IP Library Granted Patent US 8,884,763
Granted Patent B2
US 8,884,763 · App. 11/905,624 · Granted Nov 11, 2014

Threat detection sensor suite

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,884,763
App. No.
11/905,624
Granted
Nov 11, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensor suite for a vehicle, the sensor suite comprising a 3D imaging system, a video camera, and one or more environmental sensors. Data from the sensor suite is combined to detect and identify threats during a structure clearing or inspection operation. Additionally, a method for detecting and identifying threats during a structure clearing or inspection operation. The method comprises: gathering 3D image data including object range, volume, and geometry; gathering video data in the same physical geometry of the 3D image; gathering non-visual environmental characteristic data; and combining and analyzing the gathered data to detect and identify threats.

Claims (12)

1. A method for detecting and identifying threats during a structure clearing or inspection operation performed with an autonomous remote vehicle, the method comprising:

mounting a self-contained threat detection sensor suite payload on the remote vehicle, the threat detection sensor suite comprising a processor configured to run executable software for performing autonomous and semi-autonomous behaviors for the structure clearing or inspection operation;

detecting a target;

identifying that the target is of interest;

moving toward the target until any legible markings can be determined;

determining legible markings, wherein determining legible markings is accomplished by optical character recognition;

moving close enough to the target that one or more environmental sensors can sense environmental characteristics of the target;

gathering environmental characteristic data with the one or more environmental sensors; and

combining and analyzing data gathered to identify the target.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying that the target is of interest includes identifying its geometry as determined using 3D imaging and video.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein moving close enough to the target is achieved by autonomous navigation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the target comprises classifying the target as a threat.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2019
From: ENDEAVOR ROBOTICS, INC.
To: FLIR DETECTION, INC.
Reel/Frame 049244/0515 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 7, 2019
From: IROBOT DEFENSE HOLDINGS, INC.
To: ENDEAVOR ROBOTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049837/0810 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2016
From: IROBOT CORPORATION
To: IROBOT DEFENSE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040205/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2016
From: IROBOT DEFENSE HOLDINGS, INC.; ENDEAVOR ROBOTIC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 038365/0900 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2008
From: HUDSON, EDISON; LENSER, SCOTT; KIRIGIN, IVAN
To: IROBOT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021598/0911 →