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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
First Claim
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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.

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