Motor vehicles – Steering by driving – Combined
Patent
1991-10-24
1993-02-16
Focarino, Margaret A.
Motor vehicles
Steering by driving
Combined
180 71, 180934, 180 944, 180202, 305 18, 901 1, B62D 1100, B60S 9215, B25J 500
Patent
active
051862700
ABSTRACT:
The invention provides controlled omnidirectional relative movement between a device and a selected surface in contact therewith. The device is preferably a vehicle having a first and second track mounted thereto, which tracks are parallel and spaced from each other and are independently driven in a first direction. A plurality of spheres are mounted in each of the tracks at intervals spaced in the first direction and the spheres in at least one of the tracks are driven to rotate in a second direction, generally perpendicular to the first direction. By suitably controlling the movements of the tracks in the first direction and of the spheres in the second direction, movement along any desired trajectory may be achieved with three degrees of freedom. By having the device stationary and the surface movable, an omnidirectional platform is provided.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3695736 (1972-10-01), Brown
patent: 3746112 (1973-07-01), Ilon
patent: 4223753 (1980-09-01), Bradbury
patent: 4715640 (1987-12-01), Smith
patent: 4823900 (1989-04-01), Fomam
Focarino Margaret A.
Hurley Kevin
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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