Abstract: A remotely controlled packable robot includes a chassis, a motive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, and an open channel under the robot defined by the chassis and the motive subsystem. A rearward arm base member mount is located between the chassis and a rotatable arm shoulder and is pivotable with respect to the chassis to store the arm underneath the robot in the open channel.

Abstract: A remotely controlled packable robot features a chassis with a top surface and a bottom surface, a pair of main tracks for maneuvering the chassis, and an open channel under the robot defined by the bottom surface of the chassis and the main tracks. A robot arm is foldable from a stored position in the open channel underneath the robot chassis to a deployed position extending upwards from the top surface of the chassis. A camera assembly may be foldable from a stowed position in the open channel underneath the robot chassis next to the robot arm to a deployed position extending upwards from the top surface of the chassis.

Abstract: A method of operating a mobile remotely controlled ground robot in difficult terrain. Rear driven tracked arms of the robot are pivoted rearward and upward to trail main driven tracks of the robot at a fixed angle relative to and above the ground. The main tracks of the robot are driven forward to traverse the ground. An obstacle is traversed by driving the main tracks to traverse the obstacle pivoting the forward end of the robot upwards and at least one of the rear driven tracks are driven and engaging the ground and/or obstacle to advance the robot forward over the obstacle and to prevent the robot from tipping over backwards.

Abstract: A remotely controlled packable robot includes a chassis with a top surface and a bottom surface, a motive subsystem for maneuvering the chassis, an open channel under the robot defined by the chassis and the motive subsystem, a camera assembly, and a robot arm including a rotatable shoulder, an upper arm pivotable with respect to the shoulder, a forearm, an elbow between the upper arm and the forearm, a wrist connected to the forearm, and a gripper attached to the wrist. A rearward arm base member mount between the chassis and the rotatable arm shoulder is pivotable with respect to the chassis to store the arm underneath the robot in the open channel. A forward camera assembly base member mount for the camera is pivotable with respect to the chassis to store the camera assembly underneath the robot in the open channel. Another camera mount is for retaining the camera assembly on the shoulder of the robot arm. A novel power distribution subsystem is also disclosed.

Abstract: A remotely controlled packable robot features a chassis, right and left main tracks for maneuvering the chassis, and right and left tracked rotatable flipper arms for maneuvering the chassis. An integrated drive assembly is provided for each main track and flipper pair and includes a motor in a housing attached to the chassis for rotating the flipper and a stator and rotor disposed about the motor housing for driving the main track and the flipper track.

Abstract: A remotely controlled packable robot features a chassis with a top surface and a bottom surface, a pair of main tracks for maneuvering the chassis, and an open channel under the robot defined by the bottom surface of the chassis and the main tracks. A robot arm is foldable from a stored position in the open channel underneath the robot chassis to a deployed position extending upwards from the top surface of the chassis. A camera assembly may be foldable from a stowed position in the open channel underneath the robot chassis next to the robot arm to a deployed position extending upwards from the top surface of the chassis.

Abstract: A remotely controlled packable robot features a chassis with a top surface and a bottom surface, a pair of main tracks for maneuvering the chassis, and an open channel under the robot defined by the bottom surface of the chassis and the main tracks. A robot arm is foldable from a stored position in the open channel underneath the robot chassis to a deployed position extending upwards from the top surface of the chassis. A camera assembly may be foldable from a stowed position in the open channel underneath the robot chassis next to the robot arm to a deployed position extending upwards from the top surface of the chassis.

Abstract: A battery powered remotely controlled robot is equipped with a drive subsystem for ground travel, a flight subsystem for flight operations, and an obstacle detection subsystem. The robot is configured so that during a mission the drive subsystem is energized to maneuver the robot on the ground for a majority of the mission. The robot is further configured so that upon detection of an obstacle, the flight subsystem is energized to traverse the obstacle. The fight subsystem is energized only to traverse obstacles thus saving battery power and increasing the mission time.

Abstract: An inductor motor includes a rotor with teeth and no windings and a stator including teeth, three phase windings, and at least one field winding. A three phase rectifier has an input connected to the phase windings and an output connected to the field winding.

