Remotely controlled sensor apparatus for use in dig-face characterization system
First Claim
1. A remotely controlled sensor apparatus suitable for deployment from a mobile delivery device, comprising:
- (a) a sensor;
(b) a platform assembly having an extendible mast for vertically adjusting elevation of the sensor over terrain, said sensor attached to an extendible sensor mount member connected to said extendible mast;
(c) means for stabilizing the sensor against extraneous motions; and
(d) means for sensing terrain and providing sensor elevation control to maintain the sensor in close ground proximity.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A remotely controlled sensor platform apparatus useful in a dig-face characterization system is deployed from a mobile delivery device such as standard heavy construction equipment. The sensor apparatus is designed to stabilize sensors against extraneous motions induced by heavy equipment manipulations or other outside influences, and includes a terrain sensing and sensor elevation control system to maintain the sensors in close ground proximity. The deployed sensor apparatus is particularly useful in collecting data in work environments where human access is difficult due to the presence of hazardous conditions, rough terrain, or other circumstances that prevent efficient data collection by conventional methods. Such work environments include hazardous waste sites, unexploded ordnance sites, or construction sites. Data collection in these environments by utilizing the deployed sensor apparatus is desirable in order to protect human health and safety, or to assist in planning daily operations to increase efficiency.
28 Citations
54 Claims
-
1. A remotely controlled sensor apparatus suitable for deployment from a mobile delivery device, comprising:
-
(a) a sensor; (b) a platform assembly having an extendible mast for vertically adjusting elevation of the sensor over terrain, said sensor attached to an extendible sensor mount member connected to said extendible mast; (c) means for stabilizing the sensor against extraneous motions; and (d) means for sensing terrain and providing sensor elevation control to maintain the sensor in close ground proximity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A remotely controlled sensor apparatus suitable for deployment from a mobile delivery device, comprising:
-
(a) a platform assembly; (b) an extendible mast attached to the platform assembly; (c) an extendible sensor mount member connected to the extendible mast; (d) a sensor attached to the sensor mount member; (e) means for stabilizing the sensor against extraneous motions induced by manipulation of a mobile delivery device; (f) means for sensing terrain and providing sensor elevation control to maintain the sensor in close ground proximity; (g) means for coupling the platform assembly to the mobile delivery device; and (h) an external positioning receiver extending from the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A system for deploying a remotely controlled sensor apparatus used in a dig-face characterization operation, comprising:
-
(a) a mobile delivery device; and (b) a sensor apparatus detachably coupled to the mobile delivery device, the sensor apparatus comprising; (i) a platform assembly; (ii) an electric linear actuator suspended from the platform assembly; (iii) a sensor attached to the electric linear actuator; (iv) means for stabilizing the sensor against extraneous motions induced by manipulation of the mobile delivery device; and (v) means for sensing terrain and providing sensor elevation control to maintain the sensor in close ground proximity. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A system for deploying a remotely controlled sensor apparatus in a dig-face characterization operation, comprising:
-
(a) a mobile delivery device; (b) a sensor apparatus detachably coupled to the mobile delivery device, the sensor apparatus comprising; (i) a platform assembly; (ii) an extendible mast suspended from the platform assembly; (iii) a sensor attached to the extendible mast; (iv) means for stabilizing the sensor against extraneous motions induced by manipulation of the mobile delivery device, the means for stabilizing the sensor comprising a first yoke member providing dampened rotation of the platform assembly about a first horizontal axis, a second yoke member interconnected with the first yoke member and providing a dampened rotation of the platform assembly about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the first horizontal axis; and (v) means for sensing terrain and providing sensor elevation control to maintain the sensor in close ground proximity. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
-
-
38. A method for deploying a remotely controlled sensor apparatus in a dig-face characterization operation, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a mobile delivery device; (b) coupling a sensor apparatus to the mobile delivery device, the sensor apparatus comprising; (i) a sensor; (ii) a platform assembly having an extendible mast for vertically adjusting elevation of the sensor over terrain, said sensor attached to an extendible sensor mount member connected to said extendable mast; (iii) means for stabilizing the sensor against extraneous motions; and (iv) means for sensing terrain and providing sensor elevation control to maintain the sensor in close ground proximity, (c) positioning the mobile delivery device in a predetermined location; and (d) scanning the predetermined location with the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
-
51. A method for providing sensor elevation control to maintain a sensor in close ground proximity, comprising the steps of:
-
moving a sensor at a known speed across uneven terrain in a predetermined path divided into a series of segments, each said segment having a known starting point and an ending point; mapping terrain topography around the ssenso substantially continuously to determine a target elevation for the sensor to achieve when the sensor reaches each said ending point; and adjusting the height of the sensor at a rate requred to achieve the target elevation by each said ending point to maintaim a substantially constant terrain clearance as the sensor is moved. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54)
-
Specification