Remote control rover configured for viewing and manipulating objects

• US 7,640,076 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bradley Darrel Olson
• Original Assignee: Bradley Darrel Olson
• Inventors: Olson, Bradley Darrel
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US10/977,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20060095161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 700245-259
• US Class Current: 700/259
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 15/0206 comprising articulated grippers
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/022 using lasers
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/007 mounted on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37572 Camera, tv, vision
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40298 Manipulator on vehicle, wheels, mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246

Abstract

A remotely controlled roving vehicle comprises a claw assembly and a video camera. The claw assembly includes a main body and a plurality of grasping member. A first end of each one of the grasping members is movably mounted on the main body for enabling a second end of each one of the grasping members to be moved between an open position and a closed position. The video camera includes an image-receiving portion that is mounted on the main body. A second end of each one of the grasping members is within a field of view of the video camera. A lens of the video camera is centrally located with respect to the first ends of the grasping members. The first end of each one of the grasping members is pivotally mounted on the main body. The main body is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof.

Claims

1. A remotely controlled roving vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of wheels connected to a drive means and a steering means;

a control apparatus;

a cable, wherein said cable is operably connected to the control apparatus and the roving vehicle;

a claw assembly including a main body and a plurality of grasping members, wherein a first end of each one of said grasping members is movably mounted on the main body for enabling a second end of each one of said grasping members to be moved between an open position and a closed position;

said the plurality of grasping members includes a first pair of grasping members and a second pair of grasping members said first pair of grasping members being different in configuration than the second pair of grasping members; and

a video camera having an image-receiving portion thereof mounted on the main body, wherein the second end of each one of said grasping members is within a field of view of the video camera; and

wherein the lens of the video camera is centrally located with respect to the first ends of said grasping members.

2. The roving vehicle of claim 1 wherein:

the roving vehicle includes a chassis; and

the claw assembly is translatable attached to the chassis.

3. The roving vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first end of each one of said grasping members is pivotally mounted on the main body.

4. The roving vehicle of claim 1 wherein the main body is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof.

5. The roving vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

means for forcibly moving said grasping members between the open position and the closed position.

6. The roving vehicle of claim 5 wherein said means for forcibly moving includes at least one of hydraulic means and electrical means.

7. The roving vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

means for forcibly moving said grasping members between the open position and the closed position;

wherein a lens of the video camera is centrally located with respect to the first ends of said grasping members;

wherein the first end of each one of said grasping members is pivotally mounted on the main body;

wherein the main body is rotatable about a longitudinal axis there;

wherein said means for forcibly moving includes at least one of hydraulic means and electrical means;

wherein the plurality of grasping members includes a first pair of grasping members and a second pair of grasping members;

wherein the first pair of grasping members is different in configuration than the second pair of grasping members;

wherein the roving vehicle includes a chassis; and

wherein the claw assembly is translatable attached to the chassis.

8. A remote control rover system, comprising:

a plurality of wheels connected to a drive means and a steering means;

a remotely controlled roving vehicle including a claw assembly having a main body, a plurality of grasping members movably mounted on the main body wherein said the plurality of grasping members includes a first pair of grasping members and a second pair of grasping members;

said first pair of grasping members is different in configuration than the second pair of grasping members and a video camera having an image-receiving portion thereof mounted on the main body, wherein a first end of each one of said grasping members is movably mounted on the main body for enabling a second end of each one of said grasping members to be moved between an open position and a closed position and wherein the second end of each one of said grasping members is within a field of view of the video camera;

wherein a lens of the video camera is centrally located with respect to the first ends of said grasping members; and

a control apparatus including a video display, one or more user input devices comprised or one or more of a joystick having a plurality of actuation buttons, a trackball or a keyboard and a cable reel assembly having a length of cable provided thereon, wherein said cable is connected to the roving vehicle for enabling signals to be transmitted between the control apparatus and the roving vehicle, wherein the video display is coupled to the video camera through said cable for enabling images captured by the video camera to be visually displayed thereon, and wherein said at least one user input device is coupled to the roving vehicle through said cable for enabling movement of the roving vehicle and actuation of the claw assembly to be selectively controlled.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the control apparatus and the roving vehicle jointly include means for forcibly moving said grasping members between the open position and the closed position.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said means for forcibly moving includes at least one of hydraulic means and electrical means.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

means for rotating the reel for enabling said cable to be extended and retracting dependent upon said movement of the roving vehicle;

wherein the control apparatus and the roving vehicle jointly include means for forcibly moving said grasping members between the open position and the closed position;

wherein a lens for the video camera is centrally located with respect to the first ends of said grasping members;

wherein the first end of each one of said grasping members is pivotally mounted on the main body;

wherein said means for forcibly moving includes at least one of hydraulic means and electrical means;

wherein the plurality of grasping members includes a first pair of grasping members and a second pair of grasping members; and

wherein the first pair of grasping members is different in configuration than the second pair of grasping members.

12. A remote control rover system, comprising:

a remotely controlled roving vehicle including a claw assembly having a main body, a plurality of grasping members movably mounted on the main body said plurality of grasping members includes a first pair of grasping members and a second pair of grasping members;

wherein said first pair of grasping members is different in configuration than the second pair of grasping members and a video camera having an image-receiving portion thereof mounted on the main body, wherein a first end of each one of said grasping members is movably mounted on the main body for enabling a second end of each one of said grasping members to be moved between an open position and a closed position and wherein the second end of each one of said grasping members is within a field of view of the video camera;

a control apparatus including interconnect means coupled between the control apparatus and the roving vehicle for enabling interaction there between, visual display means and user input means, wherein said visual display means is configured for enabling images captured by the video camera to be visually displayed, and wherein said user input means is configured for enabling movement of the roving vehicle and actuation of the claw assembly to be selectively controlled; and

a plurality of user input devices comprised of a joystick having a plurality of actuation buttons, a trackball and a keyboard.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein:

a lens of the video camera is centrally located with respect to the first ends of said grasping members.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein:

the control apparatus and the roving vehicle jointly include means for forcibly moving said grasping members between the open position and the closed position; and

said means for forcibly moving includes at least one of hydraulic means and electrical means.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

said interconnect means includes a reel having a length of cable provided thereon and means for rotating the reel for enabling said cable to be extending and retracting dependent upon said movement of the roving vehicle; and

said visual display means includes a visual display.