US 5,350,033 A · Robotic inspection vehicle

Abstract

A remotely controllable robotic inspection vehicle includes a fixed housing which can accommodate a number of modular inspection and/or robotic arm components. The base unit includes two drive and two free castering wheels arranged in an independently articulating configuration which insures that at least three of the wheels are in a supporting position at all times and that the drive wheels always have traction. Thus, when small objects, such as construction debris, uneven floors, etc., are encountered, the vehicle easily traverses them with no danger of tipping or loss of traction. The two drive wheels are independently powered, which permits the vehicle to be rotated in a very small confined space about the same diameter as the width of the vehicle. A centrally mounted, modular telescoping camera assembly includes a camera which can be raised and lowered as well as rotated in the vertical and horizontal planes and/or a modular robotic arm. The vehicle can be lowered into remote areas, such as underground transformer housings, etc. to perform inspections and repairs.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A robotic inspection vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle housing;
(b) an articulating support and drive assembly including four wheels, said assembly being adapted to support said vehicle by maintaining at least three of said wheels in a supporting position when said vehicle is traversing an obstacle;
(c) environmental monitoring means for sensing ambient conditions around said vehicle, said monitoring means being mounted on said vehicle housing;
and
(d) means for shifting the center of gravity of said vehicle over the three wheels which are in a supporting position when said vehicle is traversing said obstacle.

2 more elements

A robotic vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle housing;
(b) an articulating support and drive assembly including four wheels, said assembly including:
(i) first and second drive wheels, each of which are independently powered;
(ii) first and second support wheels with said first support wheel positioned in front of said drive wheels and said second support wheel positioned behind said drive wheels;
(iii) a platform which is adapted to be pivotable with respect to said vehicle housing, said first support wheel and both of said drive wheels being rigidly attached to said pivotable platform;
(d) said second support wheel being rigidly connected to said vehicle housing;
whereby
(e) when said first support wheel encounters an object, said platform pivots upward relative to said housing such that said first support wheel is raised.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Robotic inspection vehicle

Life of this patent

Robotic inspection vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28