公开(公告)号：US20220161875A1

公开(公告)日：2022-05-26

申请号：US17433627

申请日：2020-04-29

Applicant: CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY

Inventor： Dimitrios APOSTOLOPOULOS ,  Karl MUECKE ,  Nishant POL ,  Edward MUTSCHLER ,  Matthew GLISSON ,  Richard PANTALEO ,  Stephen NOVICK

IPC: B62D55/04 ,  B62D55/125 ,  B62D55/24 ,  B62D55/30 ,  B60B19/00 ,  B62D55/15

Abstract: The Reconfigurable Wheel-Track (RWT) is a novel mechanism that allows a wheel to transform into a track, and vice-versa. The wheel permits a vehicle to travel quickly over smooth and semi-rough terrain, then, on-the-fly, transform rapidly into a powered track for crossing extreme terrain. The reconfigurable wheel-track consists of several main components: an outer tire/tread, drive mechanisms for the wheel and track, support mechanisms for the outer tread when in either wheel mode or track mode, and a reconfiguration mechanism that facilitates the transformation from a wheel to a track and vice-versa. The reconfigurable wheel-track includes sensing, actuation, and controls to facilitate efficient and effective transition from wheel to track and vice-versa, and securely maintain each shape.