Robotic with depth finding capability and method of using

A pair of mutually opposed grippers mounted to a body of a robot,

• the robot having a microcontroller for controlling the mutually opposed grippers,
• the mutually opposed grippers being symmetrically opposite about a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction orthogonal thereto,
• the grippers being openable and closable in response to commands from an operator and comprising:
• respective proximal ends joined to the robot body and corresponding distal ends remote therefrom;
• a lateral sensor disposed on at least one gripper and configured to quantitatively determine a lateral separation distance between the mutually opposed grippers;
• the opposed grippers moving fore and aft in the longitudinal direction responsive to an operator closing and opening the opposed grippers;
• whereby the sensor determines a first lateral separation distance between the grippers, the separation distance being determinative of a first longitudinal distance between the body and the distal ends of the grippers;
• and a known relationship associated with the mutually opposed grippers for converting the lateral separation distance to the longitudinal distance;
• wherein the microcontroller determines the longitudinal distance from the known relationship and transmits an indicium of the longitudinal distance to a remote operator.

A method of manipulating an ordnance, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a robot having a body, a tread operably associated with the body and suitable for locomotion of the robot across the ground responsive to mechanical input from a motor and a pair of mutually opposed grippers extending outwardly of the body to respective distal ends spaced longitudinally forward thereof,
• the grippers being mutually openable and closable in the lateral direction responsive to commands from an operator and thereby dynamically defining a separation distance therebetween,
• the opposed grippers having a lateral sensor thereon to determine the separation distance;
• whereby opening or closing the grippers automatically sends a first signal from the robot to a remote operator indicating a first longitudinal distance between the body and the respective distal ends of the grippers, wherein the first longitudinal distance is determined based on a known relationship between the separation distance and the first longitudinal distance;
• providing a first indicium discernable by an operator and quantitatively indicating to the operator a second longitudinal distance from the distal ends of the opposed grippers to a front edge of the ordnance;
• advancing the robot towards and into proximity of an ordnance to be manipulated;
• extending the mutually opposed grippers towards the ordnance until a first predetermined distance therefrom is reached;
• and alerting the operator via the first indicium that the first predetermined distance has been reached.