Throw type compact reconnaissance robot

• US 8,505,667 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2011
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2010
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Duksan Mecasys Inc., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Original Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Inventors: Kim, Soohyun, Kim, Kyung-Soo, Kim, Jeehyoung, Jung, Wonsuk, Kim, Chulyoung, Hong, Yunsic, Park, Hyunsoo, Yoo, Kyuje
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MAURICE L
• Application Number:
  US13/166,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20110308873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.51, 180/218, 180/6.48, 180/6.5, 180/68.5
• US Class Current: 180/218
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/045 Arrangement in a wheel, e.g. a spare wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0061 the motor axle being parallel to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/24 Military vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/00 Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern
• 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

Provided is a throw-type compact reconnaissance robot, which is used for military purposes or counter-terrorism and is capable of ensuring a long operational time as well as drop safety by efficient spatial layout of a battery. The throw-type compact reconnaissance robot includes a cylindrical body (100) with a camera (140), drivers (200) made up of two tires (270) that are disposed on opposite sides of the body (100) and is drivable individually, and battery units (300) supplying power used to operate the robot and disposed in inner spaces of the tires (270) of the drivers (200) on the opposite outermost sides of the robot.

Claims

1. A throwing compact reconnaissance robot comprising:

a cylindrical body with a camera;

drivers made up of two tires that are disposed on opposite sides of the body and can be driven individually; and

battery units supplying power used to operate the robot and disposed in inner spaces of the tires of the drivers on opposite outermost sides of the robot,

wherein the body includes a frame in which electric parts are mounted and a shield cover that surrounds the frame and has a shape of a C-shaped thin plate, the frame and the shield cover of the body have rubber rings fitted around them, and each rubber ring includes a metal wire serving as an antenna embedded therein so that the metal wire is connected to a circuit board for telecommunication mounted in the body and functions as the antenna when remote control is performed by radio.

2. The throwing compact reconnaissance robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

each driver includes a cylindrical driving wheel;

each tire is fitted on an outer side of the driving wheel in a radial direction; and

each battery unit is disposed in an inner space of the cylindrical driving wheel.

3. The throwing compact reconnaissance robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

each driver includes a cylindrical driving wheel and a wheel driving motor; and

the driving wheel and the wheel driving motor are geared to transmit a driving force.

4. The throwing compact reconnaissance robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein each tire is filled therein with air or a sponge so as to be able to absorb a shock when dropped.

5. The throwing compact reconnaissance robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein each battery unit includes a cylindrical battery housing, a battery mounted in the battery housing, and a battery housing cover.

6. The throwing compact reconnaissance robot as set forth in claim 5, wherein the battery housing and battery housing cover are each formed of supramolecular polyethylene.

7. The throwing compact reconnaissance robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body includes a tail mounted on a rear surface thereof.

8. The throwing compact reconnaissance robot as set forth in claim 7, wherein the tail is adjusted in angle by a tail driving motor so as to be able to adjust a viewing angle of the camera.

9. The throwing compact reconnaissance robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein the robot is connected to another throwing compact reconnaissance robot using a connector member, in an internal connecting space of which a battery, an electric part, etc. are mounted as needed.

10. The throwing compact reconnaissance robot as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body further includes a repeater for telecommunication.