Miniature robotic vehicles and methods of controlling same

A ground-engaging robotic vehicle, comprising:

• a body;
• two or more rotatable, ground-engaging wheels coupled to the body, the ground-engaging wheels operable to propel the robotic vehicle across a surface;
• a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, deflected position and a second, undetected position;
• and
• a retraction apparatus operable to position the spring member in the first, deflected position, the second, undeflected position, or anywhere in between.

A method of traversing an obstacle with a ground-engaging robotic vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, comprising:
• a body;
• at least a first and a second ground-engaging wheel operatively coupled to the body;
• and
• a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, deflected position and a second, undeflected position;
• and
• locating the ground-engaging robotic vehicle upon a surface proximate an obstacle;
• and
• positioning the spring member in the first, deflected position;
• releasing the spring member from the first, deflected position, whereby the spring member strikes the surface with sufficient force to propel the ground-engaging vehicle over or onto the obstacle.

A method of delivering one or more ground-engaging robotic vehicles to a desired location, the method comprising:

• providing at least one ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, comprising:
• a body;
• at least a first and a second ground-engaging wheel operatively coupled to the body;
• and
• a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, deflected position and a second, undeflected position;
• providing a delivery apparatus operable to hold the at least one ground-engaging robotic vehicle;
• and
• delivering the at least one ground-engaging robotic vehicle to the desired location with the delivery apparatus.

A robotic system, comprising:

• at least one ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, comprising:
• a body,
• at least a first and a second ground-engaging wheel operatively coupled to the body, and
• a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, deflected position and a second, undeflected position;
• and
• a remote workstation adapted to wirelessly communicate with the at least one ground-engaging robotic vehicle.

A method for guiding a ground-engaging robotic vehicle to the darkest portion of a predetermined area, the method comprising:

• providing a ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, comprising:
• a body,
• two or more ground-engaging wheels operatively coupled to the body, and
• camera coupled to the body;
• capturing a first image with the camera;
• rotating the camera by a discrete increment;
• capturing a second image with the camera;
• comparing one or more characteristics of the first image and the second image;
• and
• moving the robotic vehicle in a direction based on the comparing of one or more characteristics.

A ground-engaging robotic vehicle, comprising:

• a cylindrically shaped body;
• two or more ground-engaging members coupled to the body, the ground-engaging members operable to propel the robotic vehicle across a surface;
• and
• a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable,between at least a first, stored position and a second, extended position.

A ground-engaging robotic vehicle, comprising:

• a body;
• two or more ground-engaging members coupled to the body, the ground-engaging members operable to propel the robotic vehicle across a surface;
• a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, stored position and a second, extended position;
• and
• control circuits associated with the body, the control circuits operable to permit remote control of the vehicle.

A method for traversing one or more surfaces with a ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a ground-engaging, robotic vehicle, comprising:
• a body,
• at least a first and a second ground-engaging member operatively coupled to the body, and
• a spring member coupled to the body, the spring member movable between at least a first, stored position and a second, extended position;
• energizing one or both of the first and second ground-engaging members so that the ground-engaging robotic vehicle is propelled across a surface;
• and
• releasing the spring member from the first, stored position and striking the surface, with the spring member, with sufficient force to lift the robotic vehicle from the surface.