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Miniature, unmanned remotely guided vehicles for locating an object with a beacon

  • US 6,567,044 B2
  • Filed: 09/20/2001
  • Issued: 05/20/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of locating a subject of monitoring which is out of sight of a responsible party charged with monitoring location of the subject of monitoring, comprising the steps of:

  • attaching a beacon comprising a transmitter and receiver of radiant energy to the subject being monitored;

    providing at least one miniature, unmanned remotely guided mobile vehicle functioning as at least one first scanning platform having a transmitter and receiver of radiant energy;

    providing at least two second scanning platforms each having a transmitter and receiver of radiant energy;

    causing the at least one first scanning platform to negotiate a predetermined search site while under remote guidance and to transmit activation signals to the receiver of the subject being monitored;

    causing each second scanning platform to transmit activation signals to the receiver of the subject being monitored;

    causing the receiver of the subject being monitored to transmit a response signal from the beacon responsive to receiving an activation signal from any one of the at least one first scanning platform and the second scanning platforms;

    receiving the response signal at the receiver of at least three of the first scanning platform and second platforms;

    causing each one of the at least one first scanning platform and the second scanning platforms to acquire time and location data from a global positioning system;

    causing each one of the first scanning platform and the second scanning platforms to transmit a location signal to a central station, wherein the location signal indicates the time and location of the first scanning platform or second scanning platform upon receiving the response signal; and

    performing triangulation analysis to determine location of the beacon of the subject being monitored.

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