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A crawler apparatus capable of being moved along a surface including a frame having first and second ends, a first end roller coupled to the frame and disposed adjacent the first end of the frame, a second end roller coupled to the frame and disposed adjacent to the second end of the frame, and a be

A crawler apparatus capable of being moved along a surface including a frame having first and second ends, a first end roller coupled to the frame and disposed adjacent the first end of the frame, a second end roller coupled to the frame and disposed adjacent to the second end of the frame, and a belt having an inner side capable of contacting each respective roller and an outer side capable of contacting the surface.

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What is claimed is: 1. A crawler apparatus capable of being moved along a surface, the crawler apparatus comprising: a frame having first and second ends; a first end roller coupled to the frame and disposed adjacent the first end of the frame, the first end roller comprising a first material; a se

What is claimed is: 1. A crawler apparatus capable of being moved along a surface, the crawler apparatus comprising: a frame having first and second ends; a first end roller coupled to the frame and disposed adjacent the first end of the frame, the first end roller comprising a first material; a second end roller coupled to the frame and disposed adjacent to the second end of the frame, the second end roller comprising a second material; an idler roller comprising a third material, the idler roller being coupled to the frame and being disposed between the first and second end rollers, Wherein a space exists between any two rollers in the crawler apparatus; and a belt disposed about the first and second end rollers, the belt having an inner side capable of contacting each respective end roller, an outer side capable of contacting the surface, and a slack to permit the inner side of the belt to have first and second roller contacting portions that are in substantially continuous contact with first and second respective portions of the first and second end rollers and to permit the outer side of the belt to have a lower portion in substantially continuous contact with the surface; wherein the idler roller is disposed so as to remain spaced a distance away from the belt when the crawler apparatus is disposed on, is moving along, or being moved along a substantially flat surface and is not experiencing motion or shock normal to the substantially flat surface; wherein the frame, belt, first end roller, second end roller, and idler roller are constructed and arranged such that, when the crawler apparatus is placed upon or moved along the surface, bands of contact between the belt and the surface exist along the lower portion of the belt, the bands of contact each associated with a respective end roller wherein the frame, first and second end rollers, idler roller, and belt are constructed and arranged so that the bands of contact and the lower portion of the belt all lie in substantially the same plane when the crawler apparatus is placed upon or moved along the substantially flat surface and is not experiencing motion or shock normal to the substantially flat surface. 2. The crawler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is capable of being coupled to a load and wherein, when the load is coupled to the frame, the first end roller, the second end roller, and the belt distribute the load to the surface along each respective band of contact. 3. The crawler apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following is selected to ensure that a contact pressure along each respective band of contact does not cause undesired damage to the surface: (a) the size at least one of the first and second rollers; (b) the first material; (c) the second material; (c) the spacing between the first and second end rollers; (d) the material from which the belt is made; (e) the thickness of material from which the belt is made; (f) the flexibility of the material from which the belt is made; and (g) a material that provides a longitudinal reinforcement to the belt. 4. The crawler apparatus of claim 3, wherein the undesired damage comprises at least one of permanent damage, temporary damage, scratching, pitting, scuffing, denting, and exceeding a predetermined level of contact pressure. 5. The crawler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the belt comprises a material having a hardness less than a hardness of the surface over which the crawler apparatus is disposed, is to be moved, or is being moved. 6. The crawler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the belt comprises at least one of: (a) a material capable of recovering its shape after being deformed; (b) an elastomeric material; (c) a longitudinally reinforced polymer material; and (d) a resilient, longitudinally reinforced material. 7. The crawler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the belt comprises at least one of KEVLAR, nylon; TEFLON; polyethylene; natural rubber; synthetic rubber; neoprene; chloroprene; urethane; polyurethane rubber; butyl rubber nitrile rubber; ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber; nitrile-butadiene rubber; styrene-butadiene rubber; silicone room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) rubber; fluorosilicone rubber; poly(styrene-butadiene) rubber (SBR); polychloroprene (CR); ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR); and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). 