Vehicle mountable robotic and communication systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10814472-B2
Application number	US-201916712953-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2019
Priority date	Feb 27, 2019
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

The disclosure describes vehicle mountable robotic and communication systems and techniques that can facilitate communications between a police officer and a driver within vehicles in a manner that removes the police officer from a proximity of the driver and enables real-time communication between the police officer and the driver. A vehicle mountable robotic and communication system can deliver a communication device from a police vehicle to a driver vehicle so that the police officer and the driver may remain separated during part or all of a traffic stop or other temporary detention. This communication device can provide a sensory or communicative interface to permit the police officer to collect additional information of the environment of the driver and/or permit the police officer and the driver to engage in two-way communication.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle mountable robotic and communication system, comprising:
a communication device configured to:
capture data from an interior and an exterior environment of a first vehicle;
capture user input from an occupant of the first vehicle;
transmit the data and the user input to a second vehicle; and

a delivery device configured to extend the communication device from the second vehicle to the first vehicle and position the communication device proximate to the first vehicle, wherein the delivery device comprises at least one of an extendable linear motion system, a linkage system, a rolling track, or an everted tube.

2. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 1 , wherein the communication device comprises:
an image capture device configured to capture image data from the interior and the exterior environment of the first vehicle;
an audio capture device configured to capture audio data from the interior and the exterior environment of the first vehicle; and
a user interface device.

3. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 2 , wherein the communication device further comprises:
an image output device configured to output real-time image data to the interior and the exterior environment of the first vehicle; and
an audio output device configured to output real-time audio data to the interior and exterior the environment of the first vehicle.

4. The vehicle mountable communication system of claim 2 , wherein the user interface device comprises at least an image scanner or a touch-sensitive panel.

5. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 1 , wherein the communication device further comprises a physical output device.

6. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 5 , wherein the physical output device comprises a printer.

7. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 2 , wherein the communication device further comprises one or more environmental sensors configured to capture environmental data from the interior and the exterior environment of the first vehicle, wherein the environmental data indicates a presence or concentration of an analyte in the interior or the exterior environment of the first vehicle.

8. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery device comprises the extendable linear motion system wherein the extendable linear motion system comprises a plurality of slidable rails, wherein each slidable rail of the plurality of slidable rails is coupled to another slidable rail of the plurality of slidable rails, and wherein at least one slidable rail of the plurality of slidable rails is configured to extend relative to another slidable rail of the plurality of slidable rails in response to receiving a control signal.

9. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 8 , wherein the delivery device further comprises one or more support devices configured to extend from a distal end of the extendable linear motion system to a ground to provide support for the delivery device and the communication device.

10. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more support devices comprises a support wheel.

11. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery device comprises the extendable linear motion system wherein the extendable linear motion system comprises a plurality of concentrically nested rails, wherein each rail of the plurality of rails is nested inside another rail of the plurality of rails, and wherein at least one rail of the plurality of rails is configured to extend relative to another slidable rail of the plurality of rails in response to receiving a control signal.

12. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery device comprises the linkage system, wherein the linkage system comprises a plurality of links, wherein each link of the plurality of links is coupled to another link of the plurality of links by rotary joints, and wherein each link of the plurality of links is configured to pivot into a position in response to receiving a control signal.

13. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 12 , wherein the delivery device comprises one or more support devices configured to extend from the linkage system to the ground.

14. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery device comprises the rolling track, wherein the rolling track is flexibly extendable along a tangential axis of the rolling track, and wherein the rolling track is configured to extend a length in response to receiving a control signal.

15. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery device comprises the everted tube, wherein the everted tube is extendable, and wherein the everted tube is configured to extend a length in response to receiving a control signal.

16. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 15 , wherein the everted tube is inflatable.

17. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 1 , further comprising an immobilization device configured to position in front of a wheel of the first vehicle to prevent the occupant of the first vehicle driving off.

18. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 1 , further comprising a mount configured to secure the delivery device to the second vehicle.

19. The vehicle mountable robotic and communication system of claim 18 , wherein the mount comprises at least one of tie-down bracket or a bull bar.

20. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a delivery device, a control signal from a second vehicle, wherein the delivery device is configured to extend the communication device from the second vehicle to the first vehicle, wherein the delivery device comprises at least one of an extendable linear motion system, a linkage system, a rolling track, or an everted tube;
positioning, by the delivery device and in response to receiving the control signal, a communication device proximate to a first vehicle;
capturing, by the communication device, data from an interior and an exterior environment of the first vehicle;
capturing, by the communication device, user input from an occupant of the first vehicle; and
transmitting, by the communication device, the data and the user input to the second vehicle.

Assignees

• Stanford Res Inst Int

Inventors

• Brewer Reuben

Classifications

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• B25J9/1679

  characterised by the tasks executed · CPC title

• B60R2300/50

  characterised by the display information being shared, e.g. external display, data transfer to other traffic participants or centralised traffic controller · CPC title

• H04R1/028

  associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles · CPC title

• H04N7/141

  between two video terminals, e.g. videophone (telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085) · CPC title