SMALL UNMANNED GROUND VEHICLE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mobile robot comprising:
- a housing;
driven tracks disposed on the housing;
right and left flippers disposed on corresponding right and left sides of the housing, each flipper rotatable with respect to the housing, the flippers and tracks arranged to allow the robot to climb stairs; and
an antenna disposed on the housing, the antenna having a communication range of between about 200 meters and about 300 meters;
wherein a combined weight of the flippers and the antenna is sufficient to move a center-of-gravity of the robot far enough to tilt the housing with respect to a surface supporting the robot; and
wherein a total weight of the robot is less than about five pounds.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present teachings relate generally to a small remote vehicle having rotatable flippers and a weight of less than about 10 pounds and that can climb a conventional-sized stairs. The present teachings also relate to a small remote vehicle can be thrown or dropped fifteen feet onto a hard/inelastic surface without incurring structural damage that may impede its mission. The present teachings further relate to a small remote vehicle having a weight of less than about 10 pounds and a power source supporting missions of at least 6 hours.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A mobile robot comprising:
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a housing; driven tracks disposed on the housing; right and left flippers disposed on corresponding right and left sides of the housing, each flipper rotatable with respect to the housing, the flippers and tracks arranged to allow the robot to climb stairs; and an antenna disposed on the housing, the antenna having a communication range of between about 200 meters and about 300 meters; wherein a combined weight of the flippers and the antenna is sufficient to move a center-of-gravity of the robot far enough to tilt the housing with respect to a surface supporting the robot; and wherein a total weight of the robot is less than about five pounds. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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6. A tracked mobile robot comprising:
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a housing having a housing volume; and a battery housed within the housing and having a battery volume, the battery being configured to support intended missions of the mobile robot for at least 6 hours, the intended missions including at least driving the mobile robot and powering processor and a radio thereon, wherein the mobile robot weighs less than about 5 pounds and the battery volume is at least about 10 percent of the total volume of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A mobile robot configured to drive along the ground, the mobile robot comprising:
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a housing having a forward end, a rearward end, and a center of gravity; an antenna mounted on a top surface of the housing or in a recess of a top surface of the housing; a driven support surface movably connected to each side of the housing and configured to propel the housing in at least a forward direction, each driven support surface comprising a flexible track trained about a pair of wheels; a flipper rotatably connected to each side of the housing rearward of the center of gravity of the housing, the flippers being configured to rotate in a first direction to raise the rearward end of the robot and to rotate in a second and opposite direction to raise the forward end of the robot housing; wherein the mobile robot is configured such that it can be thrown or dropped fifteen feet onto a hard/inelastic surface without incurring structural damage that may impede its mission. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A mobile robot comprising:
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a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, side surfaces, a front surface and a rear surface; a battery housed within the housing and including two or more cylindrical cells, the battery resting on a bottom surface of the housing; a driven support surface movably connected to each side of the housing and configured to propel the housing in at least a forward direction, each driven support surface comprising a flexible track trained about a pair of wheels; a flipper rotatably connected to each side of the housing rearward of the center of gravity of the housing, the flippers being configured to rotate in a first direction to raise the rearward end of the robot and to rotate in a second and opposite direction to raise the forward end of the robot housing, wherein the bottom surface of the housing is contoured to accommodate a shape of the battery cells and is configured to conduct heat away from the battery by providing additional surface area for heat dissipation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A mobile robot, comprising:
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a housing having a forward end, a rearward end, and a center of gravity; a driven support surface movably connected to each side of the housing and configured to propel the housing in at least a forward direction, each driven support surface comprising a flexible track trained about a pair of wheels, each longitudinal support surface having a front end and a rear end, a longitudinal length from the front end to the rear end; a flipper rotatably connected to each side of the housing rearward of the center of gravity of the housing, the flippers being configured to rotate in a first direction to raise the rearward end of the robot and to rotate in a second and opposite direction to raise the forward end of the robot housing; a flipper motor, to provide a rotational force to rotate the flipper; and a flipper drive gear configured to translate a rotational force from the flipper motor to the flipper via a slip clutch. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A mobile robot system having a weight of less than about 10 pounds, the mobile robot system comprising:
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a mobile robot having rotating flippers and a weight of less than about 5 pounds; an operator control unit configured to communicate with the mobile robot and comprising; a housing; an antenna supported by the housing and configured to transmit to and receive signals from the mobile robot; a display configured to provide information regarding the operation of the mobile robot; and an input device coupled to the display and configured to receive operator input. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification