Aerial robot
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an aerial robot, the aerial robot comprising;
a first propeller for rotating in a first direction;
a second propeller for rotating in a second direction opposite of the first direction;
an observation device;
a power supply;
a transmission line interconnecting the power supply and the aerial robot;
wherein the transmission line transmits power to the aerial robot and provides bidirectional communication to and from the aerial robot.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An aerial robot is disclosed. The aerial robot may include at least one pair of counter-rotating blades or propellers, which may be contained within a circumferential shroud or a duct. In one embodiment, the aerial robot may have the ability to hover and move indefinitely. Electric power to the robot may be provided by a tether or an on-board power supply. In tethered embodiments, a solid-state, electronic voltage transformer may be used to reduce a high voltage, low current source to lower voltage, higher current source. In one embodiment, secure data communication between a ground unit and the aerial robot is facilitated by impressing high bandwidth serial data onto the high voltage tether wires or a thin optical fiber which is co-aligned with the tether wires. In one embodiment, precise navigational and position controls, even under extreme wind loads, are facilitated by an on-board GPS unit and optical digital signal processors. In one embodiment, if the tether detaches, precision free-flight is possible with on-board batteries.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an aerial robot, the aerial robot comprising;
a first propeller for rotating in a first direction;
a second propeller for rotating in a second direction opposite of the first direction;
an observation device;
a power supply;
a transmission line interconnecting the power supply and the aerial robot;
wherein the transmission line transmits power to the aerial robot and provides bidirectional communication to and from the aerial robot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
a flying robot, the flying robot comprising;
a body;
an internal duct through the body;
at least one pair of counter-rotating propellers disposed in the internal duct;
first and second remotely operated control fins;
a gyroscope or accelerometer;
wherein the dimensions of the flying robot do not exceed approximately six inches by six inches by eight inches. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus, comprising:
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an aerial robot, the aerial robot comprising;
a body;
at least one pair of counter-rotating propellers mounted to the body;
an observation device mounted to the body;
a remote communication center;
a secure communication link connected between the aerial robot and the remote communication center. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method, comprising:
flying an aerial robot, the flying an aerial robot comprising;
counter rotating a pair of aerial robot propellers;
navigating the aerial robot through a confined space;
powering the aerial robot with a tether;
securely communicating bi-directionally with the aerial robot. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. An apparatus, comprising:
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an aerial robot, the aerial robot comprising;
a duct housing;
a first propeller for rotating in a first direction disposed in the duct housing;
a second propeller for rotating in a second direction opposite of the first direction disposed in the duct housing;
an elongated empennage attached to and extending away from the duct housing;
a spool connected to the elongated empennage located at an approximate center of gravity of the aerial robot;
an electrical transmission line at least partially wound on the spool;
at least one aileron fin mounted to the elongated empennage and spaced from the duct housing;
wherein the transmission line transmits power to the aerial robot and provides bi-directional communication to and from the aerial robot. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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Specification