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:
Sep. 20, 2011
Filed:
Jan. 18, 2006
Carlos F. Reverte, Miami, FL (US);
Scott M. Thayer, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
William Whittaker, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Eric C. Close, Sewickley, PA (US);
Adam Slifko, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Edison Hudson, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Subramanian Vallapuzha, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Carlos F. Reverte, Miami, FL (US);
Scott M. Thayer, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
William Whittaker, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Eric C. Close, Sewickley, PA (US);
Adam Slifko, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Edison Hudson, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Subramanian Vallapuzha, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
RedZone Robotics, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
An autonomous inspector mobile platform robot that is used to inspect a pipe or network of pipes. The robot includes a locomotion device that enables the device to autonomously progress through the pipe and accurately track its pose and odometry during movement. At the same time, image data is autonomously captured to detail the interior portions of the pipe. Images are taken at periodic intervals using a wide angle lens, and additional video images may be captured at locations of interest. Either onboard or offboard the device, each captured image is unwarped (if necessary) and combined with images of adjacent pipe sections to create a complete image of the interior features of the inspected pipe. Optional features include additional sensors and measurement devices, various communications systems to communicate with an end node or the surface, and/or image compression software.