Inspection robot with stability assist device

US11673272B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Gecko Robotics, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Mark Loosararian · Glenshaw, US
• Michael A. Binger · Pittsburgh, US
• Edward A. Bryner · Pittsburgh, US
• Edwin H. Cho · Pittsburgh, US
• Mark Cho · Pittsburgh, US
• Alexander R. Cuti · Cincinnati, US
• Ignacio J. Cordova · Pittsburgh, US
• Benjamin A. Guise · Pittsburgh, US
• Dillon R. Jourde · Pittsburgh, US
• Kevin Y. Low · Pittsburgh, US
• Logan MacKenzie · Penn Hills, US
• Joshua Moore · Pittsburgh, US
• Jeffrey J. Mrkonich · Pittsburgh, US
• William J. Pridgen · Pittsburgh, US
• Domenic P. Rodriguez · Pittsburgh, US
• Francesco H. Trogu · Pittsburgh, US
• Alex C. Watt · Colfax, US
• Yizhu Gu · Pittsburgh, US
• Ian Miller · Aspinwall, US
• Todd Joslin · Wexford, US
• Katherine Virginia Denner · Pittsburgh, US
• Michael Stephen Auda · Pittsburgh, US
• Samuel Theodore Westenberg · Pittsburgh, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 9, 2020
• Grant date: Jun 13, 2023
• Expiry date: Oct 10, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05D1/0038
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An inspection robot incudes a robot body, at least two sensors, a drive module, a stability assist device and an actuator. The at least two sensors are positioned to interrogate an inspection surface and are communicatively coupled to the robot body. The drive module includes at least two wheels that engage the inspection surface. The drive module is coupled to the robot body. The stability assist device is coupled to at least one of the robot body or the drive module. The actuator is coupled to the stability assist device at a first end, and coupled to one of the drive module or the robot body at a second end. The actuator is structured to selectively move the stability assist device between a first position and a second position. The first position includes a stored position. The second position includes a deployed position.