California Institute of Technology

Annette K Nasif

Brian H Wilcox

Kobie T Boykins

Christopher J Voorhees

Kevin Burke

Joseph P Melko

Paul Karlmann

Lawrence Lee

Brian Harrington

Randel Lindemann

Jason Suchman

Satish Krishnan

James Stone

Joseph Vacchione

Michael P Thelen

Richard A Rainen

Lori Shiraishi

Richard G Webster

John Cardone

Keith Novak

Mary E Reaves

Mars exploration rover Athena

Mars exploration rover athena

A vehicle, for driving over a ground surface, has a body with a left side, a right side, a front and a back. The vehicle includes left and right drive mechanisms. Each mechanism includes first and second traction elements for engaging the ground surface and transmitting a driving force between the vehicle and ground surface. Each mechanism includes first and second arms coupled to the first and second traction elements for relative rotation about first and second axis respectively. Each mechanism includes a rotor having a third axis, the rotor coupled to the body for rotation about the third axis and coupled to the first and second arms for relative rotation about the third axis. The mechanism includes first and second drive motors for driving the first and second traction elements and first and second transmissions, driven by the first and second motors and engaging the rotor. Driving the first and second traction elements simultaneously rotates the rotor relative to the first and second arms, respectively.

High mobility vehicle

A vehicle, for driving over a ground surface, has a body with a left side, a right side, a front and a back. The vehicle includes left and right drive mechanisms. Each mechanism includes first and second traction elements for engaging the ground surface and transmitting a driving force between the vehicle and ground surface. Each mechanism includes first and second arms coupled to the first and second traction elements for relative rotation about first and second axis respectively. Each mechanism includes a rotor having a third axis, the rotor coupled to the body for rotation about the third axis and coupled to the first and second arms for relative rotation about the third axis. The mechanism includes first and second drive motors for driving the first and second traction elements and first and second transmissions, driven by the first and second motors and engaging is the rotor. Driving the first and second traction elements simultaneously rotates the rotor relative to the first and second arms, respectively.

Robotic vehicle

Growing community of inventors

La Crescenta, CA, United States of America

Annette K Nasif