The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 25, 2025
Filed:
Nov. 25, 2022
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Haruhiko Harry Asada, Lincoln, MA (US);
Haruhiko Eto, Kanagawa, JP;
SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., Tokyo, JP;
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
A vehicle may include a chassis, at least one wheel rotatably coupled to the chassis, and a magnet positioning inside of the at least one wheel. The magnet may be rotatably coupled to the wheel with a first shaft, such that the magnet is rotatable about a first axis. In some instances, the magnet may also be coupled to the first shaft with a second shaft, such that the magnet is rotatable relative to the wheel about a second axis. Accordingly, the magnet may have either one or two degrees of freedom of movement within the at least one wheel. The magnet may rotate passively, actively, or semi-actively in one or more directions to provide an attractive force toward a ferromagnetic surface to secure the vehicle to the ferromagnetic surface.