Self-balancing remote sensing device and remote sensing system comprising same

• US 8,035,734 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth R. Jones
• Original Assignee: Kenneth R. Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Kenneth R
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, KENT F
• Application Number:
  US12/761,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 348/45, 348/65, 348/81, 348/144, 348/155, 348/211.99, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/207.99, 348 77- 78, 348 84- 85, 348/373, 441/135
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A self-balancing remote sensing device, and a system comprised of the remote sensing devices and one or more base stations, is provided for remotely monitoring both terrestrial and maritime environments. Specifically, a spherically-shaped self-balancing remote sensing device having one or more cameras and various sensors is provided, which may ascend and descend within the water column as desired, by altering its buoyancy, while maintaining proper orientation of the camera and sensors. Further, the remote sensing system comprised of the devices and base stations is provided, wherein the devices and base stations may form an ad hoc network, thereby greatly extending the range and coverage of the system. The devices, due to their small size, may be quickly and easily deployed using various vehicles, including flight vehicles, land-based vehicles, water craft, and subsurface water vehicles.

Claims

1. A free floating self-balancing remote sensing device for covert monitoring of both terrestrial and maritime environments consisting of:

(a) a hollow outer sphere, at least a portion of which is comprised of a transparent material, said sphere defining an interior portion;

(b) an inner structure disposed within the interior portion of the hollow outer sphere, the inner structure having three or more projections formed integral therewith or attached thereto, each of said projections having one or more races and/or ball bearings rollably disposed at or in an end of the projection, or a low friction surface formed at the end, so as to enable the inner structure to roll within the hollow outer sphere;

(c) a computer processor attached to and/or indirectly supported by the inner structure;

(d) one or more cameras selected from the group consisting of a video camera, digital camera, IR camera, and thermal imaging camera in communication with the computer processor, said one or more cameras having a lens disposed adjacent a portion of the hollow outer sphere being comprised of a transparent material, said cameras being rotatable or tiltable, and/or the lens being zoomable, and said cameras comprise a video/photo control means in communication with the lens and/or camera, said video/photo control means being capable of controlling the movement of the one or more cameras and/or the zooming of the lenses thereof;

(e) a GPS receiver and one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of acoustic, chemical, radiation, motion detector, neutron, light meter, temperature, and pressure sensors, said receiver and sensors being in communication with the computer processor;

(f) one or more illumination devices in communication with the computer processor and a power supply, the illumination devices being selected from the group consisting of an LED, IR LED, an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent bulb, and an electro-photo luminescent device;

(g) a transceiver in communication with the computer processor, said transceiver operable to wirelessly transmit photographic data, video images, geographic location data and sensed data; and

(h) one or more depth sensors in communication with the computer processor; and

a buoyancy control means in direct or indirect attachment with the inner structure and in communication with the computer processor, said buoyancy control means operable to alter the buoyancy of the remote sensing device so as to cause the remote sensing device to descend or ascend in the water, and a valve disposed within or adjacent to hollow outer sphere which is operable to permit flow of liquid and/or gases into and/or out of said hollow outer sphere, and said valve being in communication with the computer processor;

(i) a computer readable medium in communication with the computer processor, with a mobile computer program product stored on the computer readable storage medium, said computer program product embodying computer usable program code for receiving, processing and transmitting data received by one or more of the said cameras, GPS receiver, and/or sensors, said computer program product operable to execute commands stored on the computer readable storage medium, and transmit commands to one or more of the cameras, sensors, buoyancy control means, illumination devices and said valve,

and, said mobile computer program product being operable to receive external commands, authenticate received external commands, and execute external commands, delete stored data upon determination of one or more predefined parameters or upon receipt of an authenticated external command, and/or transmit an open/close command to the valve so as to permit inflow or outflow of gases and/or liquids; and

(j) a power supply in conductive communication with the computer processor, said power supply comprised of one or more of a battery and/or fuel cell together with a charging means selected from the group consisting of an inductive charging mechanism, piezoelectric device operable to recharge the power supply, and one or more solar panels within the interior portion of the sphere adjacent the transparent portion,

wherein the inner structure is balanced such that the video camera and/or digital camera tends to rotate into an upright position by action of gravitational forces.

2. The self-balancing remote sensing device of claim 1, wherein the buoyancy control means is comprised of:

(i) a chamber disposed within the interior portion of the hollow outer sphere, or formed integral with the hollow outer sphere;

(ii) a piston disposed within the chamber;

(iii) an actuator means in communication with the piston; and

(iv) a motor means in communication with the actuator means and computer processor, said motor means operable to actuate the actuate means upon command by the computer processor so as to drive the piston back and forth within the chamber to alter the buoyant volume of the remote sensing device, thereby altering the buoyancy of the device.

3. The self-balancing remote sensing device of claim 1, wherein the buoyancy control means is comprised of:

(i) a chamber disposed within the interior portion of the hollow outer sphere, or formed integral with the hollow outer sphere;

(ii) a bellows disposed within the chamber;

(iii) an actuator means in communication with the bellows; and

(iv) a motor means in communication with the actuator means and computer processor, said motor means operable to actuate the actuator means upon command by the computer processor so as to extend and retract the bellows to alter the buoyant volume of the remote sensing device, thereby altering the buoyancy of the device.

4. The encapsulated remote sensing device of claim 3, wherein the actuator means is comprised of one or more of a screw jack, a linear actuator, and a scissor mechanism.