8. The crawler apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an intermediate roller coupled to the frame and disposed between the first end roller and the second end roller, the intermediate roller comprising a fourth material, wherein: (a) there is a space between any two rollers in the crawler apparatus; (b) the belt is further disposed about at least a portion of the intermediate roller so as to have a slack to permit the inner side of the belt to have an intermediate roller contacting portion that is in substantially continuous contact with at least a portion of the intermediate roller and to permit the lower portion of the outer side of the belt to have substantially continuous contact with the surface; (c) the belt, frame, first end roller, second end roller, idler roller, and intermediate roller are constructed and arranged to ensure that, when the crawler, apparatus is placed upon or moved along the surface, a band of contact also exists between the belt and the surface along the lower portion of the belt; and (d) the intermediate roller and first and second end rollers are constructed and arranged such that their respective bands of contact and the lower portion of the belt all lie in the substantially same plane when the apparatus is placed upon or moved along the substantially flat surface and is not experiencing motion or shock normal to the substantially flat surface. 9. The crawler apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of the following is selected to ensure that a contact pressure along each respective band of contact does not cause undesired damage to the surface: (a) a size of the intermediate roller; (b) the fourth material; and (c) the spacing between the intermediate roller and at least one of the first end roller, second end roller, and idler roller. 10. The crawler apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the following is selected to ensure that a contact pressure along each respective band of contact does not cause undesired damage to the surface: (a) a size of at least one of the first and second rollers; (b) the first material; (c) the second material; (d) the spacing between the first and second end rollers; (e) the material from which the belt is made; (f) a thickness of material from which the belt is made; (g) a flexibility of the material from which the belt is made; (h) a material that provides a longitudinal reinforcement to the belt; (i) the third material; and (j) the fourth material. 11. The crawler apparatus of claim 8, wherein the frame is capable of being coupled to a load and wherein, when the load is coupled to the frame, the first end roller, the second end roller, the intermediate roller, and the belt simultaneously distribute the load along each respective band of contact. 12. The crawler apparatus of claim 1 wherein the frame, belt, first end roller, and second end roller are constructed and arranged to be operable with a plurality of intermediate rollers mounted to the frame and disposed between the first end roller and the second end roller, each respective intermediate roller comprising a fourth material, wherein: (a) a space exists between any two rollers in the crawler apparatus; (b) the belt is further disposed about at least, a portion of each respective intermediate roller so as to have a slack to permit the inner side of the belt to have a plurality of respective intermediate roller contacting portions that are each in substantially continuous contact with at least a portion of each respective intermediate roller, to permit each respective intermediate roller to roll while coupled to the frame, and to permit the lower portion of the outer side of the belt to have substantially continuous contact with the surface; (c) the belt, frame, first end roller, second end roller, idler roller, and plurality of intermediate rollers are constructed and arranged to ensure that, when the crawler apparatus is placed upon or moved upon the surface, corresponding bands of contact also exist between the belt and the surface along the lower portion of the belt; and (d) wherein the bands of contact and the lower portion of the belt all lie in the substantially the same plane when the crawler apparatus is placed upon or moved along a substantially flat surface and is not experiencing motion or shock normal to the substantially flat surface. 13. The crawler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises at least one of: (a) a first pivot axis permitting the crawler apparatus to be moved along a path having a change in slope; and (b) a second pivot axis permitting the crawler apparatus to be moved along a path having at least one of a transverse and a longitudinal change in slope. 14. The crawler apparatus of claim 1, wherein an area of the lower portion of the belt deforms so as to contact the idler roller at least once when at least one of the following conditions exists: (a) the crawler apparatus is moving or being moved along a surface containing an obstacle; (b) the crawler apparatus is disposed on, is moving along, or being moved along, a substantially non-flat surface; (c) the crawler apparatus experiences motion or shock substantially normal to a surface on which the crawler apparatus is disposed, is moving, or is being moved; and (d) the crawler apparatus is being transported by a conveyance that experiences motion or shock substantially normal to a surface on which the crawler apparatus is disposed, is moving, or is being moved; wherein the contact between the idler roller and the belt results in a respective idler roller band of contact between the outer side of the belt and either the surface or the obstacle contained on the surface; wherein the bands of contact for the other rollers remain in substantially continuous contact with the surface; and wherein, except for the deformed area of the belt, the lower portion of the belt remains in substantially continuous contact with the surface. 15. The crawler apparatus of claim 14, wherein, when the idler roller contacts the belt, the idler roller cooperates with at least one of the first end roller, second end roller, and belt to distribute a load created by at least one of the following: the crawler apparatus itself; a load coupled to the crawler apparatus; and motion or shock normal to the surface on which the crawler apparatus is disposed, is moving, or is being moved. 