Vehicle system and method for accessing denied terrain
First Claim
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1. A method to operate a vehicle, comprising:
- actuating a vertical propulsion device, said vertical propulsion device being coupled between a frame of the vehicle and a member of the vehicle in contact with the ground wherein such actuation of said vertical propulsion device causes said member to apply a substantially normal force to the surface such that the resulting acceleration of the vehicle is greater than 2 gs.
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Abstract
A surface vehicle capable of overcoming obstacles is disclosed in which the vehicle accelerates vertically while having a horizontal velocity. The vehicle has a frame and at least three wheels attached to the frame to which a horizontal propulsion system is coupled. Further, a vertical propulsion system is coupled to the frame and the wheels. The vertical propulsion system is capable of providing a force to such wheels normal to the surface so that the vehicle separates from the surface. The vehicle has an electronic control unit coupled to the vertical propulsion system to automatically control its operation.
17 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method to operate a vehicle, comprising:
- actuating a vertical propulsion device, said vertical propulsion device being coupled between a frame of the vehicle and a member of the vehicle in contact with the ground wherein such actuation of said vertical propulsion device causes said member to apply a substantially normal force to the surface such that the resulting acceleration of the vehicle is greater than 2 gs.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method to operate a vehicle, comprising:
actuating a vertical propulsion device coupled between a frame of the vehicle and a wheel of the vehicle in contact with the ground wherein such actuation of said vertical propulsion device provides a force on the wheel to cause the wheel to move away from the frame, the force being sufficient to cause the wheels to separate from the ground. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method to operate a vehicle having wheels and a horizontal propulsion system, comprising:
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commanding the horizontal propulsion system to apply torque to the wheels to cause the vehicle to translate along a ground surface; and actuating a hydraulic cylinders coupled between a frame of the vehicle and the wheels of the vehicle wherein the actuation includes transmitting a force on the wheels sufficient to cause the wheels to separate from the ground. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification