Brian C Wilcox

US Patent:

6488105, Dec 3, 2002

Filed:

Jan 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/477499

Inventors:

Brian Wilcox - La Canada CA

Assignee:

California Institute of Technology - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

E21B 1036

US Classification:

175298, 175305, 175 19

Abstract:

A subsurface explorer (SSX) for exploring beneath the terrestrial surface of planetary bodies such as the Earth, Mars, or comets. This exploration activity utilizes appropriate sensors and instrument to evaluate the composition, structure, mineralogy and possibly biology of the subsurface medium, as well as perhaps the ability to return samples of that medium back to the surface. The vehicle comprises an elongated skin or body having a front end and a rear end, with a nose piece at the front end for imparting force to composition material of the planetary body. Force is provided by a hammer mechanism to the back side of a nose piece from within the body of the vehicle. In the preferred embodiment, a motor spins an intermediate shaft having two non-uniform threads along with a hammer which engages these threads with two conical rollers. A brake assembly halts the rotation of the intermediate shaft, causing the conical roller to spin down the non-uniform thread to rapidly and efficiently convert the rotational kinetic energy of the hammer into translational energy.

US Patent:

6697710, Feb 24, 2004

Filed:

Mar 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/227652

Inventors:

Brian Wilcox - La Canada CA

Assignee:

California Institute of Technology - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

G06F 1900

US Classification:

700245, 700248, 700257, 700258, 700259, 700266, 700281, 385100, 385101, 385102, 385103, 385105, 385106, 385107, 385109, 385110, 385112, 385113, 4051835, 4051501, 405132, 318 16, 31856822, 324238, 324240, 324242, 367 25, 367 69, 367 86, 73623

Abstract:

A gas pipe explorer formed of a plurality of connecting elements, and an articulation element between the connected elements. The connected elements include drive capabilities, and the articulation element allows the connected elements to traverse gas pipes of arbitrary shapes and sizes. A sensor may sends the characteristics of the gas pipe, and the communication element may send back those sends characteristics. The communication can be wired, over a tether connecting the device to a remote end. Alternatively, the connection can be wireless, driven by either a generator or a battery.

US Patent:

7836633, Nov 23, 2010

Filed:

Jan 31, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/023397

Inventors:

Brian H. Wilcox - La Canada CA, US

Assignee:

Brian and Cynthia Wilcox Trust - La Canada CA

International Classification:

A01G 31/00
A01G 9/08

US Classification:

47 59R, 47 101 R

Abstract:

A robotic ocean farm includes a plant support means such as a grid, with a submersible towing system incorporating means for navigation of the support grid in the open ocean, and means for positioning of the support grid in a first surfaced position for sunlight exposure of the plants and a second submerged position for nutrient gathering by the plants. The submersible towing system incorporates one or more tow boats connected to a forward periphery of the grid, each of the tow boats incorporating a propulsion system for navigation of the grid and maintaining lateral tension in the forward periphery of the grid. Additionally, one or more reaction boats are connected to an aft periphery of the grid. Each of the reaction boats incorporates a propulsion system for maintaining lateral tension in the aft periphery of the grid and reacting in concert with the tow boats to maintain longitudinal tension in the grid. A system for harvesting multiple independently operating farms incorporates a harvesting station which is placed or positions itself to meet the farms at predetermined locations during their voyage to harvest and replenish the plants carried on the farm grid.

US Patent:

7905055, Mar 15, 2011

Filed:

Aug 30, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/871533

Inventors:

Brian H. Wilcox - La Canada CA, US

Assignee:

The Brian and Cynthia Wilcox Trust - La Canada CA

International Classification:

A01G 31/00
A01G 9/08

US Classification:

47 59R, 47 101 R

Abstract:

A robotic ocean farm includes a plant support means such as a grid, with a submersible towing system incorporating means for navigation of the support grid in the open ocean, and means for positioning of the support grid in a first surfaced position for sunlight exposure of the plants and a second submerged position for nutrient gathering by the plants. The submersible towing system incorporates one or more tow boats connected to a forward periphery of the grid, each of the tow boats incorporating a propulsion system for navigation of the grid and maintaining lateral tension in the forward periphery of the grid. Additionally, one or more reaction boats are connected to an aft periphery of the grid. Each of the reaction boats incorporates a propulsion system for maintaining lateral tension in the aft periphery of the grid and reacting in concert with the tow boats to maintain longitudinal tension in the grid. A system for harvesting multiple independently operating farms incorporates a harvesting station which is placed or positions itself to meet the farms at predetermined locations during their voyage to harvest and replenish the plants carried on the farm grid.

