Remotely controlled robot
AssigneeFoster-Miller, Inc.
InventorsDavid C. Meeker, Timothy J. Mason, Richard Wiesman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A battery powered remotely controlled robot is equipped with a drive subsystem for ground travel, a flight subsystem for flight operations, and an obstacle detection subsystem. The robot is configured so that during a mission the drive subsystem is energized to maneuver the robot on the ground for a majority of the mission. The robot is further configured so that upon detection of an obstacle, the flight subsystem is energized to traverse the obstacle. The fight subsystem is energized only to traverse obstacles thus saving battery power and increasing the mission time.
Claims36
A method comprising:
- equipping a remotely controlled robot with a drive subsystem for ground travel, a flight subsystem for flight operations, and an obstacle detection subsystem;
- configuring the robot so that during a mission, the drive subsystem is energized to maneuver the robot on the ground for a majority of the mission;
- configuring the robot so that upon detection of an obstacle, the flight subsystem is energized to traverse the obstacle;
- and
- configuring the robot so that the flight subsystem is energized only to traverse obstacles saving energy and increasing the mission time.
A remotely controlled robot comprising:
- robot body;
- a drive subsystem for ground travel of the robot body;
- a flight subsystem for flight operations of the robot body;
- an obstacle detection subsystem;
- a subsystem for powering the drive subsystem and the flight subsystem;
- and
- a controller subsystem responsive to the obstacle detection subsystem and configured to:
- upon detection of an obstacle, energize the flight subsystem to traverse the obstacle, and
- in the absence of a detected obstacle, energize the drive subsystem for ground travel of the robot body to save energy and to increase mission time.
A method comprising:
- equipping a battery powered remotely controlled robot with a drive subsystem for ground travel, a flight subsystem for flight operations, and an obstacle detection subsystem;
- energizing the drive system during a mission to maneuver the robot on the ground for a majority of the mission;
- upon detection of an obstacle, the energizing flight subsystem to traverse the obstacle;
- and
- energizing the flight subsystems only to traverse obstacles saving battery power and increasing the mission time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.