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:
Jul. 13, 2010
Filed:
Apr. 15, 2008
W. Daniel Hillis, Encino, CA (US);
Bran Ferren, Beverly Hills, CA (US);
Luke Khanlian, Grenada Hills, CA (US);
Mark Setrakian, Los Angeles, CA (US);
W. Daniel Hillis, Encino, CA (US);
Bran Ferren, Beverly Hills, CA (US);
Luke Khanlian, Grenada Hills, CA (US);
Mark Setrakian, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Applied Minds, Inc., Glendale, CA (US);
Abstract
A virtual wheel provides a leg pair as a conveyance mechanism for a land vehicle. The virtual wheel propels the vehicle across a surface using a repetitive motion of the legs that contact the ground as would a wheel, due to their geometry. Vehicle embodiments include at least two-, three-, four- and six-wheeled vehicles, both transverse and in-line. Additionally, the invention provides a bipedal walking robot. One embodiment provides a robotic mule—a payload-carrying vehicle. The invention combines the flexible mobility of bipedal vehicles with the stability and functionality of very large-wheeled vehicles. Additionally, a bimodal conveyance mechanism readily converts between walking and rolling modes