Jennifer B Herron

US Patent:

7235046, Jun 26, 2007

Filed:

Jan 9, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/327391

Inventors:

David Jerry Anhalt - Littleton CO, US
Jennifer Blair Herron - Littleton CO, US

Assignee:

Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA

International Classification:

A61B 1/008
B62D 55/00

US Classification:

600142, 600139, 600141, 180 91

Abstract:

An apparatus comprises a body having a torus skin with inner and outer layers, and a drive system configured to propel the apparatus by moving the inner layer relative to the outer layer. The active skin propulsion system allows movement and steering of a device. A drive system includes a plurality of drive segments coupled together so that the skin engaging unit of the drive segment frictionally moves the inner layer of the torus skin relative to the outer layer of the torus skin. As a result of the relative skin motion and contact with the surface by the outer layer of the torus skin, the body is propelled and may be steered.

US Patent:

7387179, Jun 17, 2008

Filed:

Jan 9, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/327390

Inventors:

David Jerry Anhalt - Littleton CO, US
Jennifer Blair Herron - Littleton CO, US

Assignee:

Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA

International Classification:

B62D 55/07

US Classification:

180 91, 446278, 600142, 600146

Abstract:

An apparatus comprises a body having a torus skin with inner and outer layers, and a drive system configured to propel the apparatus by moving the inner layer relative to the outer layer. The active skin propulsion system allows movement and steering of a device. A drive system includes a plurality of drive segments coupled together so that the skin engaging unit of the drive segment frictionally moves the inner layer of the torus skin relative to the outer layer of the torus skin. As a result of the relative skin motion and contact with the surface by the outer layer of the torus skin, the body is propelled and may be steered.

US Patent:

20060070775, Apr 6, 2006

Filed:

Jun 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/462789

Inventors:

David Anhalt - Littleton CO, US
Jennifer Herron - Littleton CO, US

Assignee:

Science Applications International Corporation - San Diego CA

International Classification:

B62D 55/00

US Classification:

180009100

Abstract:

An apparatus comprises a body having a torus skin with inner and outer layers, and a drive system configured to propel the apparatus by moving the inner layer relative to the outer layer. The active skin propulsion system allows movement and steering of a device. A drive system includes a plurality of drive segments coupled together so that the skin engaging unit of the drive segment frictionally moves the inner layer of the torus skin relative to the outer layer of the torus skin. As a result of the relative skin motion and contact with the surface by the outer layer of the torus skin, the body is propelled and may be steered.