Multi-purpose ground vehicle

A multipurpose ground vehicle that may serve as a platform for carrying a payload, the vehicle comprising:

• a chassis;
• a suspension mounted to the chassis for varying ride height and for influencing a response of the chassis to underlying terrain, the suspension comprising:
• a rotary actuator mount for securing the suspension to a rotary actuator,
• one or more radius control arms extending generally laterally from the rotary actuator mount,
• an arm extending generally longitudinally from the rotary actuator mount, and
• means for springing extending upwardly from the rotary actuator mount;
• a plurality of track modules associated with the suspension that can rotate independently of each other for altering the height of the chassis above the terrain or a clearance of the chassis beneath an overlying object;
• one or more wheels associated with at least some of the plurality of track modules, at least some of the one or more wheels being propelled by means for turning a wheel;
• means for propelling the means for turning;
• a band track associated with at least some of the track modules, the band track circumscribing the one or more wheels associated with a track module, the vehicle being able to move without the band track so that it is propelled or retarded by interaction between the wheels and the terrain;
• means for tensioning the band track that engages the band track for maintaining tension in the band track regardless of orientation of the associated track module as it maneuvers over uneven terrain;
• an idler roller linkage arm associated with at least some of the track modules, the arm extending between the means for tensioning and a distal portion of a walking beam having a fixed center;
• and
• the rotary actuator associated with at least some of the track modules, the rotary actuator being affixed to the center of the walking beam, the rotary actuator serving to displace the distal region of the walking beam arcuately, the linkage arm and the means for tensioning being displaced in response, thereby influencing tension in the band track, the rotary actuator also allowing an associated track module to be rotated independently of another track module;
• wherein the rotary actuator is configured to displace an associated track module arcuately through 360 degrees.