16. The crawler apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following is selected to ensure that a contact pressure along each respective band of contact does not cause undesired damage to the surface: (a) a size of at least one of the first, second, and idler rollers; (b) at least one of the first, second, and third materials; (c) the spacing between any two of the first, second, and idler rollers; (d) the material from which the belt is made; (e) a thickness of material from which the belt is made; (f) the flexibility of the material from which the belt is made; and (g) a material that provides longitudinal reinforcement to the belt. 17. The crawler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame, belt, first end roller, and second end roller are constructed and arranged to be operable with a plurality of idler rollers disposed between the first end roller and the second end roller. 18. The crawler apparatus of claim 17 wherein each idler roller is coupled to the frame such that at least a portion of the plurality of idler rollers remain spaced a distance away from the belt when the crawler apparatus (a) is disposed on, is moving along, or being moved along the substantially flat surface; and (b) is not experiencing motion or shock normal to the substantially flat surface. 19. The crawler apparatus of claim 18, wherein a plurality of respective areas of the lower portion of the felt each deform so as to contact at least a corresponding respective portion of the plurality of idler rollers at least once when at least one of the following conditions exists: (a) the crawler apparatus is moving or being moved along a surface containing an obstacle; (b) the crawler apparatus is disposed on, is moving along, or being moved along a substantially non-flat surface; (c) the crawler apparatus experiences motion or shock normal to a surface on which the crawler apparatus is disposed, is moving, or is being moved; and (d) the crawler apparatus is being transported by a conveyance that experiences motion or shock substantially normal to a surface on which the crawler apparatus is disposed, is moving, or is being moved; and wherein each contact between a respective idler roller and the belt results in a respective idler roller band of contact between the outer side of the belt and the surface or the obstacle contained on the surface; wherein the bands of contact for the other rollers remain in substantially continuous contact with the surface; and wherein, except for the deformed areas of the belt, the lower portion of the belt remains in substantially continuous contact with the surface. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end roller has a first diameter, the second end roller has a second diameter, and wherein the belt has a thickness ranging from one half to one hundredth of at least one of the first and second diameters. 21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame has a length defined by first and second ends and a width defined by a first side and a second side and wherein the belt, idler roller, and first, and second end rollers are constructed and arranged so that each band of contact for each respective roller extends continuously from the first side of the frame to the second side of the frame. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising an intermediate roller coupled to the frame and disposed between the first end roller and the second end roller, the intermediate roller comprising a fourth material, wherein: (a) there is a space between any two rollers in the crawler apparatus; (b) the belt is further disposed about at least a portion of the intermediate roller so as to have a slack to permit the inner side of the belt to have an intermediate roller contacting portion that is in substantially continuous contact with at least a portion of the intermediate roller and to permit the lower portion of the outer side of the belt to have substantially Continuous contact with the surface; (c) the belt, frame, first end roller, second end roller, idler roller, and intermediate roller are constructed and arranged to ensure that, when the crawler apparatus is placed upon or moved along the surface, a band of contact also exists between outer side of the belt and surface, the band of contact extending from the first side of the frame to the second side of the frame; and (d) the frame, belt, intermediate roller and first and second end rollers are constructed and arranged such that the respective bands of contact and the lower portion of the belt lie in substantially the same plane when the apparatus is moved along or placed upon the substantially flat surface. 23. The crawler apparatus of claim 1, wherein the belt comprises a polymer material longitudinally-reinforced with KEVLAR. 24. An apparatus for moving a load, the apparatus comprising: a platform adapted for receiving a load thereon, the platform having a top side and a bottom side; and a plurality of crawlers removably coupled to the bottom side of the apparatus, each crawler comprising: a frame having first and second ends; a first end roller coupled to the frame and disposed adjacent the first end of the frame, the first end roller comprising a first material; a second end roller coupled to the frame and disposed adjacent to the second end of the frame, the second end roller comprising a second material; an idler roller comprising a third material, the idler roller being coupled to the frame and being disposed between the first and second rollers, wherein a space exists between any two roller sin the crawler apparatus; and a belt disposed about at least a portion of the first and second end rollers, the belt having an inner side capable of contacting each respective roller, an outer side capable of contacting the surface, a slack to permit the inner side of the belt to have first and second roller contacting portions that are in substantially continuous contact with first and second respective portions of the first and second end