초록 ▼

An articulated tracked vehicle that has a main section, which includes a main frame, and a forward section. The main frame has two sides and a front end, and includes a pair of parallel main tracks. Each main track includes a flexible continuous belt coupled to a corresponding side of the main frame

An articulated tracked vehicle that has a main section, which includes a main frame, and a forward section. The main frame has two sides and a front end, and includes a pair of parallel main tracks. Each main track includes a flexible continuous belt coupled to a corresponding side of the main frame. The forward section includes an elongated arm. One end of the arm is pivotally coupled to the main frame near the forward end of the main frame about a transverse axis that is generally perpendicular to the sides of the main frame. The arm has a length sufficiently long to allow the forward section to extend below the main section in at least some degrees of rotation of the arm, and a length shorter than the length of the main section. The center of mass of the main section is located forward of the rearmost point reached by the end of the arm in its pivoting about the transverse axis. The main section is contained within the volume defined by the main tracks and is symmetrical about a horizontal plane, thereby allowing inverted operation of the robot.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for operating an articulated tracked vehicle having a main tracked chassis and a pivoting forward arm to climb a series of stairs having a rise in elevation at a first stair and at each subsequent stair, comprising:pivoting the arm to raise the arm higher than the rise of the first stair

1. A method for operating an articulated tracked vehicle having a main tracked chassis and a pivoting forward arm to climb a series of stairs having a rise in elevation at a first stair and at each subsequent stair, comprising:pivoting the arm to raise the arm higher than the rise of the first stair; approaching the first stair until the arm contacts the first stair; driving the main tracks to propel the vehicle until the main tracks contacts the first stair; pivoting the arm to extend the tracked base of the vehicle; and driving the main tracks to ascend the series of stairs.