Flexible Bristle Tracks for UGV Shock Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional ground vehicle track systems with rigid cleats face issues with traction distribution, shock absorption, and vibration transmission, leading to instability and potential loss of traction on uneven terrain and during maneuvers like stair climbing, necessitating additional suspension systems and bogie rollers.
Innovation Solution
The use of continuous flexible tracks with bristles or vanes that distribute traction and absorb shock, eliminating the need for separate suspension systems and reducing the load on bogie rollers by providing compressive compliance and improved traction distribution across multiple steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid cleats are used to support vehicle loads, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but shock and vibration are directly transmitted to the vehicle chassis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid cleats with a continuous flexible track that has compliance built into its structure. This flexible track can deform to conform to terrain variations while maintaining load-bearing capacity, thereby absorbing shock and vibration before they reach the vehicle chassis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the track from rigid to flexible, allowing it to dynamically adapt its stiffness characteristics. This parameter change enables the track to provide both load support and vibration isolation functions simultaneously.
2Ease of manufacture
If evenly spaced discrete cleats are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but traction is concentrated on single cleats leading to loss of traction on uneven terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the discrete cleat structure and replaces it with a continuous flexible track. This eliminates the problem of discrete cleats concentrating loads on single contact points while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the continuous belt design.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous flexible track can dynamically adapt its shape and contact points with the terrain, allowing multiple points of the track to simultaneously engage with uneven surfaces. This dynamic adaptation ensures continuous traction distribution rather than relying on single discrete cleats.
3Strength
If rigid cleats are used for stair climbing, then structural integrity is maintained, but traction is insufficient when cleat spacing does not match terrain features
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous flexible track can bend and deform to match the contours of stairs and other terrain features, providing continuous contact and traction. This flexibility allows the track to adapt to varying terrain geometries while the overall track structure maintains structural integrity through its continuous design.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible track dynamically adjusts its configuration to match terrain features during movement, particularly during stair climbing. This dynamic adaptation allows the track to maintain optimal contact with varying surfaces without requiring discrete cleats spaced to match specific terrain intervals.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The flexible track system enhances traction distribution, reduces vibration transmission, and simplifies vehicle design by absorbing shock and distributing loads, thereby improving stability and situational awareness, especially on uneven terrain and during stair climbing.
Implementation Method 1
The exterior surface of the track includes a plurality of flexible bristles
Data Source
AI summary
This specification describes unmanned ground vehicle track systems. In some examples, an unmanned ground vehicle includes a frame having right and left sides and right and left track assemblies, each track assembly being coupled to a corresponding side of the frame in parallel with the other track assembly. Each track assembly includes a drive pulley coupled to the corresponding side of the frame and a track including a continuous flexible belt supported by the drive pulley. The track includes an interior surface engaged with the drive pulley and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, and the exterior surface of the track includes a plurality of flexible bristles. The unmanned ground vehicle includes one or more drive motors configured to drive the drive pulleys of the right and left track assemblies.