Importance

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Abstract

A manipulator has a carriage adapted for free travel movement along a surface and a reversible first motor for driving the carriage. An upstanding support is mounted on the carriage and a manipulation arm assembly is supported for movement on the upstanding support. A reversible second motor drives the arm assembly on the upstanding support. An operating head includes a tool supported at the end of the manipulation arm assembly. A remote control mechanism operates the first and second motors and the operating head at a remote location. A first television camera is supported at the upper end of the upstanding support and adapted to scan a first image field in front of the manipulator. A second camera is supported by the manipulation arm assembly and adapted to scan a second image field including the operating head and an article to be operated on by the operating head. Video signals are transmitted by a transmitting mechanism and received to display picture information defined by the first and second image fields scanned by the first and second television cameras to permit a person operating the remote control mechanism at the remote location to view an area immediately in front of the manipulator, the operating head and an area immediately in front of the operating head. Another feature is directed to a cycle initiating circuit for initiating operation of a program control circuit to cause it to generate command control signals which operate a plurality of motors causing various movements in an article manipulation apparatus. A wireless signal transmitter and wireless receiver circuitry operate with short wave command control signals to effectuate remote control of the manipulation apparatus.

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First Claim