while the other operates as a slave autonomous mobile vehicle that receives propulsion and steering control signals from the master while providing feedback sensor data to the master for use in coordinated and cooperative movement of the assembly apparatus. Each of the modular mobility bases also including respective wireless transceivers through which at least the control signals and sensor data are provided between mobility base units.

Abstract: Provided are multi-tread vehicles and methods of operating such vehicles to access small interior spaces. A multi-tread vehicle may include two or more tread sections such that each pair of adjacent tread sections is interconnected by a connector section. Furthermore, each pair may have one or more degrees of articulations, such as being pivotable with respect to each other around one or more axis and/or being bendable with respect to each other around one or more axis. These articulation degrees may be provided by the connector section and/or by couplings between the connector section and each tread section. In some embodiments, each tread section may include two portions detachably coupled to each other. This detachable coupling may be used for disassembly of the multi-tread vehicle after or even during its use, for example, when only a portion of the vehicle needs to be retrieved from an interior space.

Abstract: A bogie axle system having an axle housing, a planetary gear set, a chain housing, and a slew bearing assembly. The axle housing may at least partially receive planetary gear set. The chain housing may receive a drive sprocket unit. The slew bearing assembly may pivotally couple the chain housing to the axle housing.

Abstract: A system and method for removing spent fuel assemblies from a fuel building and transporting them to on-site facilities. A cask transporter is moved into the fuel building with an empty spent fuel storage cask, spent fuel assemblies are loaded into spent fuel storage cask, the cask is sealed, and the cask transporter moves the loaded spent fuel storage cask to a handling area for final disposal. Components of the system include a penetration cover, a lifting mechanism, a control system, a valve system, and the cask transporter.

Abstract: A mobile robot system includes a plurality of mobile robots. Each robot has a predetermined size of large, medium, small or back-packable. The mobile robot includes a chassis, drive system components, power components, a main processor, a communication system and a power and data distribution system. The chassis has a predetermined size of large, medium, small or back-packable. Drive system components are operably attached to the chassis and power components are operably connected to the drive system components and the power and data distribution system. The main processor, the communication system and the power and data distribution system are all operably connected together and operably connected to the traction components and the power components. The main processor, the communication system, and the power and data distribution system are all configured for use with the predetermined size of the chassis and at least one other size.

Abstract: A telerobotic communications system including a teleoperation center to transmit control data and receive non-control data by wireless connection to and from a first mobile telerobot and indirectly to and from a second mobile telerobot. The first mobile telerobot includes a transceiver for receiving and transmitting control and non-control data, respectively, and also a repeater for relaying control data to a second mobile telerobot and relaying non-control data back to the teleoperation center. The system allows the second mobile telerobot to travel beyond a communications-enabled distance of the wireless signal emitted directly by the teleoperation center. The system may also include wireless repeaters to extend the communications distance between the first and second telerobots.

Abstract: A control device for a mobile robot, the robot comprising a camera and a communication unit, comprises a display unit displaying an image corresponding to the image taken by the camera and transmitted by the communication unit, and a user interface, wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control a position of a pointer on the image displayed by the display unit, and the user interface comprises a selection unit allowing the user to select a position of the pointer on the image displayed by the display unit, the control device further comprising a computation unit and a communication system, the computation unit being configured to compute displacement commands and send them through the communication system to the robot, said displacement commands being computed to make the robot move to a physical position corresponding to the pointer's position selected by the user on the image.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a tandem axle for a machine. The tandem axle includes a first wheel end adapted to receive a first wheel and a second wheel end adapted to receive a second wheel. The second wheel end is spaced from the first wheel end. A bogey assembly is coupled between the first wheel end and the second wheel end. The bogey assembly includes a planetary differential disposed along a main axis and is individually coupled to the first and second wheel ends. The planetary differential includes an input for receiving power along the main axis and a first output and a second output such that the first output is coupled to the first wheel end for transferring power to the first wheel end and the second output is coupled to the second wheel end for transferring power to the second wheel end.

Abstract: A power transfer unit in a front-wheel-drive based all-wheel-drive vehicle is operatively coupled to a transmission to continuously transfer rotational movement through a link shaft to a front wheel when the vehicle is in motion. The power transfer unit also selectively transfers rotational movement from the transmission to a rear driveline system. When the rear driveline system is connected to the transmission, lubricant contained within the housing is automatically distributed throughout the housing to lubricate components therein. When the rear driveline system is disconnected from the transmission, the lubricant contained within the housing is not distributed throughout the housing. Since rotation of the link shaft continues independently of the rear driveline system, bearings rotatably supporting the link shaft are isolated from the interior of the housing such that the bearings are lubricated by lubricant that is provided from outside the housing.

Abstract: The device for crossing obstacles for a motorized vehicle includes a chassis connected to n (n?3) wheels on each side, and a driver suitable for rotating the wheels. Each side of the chassis includes a mechanism comprising n?1 arms hingedly connected two-by-two about a shared pivoting axis on which the n wheels are distributed, respectively a front wheel, n?2 intermediate wheels, and a rear wheel. The mechanism allows each wheel to pivot relative to the axis of each adjacent wheel.

Abstract: A robot movement control device is connected to a communications network in a remote location relative to a robotic device that is also connected to the communications network. The robot movement control device is an electronic device with a video display for displaying a real-time video image sent to it by a camera associated with the robot. A robot movement control overlay is displayed in the field of the real-time video image at the robot control device and robot control commands are generated by selecting locations within the boundary of the movement control overlay which include speed and directional information. The control commands are sent by the robot control device over the network to the robot which uses the commands to adjust its speed and direction of movement.

Abstract: A skid steer vehicle has a suspension that includes two bogies pivotally connected to the sides of the vehicle and extending fore-and-aft along each side of the vehicle. The bogies are pivotally connected to the vehicle in the middle and have a wheel mounted at each end. A hydraulic motor is coupled to each of the bogies and drives the two wheels on each bogie.

Abstract: A control system for controlling mobile robots provides a way to control mobile robots, connected in tandem with coupling devices, to navigate across difficult terrain or in closed spaces. The mobile robots can be controlled cooperatively as a coupled system in linked mode or controlled individually as separate robots.