Virtual sensor mast

• US 7,149,611 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Chun, Wendell H., Stinchcomb, Jon T., Beck, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanglaude, Gertrude A.
• Application Number:
  US10/639,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20040167682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23, 701/3, 701/11, 701 15- 16, 701/29, 244/3.1, 244/3.11, 244/3.12, 244/3.15, 244/3.2, 244 122- 123, 244/17.11, 244/17.13, 244/17.14, 244/17.15, 244/32, 244/171
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/046 with planetary gearing having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/062 acting on transmission parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/10 with more than four wheels tractors of the low ground pressure type B62D49/002
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/12 with variable number of ground engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels for manoeuvring purposes only B60S
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/50 Captive balloons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/14 with four distinct rotor axes, e.g. quadcopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/30 Lighter-than-air aircraft, e.g. aerostatic aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/60 Tethered aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/202 using tethers for connecting to ground station
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/20 Rotors; Rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/26 Ducted or shrouded rotors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/294 Rotors arranged in the UAV body
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/11 using internal combustion piston engines
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/14 ducted or shrouded
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles

Abstract

A virtual sensor mast for a ground vehicle and a method for operating a ground vehicle using a virtual sensor mast are disclosed. The virtual sensor mast includes an unmanned airborne vehicle capable of lifting itself from the ground vehicle upon deployment therefrom; a sensor suite mounted to the unmanned airborne vehicle; and a tether between the unmanned airborne vehicle and the ground vehicle over which the sensor suite is capable of communicating sensed data upon deployment. The method includes elevating a tethered unmanned airborne vehicle from the ground vehicle to a predetermined height; sensing environmental conditions surrounding the ground vehicle; and terminating the deployment.

Claims

1. A virtual sensor mast for a ground vehicle, comprising:

an unmanned airborne vehicle capable of lifting itself from the ground vehicle upon deployment therefrom;

a sensor suite mounted to the unmanned airborne vehicle; and

a tether between the unmanned airborne vehicle and the ground vehicle over which the sensor suite is capable of communicating sensed data upon deployment.

2. The virtual sensor mast of claim 1, wherein the unmanned airborne vehicle comprises a ducted fan.

3. The virtual sensor mast of claim 2, wherein the ducted fan further comprises a plurality of ducted fans.

4. The virtual sensor mast of claim 1, wherein the unmanned airborne vehicle comprises a lighter-than-air vehicle.

5. The virtual sensor mast of claim 4, wherein the lighter-than-air vehicle comprises:

an inflatable balloon; and

a sensor platform affixed to the inflatable balloon and to which the sensor suite is mounted and the tether is affixed.

6. The virtual sensor mast of claim 1, wherein the sensor suite includes at least one of:

an acoustic sensor;

an optical sensor;

a television camera;

a nuclear, biological and chemical detector;

an infrared sensor; and

a Global Positioning System sensor.

7. The virtual sensor mast of claim 1, wherein the sensor suite comprises a plurality of sensors.

8. The virtual sensor mast of claim 1, wherein the tether comprises at least one of:

an optical fiber;

a power lead;

a twisted wire pair; and

a coaxial cable.

9. The virtual sensor mast of claim 1, wherein the tether is capable of transmitting power to the unmanned airborne vehicle.

10. The virtual sensor mast of claim 1, further comprising a tether management system.

11. A ground vehicle, comprising:

a chassis;

a virtual sensor mast, including;

an unmanned airborne vehicle capable of lifting itself from the chassis upon deployment therefrom;

a sensor suite mounted to the unmanned airborne vehicle;

a tether between the unmanned airborne vehicle and the chassis over which the sensor suite is capable of communicating sensed data upon deployment

a processing system for controlling the operation of the ground vehicle, including the virtual sensor mast.

12. The virtual sensor mast of claim 11, wherein the unmanned airborne vehicle a comprises a ducted fan.

13. The virtual sensor mast of claim 12, wherein the ducted fan further comprises a plurality of ducted fans.

14. The virtual sensor mast of claim 11, wherein the unmanned airborne vehicle comprises a lighter-than-air vehicle.

15. The virtual sensor mast of claim 14, wherein the lighter-than-a vehicle comprises:

an inflatable balloon; and

a sensor platform affixed to the inflatable balloon and to which the sensor suite is mounted and the tether is affixed.

