Robotic device for providing vertical mobility

A robotic device for providing vertical mobility, the robotic device comprising:

• a housing with a housing perimeter, the housing enclosing a vacuum chamber that is exposed to an opening on a lower surface of the housing;
• a flexible seal that circumscribes the housing perimeter to form the vacuum chamber;
• a vacuum motor assembly operatively connected to the vacuum chamber;
• a means for moving the robotic device across a surface, the means for moving being at least one wheel or at least one tank tread, wherein the means for moving is directly connected to the housing such that actuation of the vacuum motor assembly creates a vacuum in the vacuum chamber and pulls the housing toward the surface such that the means for moving is pressed against the surface;
• a payload disposed inside a central compartment of the housing, the payload being supported by a spring loaded connector that is vertically mobile.

A robotic device for providing vertical mobility, the robotic device comprising:

• a housing enclosing a flexible vacuum chamber that is exposed to an opening on a lower surface of the housing, the housing has a central compartment with a compliant seal assembly disposed therein;
• the compliant seal assembly comprising a flexible, air-tight tube whose wall is made of fabric or plastic or silicone rubber material, which is clamped inside the central compartment and supported by a plurality of rod and spring pairs forming the flexible vacuum chamber, that is vertically mobile, but not laterally mobile;
• wherein a flexible seal is attached on a bottom end of the compliant seal assembly that circumscribes the opening of the central compartment to seal the flexible vacuum chamber;
• a vacuum motor assembly operatively connected to the flexible vacuum chamber;
• a means for moving the robotic device across a surface, the means for moving
• being at least one wheel or at least one tank tread;
• wherein actuation of the vacuum motor assembly creates a vacuum in the flexible vacuum chamber that pulls the housing toward the surface such that the means for moving is pressed against the surface.