Abstract: A remotely controlled packable robot features a chassis, right and left main tracks for maneuvering the chassis, and right and left tracked rotatable flipper arms for maneuvering the chassis. An integrated drive assembly is provided for each main track and flipper pair and includes a motor in a housing attached to the chassis for rotating the flipper and a stator and rotor disposed about the motor housing for driving the main track and the flipper track.

Abstract: A remotely controlled packable robot features a chassis with a top surface and a bottom surface, a pair of main tracks for maneuvering the chassis, and an open channel under the robot defined by the bottom surface of the chassis and the main tracks. A robot arm is foldable from a stored position in the open channel underneath the robot chassis to a deployed position extending upwards from the top surface of the chassis. A camera assembly may be foldable from a stowed position in the open channel underneath the robot chassis next to the robot arm to a deployed position extending upwards from the top surface of the chassis.

Abstract: A battery powered remotely controlled robot is equipped with a drive subsystem for ground travel, a flight subsystem for flight operations, and an obstacle detection subsystem. The robot is configured so that during a mission the drive subsystem is energized to maneuver the robot on the ground for a majority of the mission. The robot is further configured so that upon detection of an obstacle, the flight subsystem is energized to traverse the obstacle. The fight subsystem is energized only to traverse obstacles thus saving battery power and increasing the mission time.

Abstract: An ungrounded power line sensor system includes a housing configured for coupling about a power line, at least a first voltage sensing plate supported by the housing and exposed to rain and snow, and at least a second voltage sensing plate supported by the housing and shielded from rain and snow. Voltages sensed by the first and second voltage sensing plate are separately measured in order to mitigate variations in the two measurements due to a weather event, for example by applying a weighted average calculation to the measurements to cancel out the effects of rain on the first voltage sensing plate.

Abstract: An inductor motor includes a rotor with teeth and no windings and a stator including teeth, three phase windings, and at least one field winding. A three phase rectifier has an input connected to the phase windings and an output connected to the field winding.

Abstract: A hot stick power analyzer includes a housing mounted on a pole and a channel for a power line. A ground line extends from the housing and there is a power line conductive contact. A voltage sensor includes voltage sensing circuitry connected to the power line conductive contact and the ground line. There is a high voltage capacitance between the ground line and the voltage sensing circuitry. A current sensor includes windings about and spaced from the power line. A processing subsystem is responsive to the voltage sensing circuitry and to the current sensor and is configured to compute power analysis metrics.

Abstract: A voltage sensing system and method for use with ungrounded power line sensors deployed on each phase of a power line. The voltage of each phase is measured using the sensors. This measurement is used unless there is a snow event. A collector is powered by a transformer connected to the power line being monitored and a voltage measurement circuit is configured to measure the collector supply voltage which is then used to obtain an alternate voltage measurement for each phase. When the sensor measured voltage for any phase deviates from the alternate voltage measurement by a pre-established value, a snow event has occurred and the alternate voltage measurement may then be used.

Abstract: A wound field flux switching machine with a sinusoidal back electromotive force features a rotor with teeth and a stator with groups of teeth wherein each group has a field winding and each tooth has a phase winding.

Abstract: A voltage sensing system and method for use with ungrounded power line sensors deployed on each phase of a power line. The voltage of each phase is measured using the sensors. This measurement is used unless there is a snow event. A collector is powered by a transformer connected to the power line being monitored and a voltage measurement circuit is configured to measure the collector supply voltage which is then used to obtain an alternate voltage measurement for each phase. When the sensor measured voltage for any phase deviates from the alternate voltage measurement by a pre-established value, a snow event has occurred and the alternate voltage measurement may then be used.

Abstract: A wound field flux switching machine with a sinusoidal back electromotive force features a rotor with teeth and a stator with groups of teeth wherein each group has a field winding and each tooth has a phase winding.

Abstract: A hot stick power analyzer includes a housing mounted on a pole and a channel for a power line. A ground line extends from the housing and there is a power line conductive contact. A voltage sensor includes voltage sensing circuitry connected to the power line conductive contact and the ground line. There is a high voltage capacitance between the ground line and the voltage sensing circuitry. A current sensor includes windings about and spaced from the power line. A processing subsystem is responsive to the voltage sensing circuitry and to the current sensor and is configured to compute power analysis metrics.