The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 15, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 17, 2000
Nikolaos P. Papanikolopoulos, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Donald G. Krantz, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Richard M. Voyles, North Oaks, MN (US);
John A. Bushey, Eden Prairie, MN (US);
Alan N. Johnson, Chanhassen, MN (US);
Bradley J. Nelson, North Oaks, MN (US);
Paul E. Rybski, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Kathleen A. Griggs, Damascus, MD (US);
Ellison C. Urban, II, Alexandria, VA (US);
Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A robotic vehicle capable of traveling over various terrain and traversing obstacles. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a cylindrical body having two or more drive wheels coupled to the ends thereof. The wheels are selectively powered to propel the vehicle. The vehicle may further include a spring member which may be deflected to a first, stored position from a second, extended position. The spring member may be quickly released from the first, stored position such that it strikes the terrain with sufficient force to lift and propel the vehicle over or onto a proximate obstacle or object. Robotic vehicles of the present invention may also include one or more sensing devices operable to collect information. Electronics may further permit autonomous, semi-autonomous, and/or remote control of the vehicle. In still other embodiments, the robotic vehicle forms part of a multi-robot surveillance team. The robotic vehicles may be delivered to the desired location through the use of a deployment and communication apparatus which, in one embodiment, is a larger robotic vehicle. The deployment and communication apparatus may form part of the communication system between the robotic vehicles and a remote workstation.