A variable configuration articulated tracked vehicle comprises a chassis,
a pair of right and left drive pulleys, a right and left planetary wheel,
a right and left track, a right and left arm mechanism, and a right and
left drive motor. The drive pulleys are rotatably attached to the chassis
and each pair of drive pulleys is in the same plane. The planetary wheels
are movable relative to the chassis such that each planetary wheel is in
the same plane as its respective drive pulleys. The tracks extend around
the pair of drive pulleys and the planetary wheel on the respective
sides. The arm mechanisms connect the respective planetary wheel to the
chassis. Each arm mechanism is rotatably attached to the chassis with a
cam. The cam defines a motion path of one end of the arm whereby the
motion of the planetary wheel provides a path for the planetary wheel
such that the track path defined by the respective drive pulleys and the
planetary wheel is a constant track length. The motors are each operably
connected to the respective pair of drive pulleys for driving the track.