Flying sanitation device and method for the environment
AssigneeDimer, LLC
InventorsArthur Kreitenberg, Elliot M. Kreitenberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rover device for sanitizing spacecraft that emits germicidal ultraviolet light with means for sensing and directing rover location, orientation, velocity, trajectory and path is disclosed. Rather, the disclosed embodiment is a rover that uses propellers more in the fashion of a thruster on a satellite which uses short bursts to control satellite position in three translational planes and three rotational axes. Unlike a thruster, the propeller can be reversed, allowing motion in either direction.
Claims8
A method of sanitizing a spacecraft with a sanitization device located in the spacecraft, located in a zero gravity environment, and inside a defined environment in the spacecraft, and the spacecraft having structural elements with a surface the method comprising the steps of:
- providing the sanitization device, the sanitization device comprising a mobile body configured to travel towards and about the surface of the structural elements, and a source of UV radiation mounted to the mobile body and configured to direct UV radiation to the surface at a predetermined dosage and sanitize the surface;
- the mobile body including a first power source for propelling and suspending the device in a space in the spacecraft wherein the mobile body is steerable for negotiating the space in the spacecraft, and in the environment defined by the surface of the structure and negotiating movement of the device in the space defined by the surface of the structure, and a second power source for activating the UV radiation source as the device moves in the zero gravity environment;
- control electronics for regulating the power to the propellers and UV source;
- the body including multiple rotational propellers, a motor for causing rotation of the propellers for imparting a propulsion of the body in different direction as caused by the degree of activation and rotation of the propellers, each propeller being mounted to direct propulsion in a different orthogonal direction relative the other propeller, the propellers being selectively reversible;
- a self-contained attitude stabilization mechanism operable in the zero gravity environment;
- configuring the mobile body to travel towards and about the surface of the structural elements,
- configuring the UV radiation to be directed to the surface at a predetermined dosage to sanitize the surface;
- propelling and suspending the device in the space in the spacecraft;
- steering the mobile body to negotiate the space in the spacecraft, and in the environment defined by the surface of the structure;
- negotiating movement of the device in the space defined by the surface of the structure;
- activating the second power source for the source of UV radiation as the device moves in the zero gravity environment;
- regulating through control electronics the power to the propellers and the UV source;
- and
- attitude stabilizing the device to be operable in the zero gravity environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.