Method and System for Deploying a Surveillance Network

Abstract

A method and system for gathering information from and setting up a surveillance network within an earth-surface environment that includes inserting one or more mobile robotic devices having a sensing subsystem, a communications subsystem, and a navigation subsystem into an earth-surface environment. The mobile robotic device may be configured into a traveling pose selected from a plurality of available traveling poses, and directed using the navigation subsystem to a sensing location within the earth-surface environment. The environment may be monitored and sensed information collected may be stored or communicated to a remote location. The mobile robotic device may be configured to operate with a vehicle carrier to facilitate insertion and deployment of the robotic vehicle into the earth-surface environment.

1 . A method for gathering information from within an earth-surface environment, comprising:
 inserting at least one mobile robotic device into an earth-surface environment, wherein the at least one mobile robotic device further comprises:   a sensing subsystem;   a communications subsystem; and   a navigation subsystem;   configuring the at least one mobile robotic device into a traveling pose selected from a plurality of available traveling poses;   directing the at least one mobile robotic device with the navigation subsystem to a sensing location within the earth-surface environment;   operating the sensing subsystem to sense the earth-surface environment using sensors deployed by each of the plurality of mobile robotic devices; and   facilitating the retrieval of information obtained from the sensing subsystem.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising depositing at least one utility pod within the earth-surface environment. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one utility pod is selected from the group consisting of a sensor pod, a communications relay pod, an explosives pod, an alarm pod, a recording pod, an incapacitating pod, a concealment pod, an effector pod, and any combination of these. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising retrieving the at least one utility pod from the earth-surface environment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting the at least one mobile robotic device comprises deploying the at least one mobile robotic device to the earth-surface environment using a carrier vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the carrier vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a ground vehicle, an aircraft, a balloon, a boat, a submarine, and any combination of these. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the carrier vehicle comprises a projectile that houses the at least one mobile robotic device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the projectile is self-powered. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising packaging the at least one robotic device as configured within a deployment configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein deploying the at least one mobile robotic device comprises dropping the at least one mobile robotic device from an airborne carrier vehicle into the earth-surface environment, wherein the robotic device further comprises a fall preservation device selected from the group consisting of a fall arresting device, a flight control device, an impact absorbing device, and any combination of these. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of available traveling poses are selected from the group consisting of a tank pose, a train pose, an outside-climbing pose, and an inside climbing pose. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein operating the sensing subsystem comprises at least one of the following:
 sensing electromagnetic radiation from the earth-surface environment;   sensing acoustic energy from the earth-surface environment;   imaging the earth-surface environment;   sensing vibration within the earth-surface environment;   sampling materials from within the earth-surface environment; and   sensing a disturbance resulting from an emission introduced into the earth-surface environment from the robotic device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting the at least one mobile robotic device within the earth-surface environment comprises placement of the robotic device by one or more living subjects. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein inserting the at least one mobile robotic device comprises launching a projectile into the earth-surface environment, wherein the projectile houses the mobile robotic device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating the retrieval of the information obtained from the sensing subsystem comprises communicating the information to a remote location. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating the retrieval of the information obtained from the sensing subsystem comprises storing the information on a memory storage device. 
     
     
         17 . A method of concealing a surveillance network within a earth-surface environment comprising:
 configuring a mobile robotic device into a deployment pose operable with a carrier vehicle to deploy the robotic device;   operating the carrier vehicle to insert a the mobile robotic device into a earth-surface environment;   configuring the mobile robotic device into a traveling pose selected from a plurality of available traveling poses;   directing the mobile robotic device to a plurality of different concealed sensing locations within the earth-surface environment;   sensing information about the earth-surface environment using sensors deployed by the mobile robotic device; and   communicating the information from the plurality of sensors to a remote location.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein configuring the mobile robotic device into a deployment pose comprises configuring the mobile robotic device into a parachuting mode. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein configuring the mobile robotic device into a deployment pose comprises configuring the mobile robotic device into an amphibious swimming mode. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein directing the mobile robotic device comprises moving the mobile robotic device in a crawling mode within the earth-surface environment. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein sensing information about the earth-surface environment further comprises sensing a response to an emission provided by the robotic device, the emission selected from the group consisting of a mechanical vibration, an acoustic vibration, a thermal emission, a chemical reactant, an electro-magnetic emission, and any combination of these. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein sensing information about the earth-surface environment further comprises maintaining a concealed position while sensing information within the environment. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising removing the mobile robotic device from the plurality of different sensing locations within the earth-surface environment. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein removing comprises destroying the mobile robotic device via a self-destruct mechanism. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein removing comprises actuating the mobile robotic device into a burrowing mode to burrow into the ground within the environment. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein removing comprises directing the mobile robotic device to a submerged location below the surface of a body of water. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein removing comprises activating a homing device on a carrier vehicle positioned adjacent the earth-surface environment to assist the mobile robotic device in returning to the carrier vehicle. 
     
     
         28 . A method of establishing a concealed surveillance network within a earth-surface environment comprising:
 inserting at least one mobile robotic device into an earth-surface environment;   directing the at least one mobile robotic device to a plurality of concealed sensing locations within the earth-surface environment;   depositing at least one sensing pod at each of the plurality of concealed sensing locations;   sensing information within the environment using sensors supported on each of the at least one sensing pods; and   facilitating the retrieval of the information from the sensing pods.   
     
     
         29 . A system for surreptitiously gathering information from within an earth-surface environment, comprising:
 a plurality of mobile robotic devices operable within an earth-surface environment, each being configurable into at least one deployment pose and a plurality of traveling poses, the mobile robotic devices comprising:   a multi-frame body having multiple single-track units coupled by an active articulating linkage;   a navigation subsystem for selecting the optimum traveling pose for the earth-surface environment;   a sensing subsystem for collecting information from the earth-surface environment;   a carrier vehicle operable with one or more of the mobile robotic devices as configured in the at least one deployment pose to facilitate deployment of the mobile robotic devices into the earth-surface environment, wherein the mobile robotic devices are separable from the carrier vehicle and reconfigurable into one of the plurality of traveling poses so as to enable the mobile robotic devices to locate to a first sensing location within the earth-surface environment,   wherein the plurality of mobile robotic devices operate to facilitate the establishment of a surveillance network within the earth-surface environment.