US Patent:

D4135512, Sep 7, 1999

Filed:

Jan 28, 1998

Appl. No.:

D/084039

Inventors:

Brian H. Wilcox - La Canada CA
Annette K. Nasif - La Crescenta CA

Assignee:

California Institute of Technology - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

1214

US Classification:

D12 1

US Patent:

47501448, Jun 7, 1988

Filed:

Dec 31, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/815106

Inventors:

Brian Wilcox - Tujunga CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06F 1534

US Classification:

364728

Abstract:

A 3-by-3 convolver utilizes 9 binary arithmetic units (10) connected in cascade for multiplying 12-bit binary pixel values p. sub. i which are positive or two's complement binary numbers by 5-bit magnitude (plus sign) weights w. sub. i which may be positive or negative. The weights are stored in registers (13, 14 and 15) including the sign bits (shown separately for convenience). For a negative weight, the one's complement of the pixel value to be multiplied is formed at each unit by a bank of exclusive OR gates under control of the sign of the corresponding weight w. sub. i, and a correction is made by adding the sum of the absolute values of all the negative weights for each 3. times. 3 kernel. Since this correction value remains constant as long as the weights are constant, it can be precomputed and stored in a register (16) as a value to be added to the product PW of the first arithmetic unit.

US Patent:

61128430, Sep 5, 2000

Filed:

Nov 7, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/966104

Inventors:

Brian H. Wilcox - La Canada CA
Annette K. Nasif - Glendale CA

Assignee:

California Institute of Technology - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

B60K 1700

US Classification:

180345

Abstract:

A vehicle, for driving over a ground surface, has a body with a left side, a right side, a front and a back. The vehicle includes left and right drive mechanisms. Each mechanism includes first and second traction elements for engaging the ground surface and transmitting a driving force between the vehicle and ground surface. Each mechanism includes first and second arms coupled to the first and second traction elements for relative rotation about first and second axis respectively. Each mechanism includes a rotor having a third axis, the rotor coupled to the body for rotation about the third axis and coupled to the first and second arms for relative rotation about the third axis. The mechanism includes first and second drive motors for driving the first and second traction elements and first and second transmissions, driven by the first and second motors and engaging is the rotor. Driving the first and second traction elements simultaneously rotates the rotor relative to the first and second arms, respectively.

US Patent:

47900261, Dec 6, 1988

Filed:

Dec 31, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/815103

Inventors:

Donald B. Gennery - Glendale CA
Brian Wilcox - Tujunga CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06K 954

US Classification:

382 49

Abstract:

A pipelined image processor selectively interconnects modules in a column of a two-dimensional array to modules of the next column of the array of modules 1,1 through M,N, where M is the number of modules in one dimension and N is the number of modules in the other direction. Each module includes two input selectors (10,11) for A and B inputs, two convolvers (12,13), a binary function operator (15), a neighborhood comparison operator (14) which produces an A output and an output selector (16) which may select as a B output the output of any one of the components in the module, including the A output of the neighborhood comparison operator. Each module may be connected to as many as eight modules in the next column, preferably with the majority always in a different row that is up (or down) in the array for a generally spiral data path around the torus thus formed. The binary function operator (15) is implemented as a look-up table (20) addressed by the most significant 8 bits of each 12-bit argument. The table output includes a function value and the slopes for interpolation of the two arguments by multiplying the 4 least significant bits in multipliers (21) and (22) and adding the products to the function value through adders (23) and (24).