US 12,224,847 B2
Communication system with dual mode relay sensor delivery
Spencer Flint, Seattle, WA (US); Erin Leslie, Oklahoma City, OK (US); Nathaniel Bowen, Columbus, MS (US); and Michael Anderson, Colorado Springs, CO (US)
Assigned to United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed by Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed on Sep. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/936,964.
Application 17/936,964 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/656,175, filed on Mar. 23, 2022, granted, now 11,838,094.
Application 17/936,964 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/655,853, filed on Mar. 22, 2022, granted, now 11,995,996.
Application 17/936,964 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/667,824, filed on Feb. 9, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/298,489, filed on Jan. 11, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0224020 A1, Jul. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. H04B 7/00 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64U 70/90 (2023.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01); H04B 7/185 (2006.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01)
CPC H04B 7/18504 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64U 70/90 (2023.01); G05D 1/0022 (2013.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A communication system for sending surveillance signals from a hostile environment to an operator, the system comprising:
an operably movable tractor having a longitudinal axis and being movable in a forward direction, the tractor having a floor pan with a front edge and a rear edge opposed thereto;
at least one relay sensor for transmitting communication signals disposed on the floor pan, wherein the at least one relay sensor comprises a vertical stack of a plurality of relay sensors with a bottom relay sensor disposed on the floor pan;
at least one ground relay sensor dispensing mechanism on the floor pan for conveying at least one relay sensor from the tractor to the ground, wherein the at least one ground relay sensor comprises a linear actuator configured to urge the bottom relay sensor towards a ground conveyance declivity;
a microcontroller for controlling the relay sensor dispensing mechanism and movement of the tractor; and
a drone independently movable with respect to the tractor, the drone being configured to retrieve a relay sensor from the ground and to place that relay sensor at another location.