16. The virtual sensor mast of claim 11, wherein the sensor suite includes at least one of:

an acoustic sensor;

an optical sensor;

a television camera;

a nuclear, biological and chemical detector;

an infrared sensor; and

a Global Positioning System sensor.

17. The virtual sensor mast of claim 11, wherein the sensor suite comprises a plurality of sensors.

18. The virtual sensor mast of claim 11, wherein the tether comprises at least one of:

an optical fiber;

a power lead;

a twisted wire pair; and

a coaxial cable.

19. The virtual sensor mast of claim 11, wherein the tether is capable of transmitting power to the unmanned airborne vehicle.

20. The virtual sensor mast of claim 11, further comprising a tether management system.

21. The ground vehicle of claim 11, wherein the processing system is capable of processing data sensed by the sensor suite.

22. The ground vehicle of claim 21, wherein the processing system is positioned within the chassis.

23. The ground vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a receiver capable of receiving remotely generated command and control instructions for control of the ground vehicle.

24. The ground vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a transmitter capable of transmitting data from the sensor suite to a remote location.

25. The ground vehicle of claim 11, further comprising means for stowing the unmanned airborne vehicle.

26. The ground vehicle of claim 25, wherein the stowing means comprises a recess in the chassis into which the unmanned airborne vehicle may be retrieved.

27. The ground vehicle of claim 25, wherein the stowing means comprises a basket mounted on the chassis into which the unmanned airborne vehicle may be retrieved.

28. The ground vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a tether management system housed in the chassis.

29. A vehicle, comprising:

a chassis;

a receiver mounted on the chassis; and

an unmanned airborne vehicle tethered to the chassis, the unmanned airborne vehicle housing at least one sensor and capable of transmitting sensed data to the receiver.

30. The virtual sensor mast of claim 29, wherein the unmanned airborne vehicle comprises a ducted fans.

31. The virtual sensor mast of claim 30, wherein the ducted fan further comprises a plurality of ducted fans.

32. The virtual sensor mast of claim 29, wherein the unmanned airborne vehicle comprises a lighter-than-air vehicle.

33. The virtual sensor mast of claim 32, wherein the lighter-than-air vehicle comprises:

an inflatable balloon; and

a sensor platform affixed to the inflatable balloon and to which the sensor suite is mounted and the tether is affixed.

34. The virtual sensor mast of claim 29, wherein the sensor suite includes at least one of:

an acoustic sensor;

an optical sensor;

a television camera;

a nuclear, biological and chemical detector;

an infrared sensor; and

a Global Positioning System sensor.

35. The virtual sensor mast of claim 29, wherein the sensor suite comprises a plurality of sensors.

36. The virtual sensor mast of claim 29, wherein the tether comprises at least one of:

an optical fiber;

a power lead;

a twisted wire pair; and

a coaxial cable.

37. The virtual sensor mast of claim 29, wherein the tether is capable of transmitting power to the unmanned airborne vehicle.

38. The virtual sensor mast of claim 29, further comprising a tether management system.

39. A method far use in operating a ground vehicle, comprising:

elevating a tethered unmanned airborne vehicle from the ground vehicle to a predetermined height;

sensing environmental conditions surrounding the ground vehicle from the unmanned airborne vehicle;

transmitting the sensed data from the unmanned airborne vehicle to the around vehicle; and

terminating the deployment.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein elevating the unmanned airborne vehicle includes activating a ducted fan.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein elevating the unmanned airborne vehicles includes activating a lighter-than-air vehicle.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein sensing the environmental conditions includes sensing the environmental conditions with at least one of:

an acoustic sensor;

an optical sensor;

a television camera

a nuclear, biological and chemical detector;

an infrared sensor, and

a Global Positioning System sensor.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein terminating the deployment includes retrieving the unmanned airborne vehicle.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein retrieving the unmanned airborne vehicle includes retrieving the unmanned airborne vehicle into a recess.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein retrieving the unmanned airborne vehicle includes retrieving the unmanned airborne vehicle into a basket.

46. The method of claim 39, wherein terminating the deployment includes releasing the unmanned airborne vehicle.

47. The method of claim 39, further comprising transmitting sensed data to a remote location.

48. The method of claim 39, further comprising remotely controlling the operation of the ground vehicle.