rollers and to permit the outer side of the belt to have a lower portion in substantially continuous contact with the surface; wherein the idler roller is disposed so as to remain spaced a distance away from the belt when the crawler apparatus is disposed on, is moving along, or being moved along a substantially flat surface and is not experiencing motion or shock normal to the substantially flat surface; wherein the frame, belt, first end roller, second end roller, and idler roller are constructed and arranged to ensure that, when the apparatus is placed upon or moved along the surface, bands of contact between the belt and the surface exist along the lower portion of the belt, the bands of contact each associated with a respective end roller; and wherein the frame, first and second end rollers, idler roller, and belt of each crawler are constructed and arranged so that the bands of contact and the lower portion of the belt all lie in substantially the same plane when the apparatus is placed upon or moved along the substantially flat surface and is not experiencing motion or shock normal to the substantially flat surface. 25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein at least one of the following is selected to ensure that a contact pressure along each respective band of contact does not cause undesired damage to the surface: (a) a size of at least one of the first and second rollers; (b) the first material: (c) the second material; (d) the spacing between the first and second end rollers; (e) the material from which the belt is made; (f) a thickness of material from which the belt is made; (g) a flexibility of the material from which the belt is made; (h) a material that provides a longitudinal reinforcement to the belt; and (i) the third material. 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of crawlers have a crawler frame that further comprises at least one of: (a) a respective first pivot axis permitting the apparatus to be moved along a path having a change in slope; and (b) a respective a second pivot axis permitting the apparatus to be moved along a path having at least one of a transverse and a longitudinal change in slope. 27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the belt of at least a portion of the plurality of crawlers comprises at least one of (a) a material capable of recovering its shape after a deforming force is removed; (b) an elastomeric material; (c) a material haying a hardness less than a hardness of the surface over which the apparatus is disposed, is to be moved, or is being moved; (d) a resilient material; and (e) a longitudinally reinforced polymer material. 28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein at least one of the plurality of crawlers further comprises an intermediate roller coupled to the frame of the at least one crawler, the intermediate roller being disposed between the first and second end rollers of the at least one crawler and comprising a fourth material, wherein: (a) there is a space between any two rollers in the crawler apparatus; (b) the belt is further disposed about at least a portion of the intermediate roller so as to have a slack to permit the inner side of the belt to have an intermediate roller contacting portion that is in substantially continuous contact with the intermediate roller so as to allow the intermediate roller to roll while coupled to the frame and to permit the lower portion of the outer side of the belt to have substantially continuous contact with the surface; (c) the belt, frame, first end roller, second end roller, idler roller, and intermediate roller are is constructed and arranged to ensure that, when the crawler apparatus is placed upon or moved along the surface, a band of contact also exists between the belt and the surface along the lower portion of the belt; and (d) the intermediate roller and first and second end rollers are constructed and arranged such that their respective bands of contact and the lower portion of the belt all lie in the substantially same plane when the apparatus is placed upon or moved along the substantially flat surface and is not experiencing motion or shock normal to the substantially flat surface. 29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein an area of the lower portion of the belt deforms so as to contact the idler roller at least once when at least one of the following conditions exists: (a) the apparatus is moving or being moved along a surface containing an obstacle; (b) the apparatus is disposed on, is moving along, or being moved along a substantially non-flat surface; (c) the apparatus experiences motion or shock normal to a surface on which the apparatus is disposed, is moving, or is being moved; and (d) the apparatus is being transported by a conveyance that experiences motion or shock substantially normal to a surface on which the apparatus is disposed, is moving, or is being moved; wherein the contact between the idler roller and the belt results in a respective idler roller band of contact between the outer side of the belt and the surface or the obstacle contained on the surface; wherein the bands of contact for the other rollers remain in substantially continuous contact with the surface; and wherein, except for the deformed area of the belt, the lower portion of the belt remains in substantially continuous contact with the surface. 30. The crawler apparatus of claim 29, wherein, when the idler roller contacts the belt, the idler roller cooperates with the plurality of first end rollers, second end rollers, and belts of the plurality of crawlers to distribute a load created by at least one of the following: the apparatus itself; the crawler to which the idler roller is mounted; a load coupled to the apparatus; and motion or shock normal to the surface on which the apparatus is disposed, is moving, or is being moved. 31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the belt comprises a polymer material longitudinally reinforced with KEVLAR.