Method for surmounting an obstacle by a robot vehicle
US5372211A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 1, 1992 |
| Grant date | Dec 13, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 1, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62D57/028
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Surmounting obstacles in the path of a robot vehicle is accomplished by rotating the wheel forks of the vehicle about their transverse axes with respect to the vehicle body so as to shift most of the vehicle weight onto the rear wheels, and then driving the vehicle forward so as to drive the now lightly-loaded front wheels (only) over the obstacle. Then, after the front wheels have either surmounted or completely passed the obstacle (depending upon the length of the obstacle), the forks are again rotated about their transverse axes so as to shift most of the vehicle weight onto the front wheels. Then the vehicle is again driven forward so as to drive the now lightly-loaded rear wheels over the obstacle. Once the obstacle has been completely cleared and the vehicle is again on relatively level terrain, the forks are again rotated so as to uniformly distribute the vehicle weight between the front and rear wheels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.