Self-Balancing Remote Sensing Device And Remote Sensing System Comprising Same
First Claim
1. A self-balancing remote sensing device comprising:
- (a) a hollow outer sphere, at least a portion of which is comprised of a transparent material, said sphere defining an interior portion;
(b) an inner structure disposed within the interior portion of the hollow outer sphere, the inner structure having three or more projections formed integral therewith or attached thereto, each of said projections having one or more races and/or ball bearings rollably disposed at or in an end of the projection, or a low friction surface formed at the end, so as to enable the inner structure to roll within the hollow outer sphere;
(c) a computer processor attached to and/or indirectly supported by the inner structure;
(d) a computer readable medium in communication with the computer processor;
(e) one or more of a video camera, digital camera, IR camera and thermal imaging camera in communication with the computer processor, said one or more cameras having a lens disposed adjacent a portion of the hollow outer sphere being comprised of a transparent material;
(f) a GPS receiver in communication with the computer processor;
(g) a transceiver in communication with the computer processor, said transceiver operable to wirelessly transmit photographic data, video images, geographic location data and sensed data; and
(h) a power supply in conductive communication with the computer processor,wherein the inner structure is balanced such that the video camera and/or digital camera tends to rotate into an upright position by action of gravitational forces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-balancing remote sensing device, and a system comprised of the remote sensing devices and one or more base stations, is provided for remotely monitoring both terrestrial and maritime environments. Specifically, a spherically-shaped self-balancing remote sensing device having one or more cameras and various sensors is provided, which may ascend and descend within the water column as desired, by altering its buoyancy, while maintaining proper orientation of the camera and sensors. Further, the remote sensing system comprised of the devices and base stations is provided, wherein the devices and base stations may form an ad hoc network, thereby greatly extending the range and coverage of the system. The devices, due to their small size, may be quickly and easily deployed using various vehicles, including flight vehicles, land-based vehicles, water craft, and subsurface water vehicles.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A self-balancing remote sensing device comprising:
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(a) a hollow outer sphere, at least a portion of which is comprised of a transparent material, said sphere defining an interior portion; (b) an inner structure disposed within the interior portion of the hollow outer sphere, the inner structure having three or more projections formed integral therewith or attached thereto, each of said projections having one or more races and/or ball bearings rollably disposed at or in an end of the projection, or a low friction surface formed at the end, so as to enable the inner structure to roll within the hollow outer sphere; (c) a computer processor attached to and/or indirectly supported by the inner structure; (d) a computer readable medium in communication with the computer processor; (e) one or more of a video camera, digital camera, IR camera and thermal imaging camera in communication with the computer processor, said one or more cameras having a lens disposed adjacent a portion of the hollow outer sphere being comprised of a transparent material; (f) a GPS receiver in communication with the computer processor; (g) a transceiver in communication with the computer processor, said transceiver operable to wirelessly transmit photographic data, video images, geographic location data and sensed data; and (h) a power supply in conductive communication with the computer processor, wherein the inner structure is balanced such that the video camera and/or digital camera tends to rotate into an upright position by action of gravitational forces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A remote sensing system comprising:
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(a) one or more remote sensing devices; and (b) one or more stationary and/or mobile base stations, each base station comprising; (i) a central computer processor; (ii) a central computer readable database in communication with the central computer processor; and (iii) a wireless communication means in communication with the central computer processor, wherein each base station is operable to receive one or more of video, photographic, geographic and sensor data transmitted from one or more of the remote sensing devices. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A remote sensing system comprising:
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(a) one or more self-balancing remote sensing devices comprising; (I) a hollow outer sphere, at least a portion of which is comprised of a transparent material, said sphere defining an interior portion; (ii) an inner structure disposed within the interior portion of the hollow outer sphere, the inner structure having three or more projections formed integral therewith or attached thereto, each of said projections having one or more races and/or ball bearings rollably disposed at or in an end of the projection so as to enable the inner structure to roll within the hollow outer sphere; (iii) a computer processor attached to and/or indirectly supported by the inner structure; (iv) a computer readable medium in communication with the computer processor; (v) a video camera and/or digital camera in communication with the computer processor, said video camera and/or digital camera having a lens disposed adjacent a portion of the hollow outer sphere being comprised of a transparent material; (vi) a GPS receiver in communication with the computer processor; (vii) a transceiver in communication with the computer processor, said transceiver operable to wirelessly transmit photographic and/or video images and geographic location data; and (viii) a power supply in conductive communication with the computer processor, wherein the inner structure is balanced such that the video camera and/or digital camera tends to rotate into an upright position by action of gravitational forces; and (b) one or more stationary and/or mobile base stations, each base station comprising; (I) a central computer processor; (ii) a computer readable database in communication with the central computer processor; and (iii) a wireless communication means in communication with the central computer processor, wherein each base station is operable to receive one or more of video, photographic, geographic and sensed data transmitted from one or more of the remote sensing devices.
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Specification