Patent ID: 6905138

Claim:
A vehicle chassis comprising: a structural frame; a suspension system; at least three wheels rotatably mounted with respect to the suspension system; a braking system; a steering system; an energy conversion system; an energy storage system operatively connected to the energy conversion system; and material mounted with respect to the structural frame and configured to absorb energy from an impact to the chassis; wherein the braking system, steering system, and energy conversion system are mounted with respect to the structural frame, operatively connected to at least one wheel, and responsive to non-mechanical control signals; wherein the structural frame includes a plurality of structural elements defining at least one open space therebetween; wherein at least one of the energy conversion system, energy storage system, steering system, or braking system is at least partially contained within the at least one open space; and wherein the material is located between the at least one open space and at least a portion of the chassis periphery, and is configured to absorb energy from an impact to at least part of the chassis periphery.