# US 12,224,847 B2 · Communication system with dual mode relay sensor delivery > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,224,847 B2 - Document ID: US12224847B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/936,964 - Filed: 2022-09-30 - Published: 2023-07-13 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-11 - Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force - Applicants: Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force - Inventors: Spencer Flint; Erin Leslie; Nathaniel Bowen; Michael Anderson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12224847B2 ## CPC - H04B 7/18504: {Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform} - B64C 39/024: {of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV} - B64U 70/90: Launching from or landing on platforms - G05D 1/0022: {characterised by the communication link (data switching networks in general H04L12/00)} - G05D 1/0094: {involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target} - G05D 1/226: Communication links with the remote-control arrangements - B64U 2101/00: UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications - B64U 2101/30: for imaging, photography or videography - B64U 2101/60: for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons - H04B: TRANSMISSION - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES ## Abstract A communication system for sending surveillance signals in a hostile environment to an operator. The communication system comprises a plurality of relay sensors to transceive collected data between sequential relay sensors and ultimately to an operator. The communication system has a tractor for dispensing plural relay sensors throughout the hostile environment. The sensors may be dispensed by an elevator to a position where a relay sensor can be retrieved by a drone for placement to maintain line of sight communication. And relay sensors can be dispensed directly from the tractor to the ground or water. Direct dispensing of the relay sensors can occur through a hole in tractor or off a ramp. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A communication system for sending surveillance signals from a hostile environment to an operator, the system comprising: an operably movable tractor having a longitudinal axis and being movable in a forward direction, the tractor having a floor pan with a front edge and a rear edge opposed thereto; at least one relay sensor for transmitting communication signals disposed on the floor pan, wherein the at least one relay sensor comprises a vertical stack of a plurality of relay sensors with a bottom relay sensor disposed on the floor pan; at least one ground relay sensor dispensing mechanism on the floor pan for conveying at least one relay sensor from the tractor to the ground, wherein the at least one ground relay sensor comprises a linear actuator configured to urge the bottom relay sensor towards a ground conveyance declivity; a microcontroller for controlling the relay sensor dispensing mechanism and movement of the tractor; and a drone independently movable with respect to the tractor, the drone being configured to retrieve a relay sensor from the ground and to place that relay sensor at another location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A communication system according to claim 1 wherein the ground conveyance declivity comprises an articulable ramp, the ramp being articulable from an upright position for transport of the tractor to a deployed position for declination of a relay sensor from the floor pan of the tractor to the ground, the ramp having a proximal end juxtaposed with the rear edge of the floor pan and a distal end configured to reach the ground in the deployed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A communication system according to claim 1 wherein the ground conveyance declivity comprises a hole through the floor pan, the hole being sized to permit passage of a respective relay sensor therethrough. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A communication system according to claim 1 wherein the linear actuator has a ram suitable for being in a retracted position during transport and actuating to an extended position for moving a relay sensor from the plurality of relay sensors towards one of a hole through the floor pan or a ramp articulable from a proximal end so that a distal end thereof can reach the ground. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A communication system according to claim 4 further comprising a baffle intermediate the ram and the ground conveyance declivity, the baffle being configured to provide lateral support for the vertical stack of relay sensors and having a slot for allowing the bottom relay sensor of the vertical stack to pass therethrough towards the ground conveyance declivity in response to urging by the ram of the linear actuator. ### Claim 6 A communication system for sending surveillance signals from a hostile environment to an operator, the system comprising: an operably movable tractor having a longitudinal axis and being movable in a forward direction, the tractor having a floor pan with a front edge and a rear edge opposed thereto and a platform above the floor pan suitable for landing a complementary drone thereon; at least two spaced apart relay sensors for transmitting communication signals; a first vertical stack of relay sensors disposed in an elevator configured to incrementally raise the relay sensors upwards towards the platform; a second stack of relay sensors juxtaposed with a baffle configured to provide lateral support therefor, the baffle further having a slot to allow passage therethrough of a relay sensor at the bottom of the second stack and towards a ground conveyance declivity in response to urging by a ram of a linear actuator disposed on the floor pan; a microcontroller for independently controlling tractor movement, the elevator and the linear actuator; and a drone independently movable with respect to the tractor, the drone being configured to land on the platform and to retrieve a relay sensor from the ground and to place that relay sensor at another location. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A communication system according to claim 6 wherein the elevator and linear actuator are simultaneously operable to deliver a first relay sensor to an elevation at or above the platform to be retrieved by the drone and to urge a second relay sensor towards a ground conveyance declivity for conveyance to the ground, respectively. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A communication system according to claim 7 wherein the ground conveyance declivity comprises an articulable ramp, the ramp being articulable from an upright position for transport of the tractor to a deployed position for declination of a relay sensor from the floor pan of the tractor to the ground, the ramp having a proximal end juxtaposed with the rear edge of the floor pan and a distal end configured to reach the ground in the deployed position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A communication system according to claim 7 wherein the ground conveyance declivity comprises a hole through the floor pan, the hole being sized to permit passage of a respective relay sensor therethrough. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A communication system according to claim 7 wherein one of the drone and the first relay sensor has an electromagnet and the other of the first relay sensor and drone has a complementary surface for attraction thereto whereby activation of the electromagnet causes the drone to pick up and carry the first relay sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) A communication system according to claim 7 wherein the ram of the linear actuator is extendable towards the rear edge of the floor pan. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A communication system according to claim 11 wherein the ram of the linear actuator is extendable parallel to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 13 A communication system for sending surveillance signals from a hostile environment to an operator, the system comprising: an operably movable tractor having a longitudinal axis and being movable in a forward direction, the tractor having a floor pan with a front edge and a rear edge opposed thereto; at least one relay sensor for transmitting communication signals disposed on the floor pan; a first linear actuator having a ram extendable towards a hole through the floor pan; a first vertical stack of relay sensors juxtaposed with the first linear actuator whereby extension of the ram pushes a first relay sensor from the first stack to the hole whereby the first relay sensor can fall through the hole; a second linear actuator having a ram extendable towards a ramp, the ramp being articulable from an upright position to a deployed position whereby a relay sensor thereon can slide down the ramp; a second vertical stack of relay sensors juxtaposed with the second linear actuator whereby extension of the ram pushes a first relay sensor from the second stack to the articulable ramp whereby the second relay sensor can travel down the ramp; at least one ground relay sensor dispensing mechanism on the floor pan for conveying at least one relay sensor from the tractor to the ground; a microcontroller for controlling the first linear actuator, the second linear actuator and movement of the tractor; and a drone independently movable with respect to the tractor, the drone being configured to retrieve a relay sensor dispensed through the hole or down the ramp and to place that relay sensor at another location. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A communication system according to claim 13 wherein the first linear actuator and second linear actuator are operable in opposed directions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A communication system according to claim 13 wherein the first linear actuator and the second linear actuator are simultaneously actuatable while the tractor is in motion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A communication system according to claim 13 whereby the articulable ramp has a proximal edge juxtaposed with and articulable from the rear edge of the floor pan. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A communication system according to claim 16 further comprising a first baffle supporting the first stack of relay sensors and disposed intermediate the first stack of relay sensors and the hole and further comprising a second baffle supporting the second stack of relay sensors and disposed intermediate the second stack of relay sensors and the proximal edge of the ramp. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A communication system according to claim 17 wherein the second vertical stack of relay sensors is juxtaposed with a third vertical stack of relay sensors, whereby the second ram is actuatable to urge a relay sensor form the bottom of the third stack onto the ramp when the ramp is in a deployed position.