Patent ID: 8849189

Claim:
A relay apparatus comprising: a housing having a bottom surface; a radio mounted within the housing, wherein the radio is configured to relay RF signals and to operate as a node in a telecommunications network; a self-righting mechanism mounted to the housing such that the self-righting mechanism is configured to reposition the housing from any initial position to an upright position such that the housing rests on the bottom surface; a processor mounted within the housing and operatively coupled to the radio and the self-righting mechanism; an extendable antenna operatively coupled to the radio, wherein the antenna has an extended position and a retracted position and wherein the antenna is configured to extend in a direction away from the bottom surface; and wherein the housing further comprises an antenna bay configured to stow the antenna, wherein the self-righting mechanism comprises two bay doors, each hingedly connected to opposite, outer edges of the antenna bay, and wherein the two bay doors, upon a command from the processor, are configured to move to an open position thereby constraining the housing to rest on the bottom surface.