Abstract: A conductor of the extendable conductor assembly may be extended (e.g., into a thermal target, such as a preexisting or a newly created feature of a planetary body) and used to thermally couple a rover, vehicle, fixed installation, or other hardware with the thermal target. Thus, the temperature of the hardware may be managed via heat transfer to/from the thermal target. For instance, heat may be transferred from the thermal target to maintain the temperature of the hardware under cold conditions, while excess heat may be transferred to the thermal target under hot conditions. A rover forms a borehole in the lunar surface, in which a conductor is extended to facilitate heat transfer between the rover and the Moon accordingly.

Abstract: A system for sensing, controlling, and/or maintaining the pose (e.g., a heading, attitude, and/or elevation) of a ground-based vehicle is disclosed, which allows precise control of the orientation of the vehicle wheels and/or body relative to a ground surface is disclosed. When actuated, the pitch, roll, height, and/or pivot of the wheel axles relative to one another are controlled to achieve a commanded vehicle pose, raise one or more wheels from the ground surface, and/or place the body of the vehicle in contact with the surface, among other examples.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a ground-based vehicle with a single- or multi-degree-of-freedom robotic manipulator (“arm”), which may be attached to the a ground-based vehicle or to a stationary platform, among other examples. In examples, the purpose of the vehicle and arm assembly is to interact with a natural or man-made feature in some way; examples are include, but are not limited to, collecting a natural sample or specimen; unloading or repositioning the vehicle (e.g., from a lander, righting the vehicle after tipping, or raising/lowering the vehicle relative to terrain or man-made structures, etc.), collecting man-made items from the ground; grasping and actuating a man-made interface (such as a handle, cable, connector, hatch, door, etc.); servicing the vehicle; or assembling or constructing a structure from natural or man-made components (rocks, soil, beams, blocks, etc.), among other examples.

Abstract: An autonomous robotic vehicle is capable of detecting, identifying, and locating the source of gas leaks such as methane. Because of the number of operating components within the vehicle, it may also be considered a robotic system. The robotic vehicle can be remotely operated or can move autonomously within a jobsite. The vehicle selectively deploys a source detection device that precisely locates the source of a leak. The vehicle relays data to stakeholders and remains powered that enables operation of the vehicle over an extended period. Monitoring and control of the vehicle is enabled through a software interface viewable to a user on a mobile communications device or personal computer.

Abstract: A vehicle locking assembly is disclosed, which couples a vehicle to a support member, for example using a frangible bolt and an actuator. When actuated, the actuator causes the frangible bolt to fail, thereby decoupling the vehicle from the support member. Ground-engaging members of the vehicle include terrain interaction features along an outer portion, thereby forming a portion of the ground-engaging member where the terrain interaction features (or, as another example, lack thereof) form a contact region that is radially closer to the center of the ground-engaging member as compared to the contact region(s) corresponding to other terrain interaction features. Accordingly, once the fastener is released, the ground-engaging members of the vehicle are actuated, such that the terrain interaction features engage with the plate/surface beneath the vehicle as the radially closer contact region rotates out from under the vehicle, thereby raising the vehicle off the support member.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an extendable conductor assembly. A conductor of the extendable conductor assembly may be extended (e.g., into a thermal target, such as a preexisting or a newly created feature of a planetary body) and used to thermally couple a rover, vehicle, fixed installation, or other hardware with the thermal target. Thus, the temperature of the hardware may be managed via heat transfer to/from the thermal target. For instance, heat may be transferred from the thermal target to maintain the temperature of the hardware under cold conditions, while excess heat may be transferred to the thermal target under hot conditions. As an example, a rover may form a borehole in the lunar surface, in which a conductor may be extended to facilitate heat transfer between the rover and the Moon accordingly.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a sample collection assembly for a vehicle. The sample collection assembly includes a perforated ground-engaging member of the vehicle and an associated sample collector. For example, a perforated wheel may collect material from terrain under the vehicle as the wheel rotates (e.g., as may result from movement of the vehicle), which may fall through the perforation and into a sample collector disposed thereunder. In some examples, a ground-engaging member may include one or more grousers, paddles, or scoops, among other terrain interaction features, to further increase the amount of material that is collected. Such terrain interaction features may be unidirectional or bidirectional, thereby offering improved sample collection in one or both directions of operation, respectively. In examples, an image capture device or one or more other sensors may be used to monitor sample collection and/or to process data associated therewith.

Abstract: An autonomous robotic vehicle is capable of detecting, identifying, and locating the source of gas leaks such as methane. Because of the number of operating components within the vehicle, it may also be considered a robotic system. The robotic vehicle can be remotely operated or can move autonomously within a jobsite. The vehicle selectively deploys a source detection device that precisely locates the source of a leak. The vehicle relays data to stakeholders and remains powered that enables operation of the vehicle over an extended period. Monitoring and control of the vehicle is enabled through a software interface viewable to a user on a mobile communications device or personal computer.

Abstract: A back-brace assistive device is provided for supporting a proper lifting posture of a user, including a back-brace assembly featuring a series of interconnected and articulating vertebrae assemblies, as well as an upper back plate assembly and a lower back plate assembly, each in connection with the series of the vertebrae assemblies. Each vertebrae assembly fits into the adjacent assembly via a ball joint, and the series of the vertebrae assemblies couples with the upper and the lower back plate assemblies via additional ball joints. At least one support component extends from the upper back plate assembly, across the series of the articulating vertebrae assemblies, to the lower back plate assembly to provide rigidity and articulation support for the vertebrae assemblies. An anchoring mechanism such as a harness attaches to the back-brace assembly to secure the back-brace assembly to the user's back. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a back-brace assistive device for supporting a proper lifting posture of a user, including a back-brace assembly featuring a series of interconnected and articulating vertebrae assemblies, as well as an upper back plate assembly and a lower back plate assembly, each in connection with the series of the vertebrae assemblies. Each vertebrae assembly fits into the adjacent assembly via a ball joint, and the series of the vertebrae assemblies couples with the upper and the lower back plate assemblies via additional ball joints. At least one support component extends from the upper back plate assembly, across the series of the articulating vertebrae assemblies, to the lower back plate assembly to provide rigidity and articulation support for the vertebrae assemblies. An anchoring mechanism such as a harness attaches to the back-brace assembly to secure the back-brace assembly to the user's back. Other embodiments are also disclosed.