Method and system for deploying a surveillance network

• US 8,935,014 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2010
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SARCOS LC (Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp.)
• Original Assignee: SARCOS LC (Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp.)
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Stephen C., Olivier, Marc X., Pensel, Ralph W., Smith, Fraser M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Application Number:
  US12/814,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/23, 701/24, 701/25, 701/400, 701/408, 901/1, 901/46, 901/50, 700/245, 700/900, 702/5
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/02 Dropping, ejecting, or releasing articles jettisonable fuel reservoirs B64D37/12
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/00 Parachutes non canopied parachutes B64D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/00 Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/365 Projectiles transmitting information to a remote location using optical or electronic means F42B12/385 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/58 Cluster or cargo ammunition, i.e. projectiles containing one or more submissiles F42B12/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0287 involving a plurality of land vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00, particularly anticollision systems G08G1/16
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/048 specially adapted for water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A method and system for gathering information from and setting up a surveillance network within an earth-surface environment that includes inserting one or more mobile robotic devices having a sensing subsystem, a communications subsystem, and a navigation subsystem into an earth-surface environment. The mobile robotic device may be configured into a traveling pose selected from a plurality of available traveling poses, and directed using the navigation subsystem to a sensing location within the earth-surface environment. The environment may be monitored and sensed information collected may be stored or communicated to a remote location. The mobile robotic device may be configured to operate with a vehicle carrier to facilitate insertion and deployment of the robotic vehicle into the earth-surface environment.

Claims

1. A system for gathering information from within an earth-surface environment, comprising:

at least one mobile robotic device operable on an earth surface of an earth-surface environment, which is configurable into at least one deployment pose and a plurality of traveling poses, the mobile robotic device comprising;

a multi-frame body having multiple single-track units coupled by an active articulating linkage;

a navigation subsystem for selecting the optimum traveling pose for the earth- surface environment;

a sensing subsystem for collecting information from the earth-surface environment; and

a carrier vehicle operable with the mobile robotic device as configured in the at least one deployment pose to facilitate deployment of the mobile robotic device into the earth-surface environment, wherein the mobile robotic device is housed in a projectile deliverable from the carrier vehicle to the earth surface of the earth-surface environment and reconfigurable into one of the plurality of traveling poses so as to enable the mobile robotic device to locate to a first sensing location within the earth-surface environment.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote command center operable to receive the information from the at least one mobile robotic device, wherein a network is established between the remote command center and the at least one mobile robotic device operating within the earth-surface environment, and wherein the network may be selectively dismantled by the removal of the at least one mobile robotic device from the earth-surface environment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of traveling poses includes a tank pose, a train pose, a zig-zag pose, an outside-climbing pose, and an inside climbing pose.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one utility pod deployable by the mobile robotic device at a second covert sensing location within the earth-surface environment and having at least one sensor and at least one communications subsystem for transmitting information.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one utility pod is selected from the group consisting of a sensor pod, a communications relay pod, an explosives pod, an alarm pod, a recording pod, an incapacitating pod, a concealment pod, an effector pod and combinations thereof.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the robotic device comprises a payload bay for stowing one or more of the utility pods.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile robotic device further comprises a communications subsystem for establishing bi-directional communication with a remote location for sharing the collected information.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the communications subsystem of the mobile robotic device further comprises a communications relay between the at least one utility pod and the remote command center.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the carrier vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a ground vehicle, an aircraft, a balloon, a boat, a submarine, and any combination of these.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the projectile is self-powered.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising packaging the at least one robotic device as configured within a deployment configuration.