A ground-based drone 1 has two wheels 2, a support arrangement 3 to support the wheels and a drive arrangement 4. The drive arrangement is disposed within at least one of the wheels and engages the respective inner rim of the wheel to rotate of the wheel. The drive mechanism may include a geared toothed arrangement (27 fig.10) and may be a direct or indirect drive arrangement possibly including a transmission. The drone has a centre of mass (CoM) offset from an axis of rotation A of the wheels, the CoM providing a counterbalance acting to maintain the drone in an upright configuration. The CoM may be below the axis of rotation A and the drone may carry a load such as a sensor or imaging device. The drone may incorporate a passive roll recovery arrangement that incorporates dome shaped members 8 which may help to self-right the drone following a roll, figs 12-14.
Drone apparatus
2021-03-17
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B62K Fahrräder , CYCLES |