Unmanned land vehicle
Drones with propulsions systems supported in a housing are provided where the orientation of the housing is independent from the orientation of the propulsion system. Drones are provided where a propulsion system is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the propulsion system to assume substantially any position with a sphere. Drones are provided where a bladeless inner tube is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the inner tube to assume substantially any position within a sphere. Drone systems are provided with connectable unit drones. An unmanned land vehicle is provided having a wheel assembly that is rotatable about a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, permitting the wheel assembly to assume substantially any position with a sphere.
1 . A movable apparatus, comprising:
a ring assembly comprising a top bearing with a top movable inner portion and a bottom bearing with a bottom movable inner portion and a wall connected with and extending between the top movable inner portion and the bottom movable inner portion;
an external rotator being outside of the ring assembly and having an outer surface mechanically engaged with an outer surface of the wall in the ring assembly, the external rotator configured to drive circumferential rotation of the movable portions of the ring assembly about a first axis; and
the wall of the ring assembly having a pair of openings opposite one another, each opening having an internal rotator therein, the pair of internal rotators directly or indirectly supporting a wheel assembly inside the ring assembly, where at least one of the internal rotators is configured to drive rotation of the wheel assembly about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; wherein, in operation, rotation of the ring assembly about the first axis is independent of rotation of the wheel assembly about the second axis.
2 . The movable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the internal rotators is active.
3 . The movable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the movable apparatus further comprises a power source and at least one controller adapted to receive and execute instructions from a remote source, wherein the power source and the controller are in electrical communication with one or more of the internal rotator and the external rotator.
4 . An unmanned land vehicle comprising at least one of the movable apparatuses of claim 1 .
5 . The movable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wheel assembly comprises a spherical structure in mechanical communication with one or more of the internal rotators.
6 . The movable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the internal rotators is a motor.
7 . The movable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the internal rotators is a bearing surface.
8 . A movable apparatus, comprising:
a ring assembly comprising a top bearing with a top movable inner portion and a bottom bearing with a bottom movable inner portion and a wall connected with and extending between the top movable inner portion and the bottom movable inner portion;
an external rotator being outside of the ring assembly and having an outer surface mechanically engaged with an outer surface of the wall in the ring assembly, the external rotator configured to drive circumferential rotation of the movable portions of the ring assembly about a first axis; and
the wall of the ring assembly having a pair of openings opposite one another, each opening having an internal rotator therein, the pair of internal rotators directly or indirectly supporting a wheel assembly inside the ring assembly, where at least one internal rotator is configured to drive rotation of the wheel assembly about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; wherein, in operation, rotation of the ring assembly about the first axis is independent of rotation of the wheel assembly about the second axis;
wherein the movable apparatus further comprises a power source and at least one controller adapted to receive and execute instructions from a remote source, wherein the power source and the controller are in electrical communication with one or more of the internal rotators and the external rotator.
9 . The movable apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the power source is a battery.
10 . The movable apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the wheel assembly comprises a spherical structure in mechanical communication with the internal rotators.
11 . An unmanned land vehicle comprising the movable apparatus of claim 8 .
12 . An unmanned land vehicle comprising:
a movable apparatus, comprising:
a ring assembly comprising a top bearing with a top movable inner portion and a bottom bearing with a bottom movable inner portion and a wall connected with and extending between the top movable inner portion and the bottom movable inner portion;
an external rotator being outside of the ring assembly and having an outer surface mechanically engaged with an outer surface of the wall in the ring assembly, the external rotator configured to drive circumferential rotation of the movable portions of the ring assembly about a first axis; and
the wall of the ring assembly having a pair of openings opposite one another, each opening having an internal rotator therein, the pair of internal rotators directly or indirectly supporting a spherical wheel assembly inside the ring assembly, where at least one internal rotator is a servo configured to drive rotation of the spherical wheel assembly about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; wherein, in operation, rotation of the ring assembly about the first axis is independent of rotation of the spherical wheel assembly about the second axis;
wherein the movable apparatus further comprises at least one battery and at least one controller adapted to receive and execute instructions from a remote source, wherein the at least one battery and the controller are in electrical communication with the servo and the external rotator.