Stair climbing platform apparatus and method
AssigneeGamma Two, Inc.
InventorsLouise F. Gunderson, Christian Brown, James P. Gunderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A platform wheeled apparatus that incorporates an intelligent wheel configuration for each wheel in which each wheel can dynamically change its radius to negotiate various obstacles. The intelligent wheel has a rotational hub and support disc that carries a series of arcuately spaced extendable, weight bearing radial spoke mechanisms that can be controllably extended and retracted in response to the anticipated terrain surface over which the wheel is to travel. The hub of the intelligent wheel carries a microcontroller for a set of obstacle proximity sensors, force and position sensors and an appropriate electrical power supply for operation of the spokes and control components.
Claims6
1-8. (canceled)
A method for controlling movement of a wheel over a discontinuity in a travel surface comprising:
- providing the wheel with a plurality of radially extensible spoke mechanisms fastened thereon, a plurality of sensors mounted on the wheel for sensing a travel surface, each sensor being associated with one of the spoke mechanisms, and a control system operable to receive signals from the sensors and transmit control signals to each of the sensor's associated spoke mechanism;
- sensing a position of the discontinuity with one or more of the sensors;
- calculating a virtual surface path over the discontinuity;
- and
- extending one or more spokes of the spoke mechanisms so that as one of the spoke mechanisms rotates to a bottom dead center (BDC) position the circumference of the wheel follows the calculated virtual surface path over the discontinuity.
13-20. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.