Miniature Robotic Vehicle with Ground and Flight Capability
First Claim
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1. A robotic vehicle, comprising:
- a body;
two wheels attached to the body, the wheels selectively rotatable, relative to the body, to propel the vehicle over a reference surface;
a rotor head assembly attached to the body, the rotor head assembly selectively rotatable relative to the body about a rotor axis; and
a transforming mechanism attached to the body and comprising two or more members operable to selectively contact the reference surface and reposition the body between;
a ground mode, wherein the two wheels contact the reference surface; and
a flight mode, wherein one or both of the two wheels are elevated above the reference surface.
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Abstract
Miniature robotic vehicles suitable for a variety of tasks including covert surveillance, reconnaissance, and recreation are provided. Embodiments of the invention may include vehicles having a hybrid transportation system that incorporates a rotary-wing flight mode in conjunction with a wheeled ground transport mode. As a result, exemplary vehicles provide efficient ground-mode travel, with the added ability to fly over large obstacles and rough terrain.
59 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A robotic vehicle, comprising:
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a body; two wheels attached to the body, the wheels selectively rotatable, relative to the body, to propel the vehicle over a reference surface; a rotor head assembly attached to the body, the rotor head assembly selectively rotatable relative to the body about a rotor axis; and a transforming mechanism attached to the body and comprising two or more members operable to selectively contact the reference surface and reposition the body between;
a ground mode, wherein the two wheels contact the reference surface; and
a flight mode, wherein one or both of the two wheels are elevated above the reference surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A robotic vehicle, comprising:
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an elongate body having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; a powered, ground engaging wheel attached at or near each of the first and second ends of the body, the wheels selectively rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the body; a powered, main rotor head assembly attached to the body at or near the second end and selectively rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the body, the main rotor head assembly comprising at least one collapsible main rotor blade; and a transforming mechanism operable to reposition the vehicle between;
a ground mode, wherein the longitudinal axis is parallel to a reference surface upon which the wheels rest; and
a flight mode, wherein the longitudinal axis intersects the reference surface. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of switching transport modes of a robotic vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a vehicle comprising; an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis; two wheels each rotatably coupled to the body; motors connected to the body, the motors operable to independently power the two wheels when the vehicle is in a ground mode; and a main rotor head assembly coupled to the body and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis; and contacting a reference surface upon which the vehicle rests with legs of a transforming mechanism attached to the vehicle to reposition the vehicle from;
the ground mode, wherein the two wheels are in contact with the reference surface;
to a flight mode, wherein one or both of the two wheels are elevated above the reference surface. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification