Back to results
US 11,731,697 B2Granted
Vector steering for tracked vehicle
AssigneeHowe & Howe Inc.
InventorsMichael Howe, Geoffrey Howe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A technique for steering a tracked vehicle includes controllably deforming at least a portion of a vehicle's track into a curved shape, causing the vehicle to follow a curve-shaped path as it drives. As the vehicle naturally tends to follow a curved path defined by the track's curvature, steering is accomplished with greatly reduced skidding against the ground.
Claims20
A tracked vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle body;
- a first set of wheels coupled to the vehicle body and including a first steerable wheel configured to turn left and right relative to the vehicle body;
- a second set of wheels coupled to the vehicle body and including a second steerable wheel configured to turn left and right relative to the vehicle body;
- a first deformable track that surrounds the first set of wheels and engages the first steerable wheel;
- and
- a second deformable track that surrounds the second set of wheels and engages the second steerable wheel,
- wherein the first deformable track is configured to deform into a first curved shape in response to the first steerable wheel turning left or right,
- wherein the second deformable track is configured to deform into a second curved shape in response to the second steerable wheel turning left or right, the second curved shape having a different turning radius than the first curved shape, and
- wherein the tracked vehicle is configured to operate in a steering mode that combines (i) vector steering based on turning the first steerable wheel and the second steerable wheel in response to steering input and (ii) skid steering based on the first deformable track and the second deformable track being advanced at different speeds in response to the steering input.
6 more elements
A method of steering a tracked vehicle that includes—
- a vehicle body,
- a first set of wheels coupled to the vehicle body and including a first steerable wheel configured to turn left and right relative to the vehicle body, and
- a second set of wheels coupled to the vehicle body and including a second steerable wheel configured to turn left and right relative to the vehicle body,
- the method comprising:
- providing a first deformable track that surrounds the first set of wheels and engages the first steerable wheel;
- providing a second deformable track that surrounds the second set of wheels and engages the second steerable wheel;
- in response to turning the first steerable wheel and the second steerable wheel, the first deformable track and the second deformable track respectively deforming into first and second curved shapes that arc left or right, and
- operating the tracked vehicle in a blended steering mode that combines (i) vector steering based on turning the first steerable wheel and the second steerable wheel in response to steering input and (ii) skid steering based on the first deformable track and the second deformable track being advanced at different speeds in response to the steering input.
5 more elements
A method of steering a tracked vehicle, comprising:
- providing a first deformable track on a first side of the vehicle, the first deformable track surrounding a first set of wheels and engaging a first steerable wheel of the first set of wheels;
- providing a second deformable track on a second side of the vehicle, the second deformable track surrounding a second set of wheels and engaging a second steerable wheel of the second set of wheels;
- and
- operating the tracked vehicle in a blended steering mode that combines (i) vector steering based on turning the first steerable wheel and the second steerable wheel in response to steering input and (ii) skid steering based on the first deformable track and the second deformable track being advanced at different speeds in response to the steering input.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.