Robotic Vehicle
First Claim
1. A robotic vehicle comprising:
- a chassis supporting a skid steered drive and having a leading end, a trailing end, and a center of gravity therebetween;
a set of driven flippers, each flipper having a pivot end, a distal end, and a center of gravity therebetween, and each flipper being pivotable about a first pivot axis common with a drive axis at the leading end of the chassis;
a linkage having a pivot end, a distal end, and a center of gravity therebetween, and pivotable about a second pivot axis substantially at the leading end of the chassis; and
a deck system having a mid pivot point, a leading end, and a trailing end, and a center of gravity therebetween, and pivotable about a third pivot axis substantially at a distal end of the linkage, the deck system comprising;
a deck base; and
a payload deck removably secured to the deck base and configured to support a removable payload.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A robotic vehicle is disclosed, which is characterized by high mobility, adaptability, and the capability of being remotely controlled in hazardous environments. The robotic vehicle includes a chassis having front and rear ends and supported on right and left driven tracks. Right and left elongated flippers are disposed on corresponding sides of the chassis and operable to pivot. A linkage connects a deck system to the chassis. The deck system includes a deck base and a payload deck configured to support a removable functional payload. The linkage has a first end rotatably connected to the chassis at a first pivot, and a second end rotatably connected to the deck at a second pivot. Both of the first and second pivots include independently controllable pivot drivers operable to rotatably position their corresponding pivots to control both fore-aft position and pitch orientation of the payload deck with respect to the chassis.
34 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A robotic vehicle comprising:
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a chassis supporting a skid steered drive and having a leading end, a trailing end, and a center of gravity therebetween; a set of driven flippers, each flipper having a pivot end, a distal end, and a center of gravity therebetween, and each flipper being pivotable about a first pivot axis common with a drive axis at the leading end of the chassis; a linkage having a pivot end, a distal end, and a center of gravity therebetween, and pivotable about a second pivot axis substantially at the leading end of the chassis; and a deck system having a mid pivot point, a leading end, and a trailing end, and a center of gravity therebetween, and pivotable about a third pivot axis substantially at a distal end of the linkage, the deck system comprising; a deck base; and a payload deck removably secured to the deck base and configured to support a removable payload. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A skid steered robot comprising:
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a chassis supporting a skid steered drive; a set of driven flippers, each flipper being pivotable about a first pivot axis common with a drive axis of the chassis; a linkage pivotable about a second pivot axis substantially at the leading end of the chassis; and a deck assembly pivotable about a third pivot axis substantially at a distal end of the linkage, the deck assembly comprising; a power supply; a packet network connection; a modular deck support structure; and a modular deck comprising; a deck mount which fits the modular deck support structure, at least two externally available common connectors; wherein at least one of the deck assembly and the modular deck comprises; a power supply switching circuit that switches available power from the power supply between the at least two common connectors; and a network switch that switches packet network traffic between the at least two common connectors.
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20. A skid steered robot, comprising:
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a set of driven flippers, each flipper being pivotable about a first pivot axis common with a drive axis of the chassis; a deck assembly disposed above the chassis and comprising; a power supply; a packet network connection; a modular deck support structure; a deck wiring harness connector including packet network cabling and power cabling; and a modular deck comprising; a deck mount which fits the modular deck support structure; at least two externally available common connectors; a power supply switching circuit that switches available power from the power supply between at least two common connectors; a network switch that switches packet network traffic between the at least two common connectors; and a deck wiring harness that connects to the deck wiring harness connector and carries power and network to and from the modular deck.
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21. A modular deck for a robotic vehicle comprising:
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a base configured to be secured to a robotic vehicle and electrically connected to the chassis to receive power and communication therefrom; and a platform configured to support a removable payload and secured to the base, the platform having at least one payload connection point for payload power and communication, the connection point being electrically coupled to the deck base.
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22. A robotic vehicle system comprising:
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a mobile robotic vehicle chassis having front and rear ends and supported on right and left driven tracks, each track trained about a corresponding front wheel rotatable about a front wheel axis; right and left elongated flippers disposed on corresponding sides of the chassis and operable to pivot about the front wheel axis of the chassis, each flipper having a driven track about its perimeter; a linkage pivotably connected to the chassis at a first pivot; a payload deck base pivotably connected to the linkage at a second pivot and electrically connected to the chassis to receive power and communication therefrom; and a modular platform secured to the payload deck base and configured to support a removable payload, the platform having at least one payload connection point for payload power and communication, the connection point being electrically coupled to the chassis through the deck base. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification