Two wheeled robot with enhanced climbing features

Abstract

A robot has an electronic surveillance system embedded within a chassis disposed between two wheels. The wheels include a main body and a plurality of treads. The treads are generally disposed radially around the main body and extend distally from outer portion of the main body. The main body generally defines a plurality of compression cells and may present a substantially frustoconical outer surface.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 121,141 filed Dec. 9, 2008, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to robotic vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to remotely controlled robots having wheeled mobility with improved climbing capabilities for use in surveillance activities.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Electronic reconnaissance, surveillance, and security monitoring activities (hereinafter referred to collectively as “electronic surveillance”) have become an integral investigation tool for both military and civilian organizations alike. While by no means a complete list, tasks such as hostage rescue, terrorist response, drug raids, building searches, facility monitoring, and site contamination investigation may all benefit from information provided by surveillance systems.[0004]Such electronic surveillance may be by ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]A surveillance robot according to an embodiment of the present invention substantially meets the aforementioned needs of the industry. The surveillance robot comprises two wheels coupled to opposite ends of a body. The wheels provide improved mobility by enhancing the climbing capabilities of the surveillance robot. In an embodiment, each wheel includes a main portion with paddles extending outwardly from the main portion. The paddles include a stabilizer oriented radially outwardly the main portion of the tire and a contact pad that is oriented at a forward angle with respect to the stabilizer.

[0010]A feature and advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is that the paddles deflect radially inward when on a surface and when driving on the surface, and when climbing, the hook shape may extent radially outward to a straighter position that provides an extending gripping action of an object that the robot is climbing over.

[0011]A feature and advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is that the radially inward deflection of the paddles when the vehicle is driving forward smooths out the ride of the housing and consequently smooths out the video being transmitted.

[0012]A feature and advantage of certain embodiments of the invention is that the paddles provide enhanced climbing ability beyond what normal tires and treads would provide. Moreover, the arcuate shaped paddles provide better-smoother performance on video capture and transmission.

Problems solved by technology

A major drawback of such wheels, however, is a limited climbing ability.

Cost and functionality-related constraints, however, generally do not permit the use of wheels having a radius above a certain size.

For example, wheels that are too large would increase weight, visibility, and throwing difficulty, all of which would detract from the overall effectiveness of the robot.

As a result, wheel size cannot be indefinitely increased as a means to improve the climbing ability of surveillance robots.

As a result, the robots are thrown by the user across a certain distance from a safe location to another, possibly dangerous location.

The impact resulting from the robot striking an object such a wall or the ground can potentially harm the electronic component.

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