Miniature robotic vehicles and methods of controlling same
First Claim
1. A method for traversing one or more surfaces with a ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, comprising;
a body, at least a first and a second ground-engaging member operatively coupled to the body, and a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, stored position and a second, extended position; and
a retraction apparatus operable to move the spring member to at least the first, stored position; and
energizing one or both of the first and second ground-engaging members so that the ground-engaging robotic vehicle is propelled across a surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A robotic vehicle capable of traveling over various terrain and traversing obstacles. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a cylindrical body having two or more drive wheels coupled to the ends thereof. The wheels are selectively powered to propel the vehicle. The vehicle may further include a spring member which may be deflected to a first, stored position from a second, extended position. The spring member may be quickly released from the first, stored position such that it strikes the terrain with sufficient force to lift and propel the vehicle over or onto a proximate obstacle or object. Robotic vehicles of the present invention may also include one or more sensing devices operable to collect information. Electronics may further permit autonomous, semi-autonomous, and/or remote control of the vehicle. In still other embodiments, the robotic vehicle forms part of a multi-robot surveillance team. The robotic vehicles may be delivered to the desired location through the use of a deployment and communication apparatus which, in one embodiment, is a larger robotic vehicle. The deployment and communication apparatus may form part of the communication system between the robotic vehicles and a remote workstation.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A method for traversing one or more surfaces with a ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, comprising;
a body, at least a first and a second ground-engaging member operatively coupled to the body, and a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, stored position and a second, extended position; and
a retraction apparatus operable to move the spring member to at least the first, stored position; and
energizing one or both of the first and second ground-engaging members so that the ground-engaging robotic vehicle is propelled across a surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A ground-engaging robotic vehicle, comprising:
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a body;
two or more rotatable, ground-engaging wheels coupled to the body, the ground-engaging wheels operable to propel the robotic vehicle across a surface;
a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, deflected position and a second, undetected position; and
a retraction apparatus operable to position the spring member in the first, deflected position, the second, undeflected position, or anywhere in between. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
a spool;
a power source coupled to the spool, the power source operable to selectively rotate the spool in either a first direction or a second direction; and
a flexible cable having a first end coupled to the spool and a second end coupled to the spring member.
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7. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 5, wherein the retraction apparatus further comprises a latch mechanism operable to secure the spring member when the latter is in the first, deflected position.
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8. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 6, wherein rotating the spool in the first direction retracts the flexible cable, moving the spring member towards the first, deflected position and rotating the spool in the second direction extends the flexible cable, moving the spring member towards the second, undeflected position.
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9. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 5, further comprising one or more sensing devices associated with the body.
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10. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 9, wherein the one or more sensing devices comprises a video camera assembly.
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11. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 10, wherein the video camera assembly is coupled to the vehicle with an adjustable base.
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12. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 10, wherein the video camera assembly is at least partially enclosed within the body.
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13. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 9, wherein the one or more sensing devices comprises a microphone.
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14. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 9, wherein the one or more sensing devices comprises a magnetometer.
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15. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 9, wherein the one or more sensing devices comprises a tilt sensor.
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16. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 15, wherein the tilt sensor comprises at least one accelerometer.
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17. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 16, wherein the at least one accelerometer is a two-axis accelerometer.
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18. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 5, further comprising one or more antennas coupled to the body.
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19. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 18, wherein the one or more antennas comprises an antenna for transmitting status data to and receiving commands from a remote location.
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20. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 5, wherein the spring member may be located in the second, undeflected position or in a position between the first, deflected position and the second, undeflected position, such that the spring member engages the surface.
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21. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 5, further comprising a drive wheel motor coupled to each ground-engaging wheel.
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22. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 5, further comprising a protective casing covering a portion of the vehicle, the casing operable to protect the robotic vehicle during transport and delivery.
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23. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 22, further comprising a casing release mechanism operable to release the protective casing from the robotic vehicle.
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24. The ground-engaging robotic vehicle of claim 22, wherein the casing is releasable by movement of one or both of the ground-engaging wheels.
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25. The ground engaging robotic vehicle of claim 6, wherein the spool is cylindrical and comprises a recessed, continuous helical groove.
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26. A method of traversing an obstacle with a ground-engaging robotic vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, comprising;
a body;
at least a first and a second ground-engaging wheel operatively coupled to the body; and
a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, deflected position and a second, undeflected position; and
locating the ground-engaging robotic vehicle upon a surface proximate an obstacle; and
positioning the spring member in the first, deflected position;
releasing the spring member from the first, deflected position, whereby the spring member strikes the surface with sufficient force to propel the ground-engaging vehicle over or onto the obstacle. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
providing a retraction apparatus comprising;
a retraction mechanism coupled to the body, the retraction mechanism having a spool rotatably coupled to the body, the spool rotatable in at least a first direction;
a cable extending between the spool and the spring member; and
a latching mechanism operable to releasably latch the spring member in the first, deflected position; and
rotating the spool in the first direction, thereby moving the spring member to the first, deflected position.
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28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:
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latching the spring member in the first, deflected position with the latching mechanism;
rotating the spool in a second direction opposite the first direction, thereby unwinding the cable from the spool; and
releasing the latching mechanism such that the spring member is released from the first, undeflected position.
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29. The method of claim 26, further comprising positioning the ground-engaging robotic vehicle proximate the obstacle prior to releasing the spring member.
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30. A method of delivering one or more ground-engaging robotic vehicles to a desired location, the method comprising:
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providing at least one ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, comprising;
a body;
at least a first and a second ground-engaging wheel operatively coupled to the body; and
a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, deflected position and a second, undeflected position;
providing a delivery apparatus operable to hold the at least one ground-engaging robotic vehicle; and
delivering the at least one ground-engaging robotic vehicle to the desired location with the delivery apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A robotic system, comprising:
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at least one ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, comprising;
a body, at least a first and a second ground-engaging wheel operatively coupled to the body, and a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, deflected position and a second, undeflected position; and
a remote workstation adapted to wirelessly communicate with the at least one ground-engaging robotic vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for guiding a ground-engaging robotic vehicle to the darkest portion of a predetermined area, the method comprising:
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providing a ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, comprising;
a body, two or more ground-engaging wheels operatively coupled to the body, and camera coupled to the body;
capturing a first image with the camera;
rotating the camera by a discrete increment;
capturing a second image with the camera;
comparing one or more characteristics of the first image and the second image; and
moving the robotic vehicle in a direction based on the comparing of one or more characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A ground-engaging robotic vehicle, comprising:
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a cylindrically shaped body;
two or more ground-engaging members coupled to the body, the ground-engaging members operable to propel the robotic vehicle across a surface; and
a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable,between at least a first, stored position and a second, extended position. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. A ground-engaging robotic vehicle, comprising:
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a body;
two or more ground-engaging members coupled to the body, the ground-engaging members operable to propel the robotic vehicle across a surface;
a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, stored position and a second, extended position; and
control circuits associated with the body, the control circuits operable to permit remote control of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for traversing one or more surfaces with a ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, comprising;
a body, at least a first and a second ground-engaging member operatively coupled to the body, and a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, stored position and a second, extended position;
energizing one or both of the first and second ground-engaging members so that the ground-engaging robotic vehicle is propelled across a surface; and
releasing the spring member from the first, stored position and striking the surface, with the spring member, with sufficient force to lift the robotic vehicle from the surface.
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Specification