Dual function robot and storage bin
First Claim
1. A robot for collecting a rollable object capable of a stable upright position and a stable horizontal position, said robot comprising:
- (a) a center of mass, a front end, a rear end, a midpoint, and a first axis of rotation, wherein the center of mass is between the front end and the midpoint, and the first axis of rotation is an axis about which the robot rotates when tilted between the upright position and the horizontal position, wherein the front end has a bottom surface, and wherein the bottom surface has a clearance distance (C) at every distance (h) in front of the first axis of rotation, such that C≥
h+r*[1−
sqrt(2)] when the robot is in the horizontal position;
(b) a first load-bearing wheel capable of supporting the robot forward of the midpoint, having a radius (r), positioned so that the robot may be rotated at least 45°
from the horizontal position along the first axis of rotation without the front end coming into contact with the ground, and having a second axis of rotation that is coaxial with the first axis of rotation;
(c) a mobile load-bearing support structure capable of supporting the robot rearward of the midpoint while in the horizontal position;
(d) a drive motor providing rotation to a drive wheel;
(e) an energy source providing energy to the drive motor;
(f) a rotating collector proximate to the front end;
(g) a holding basket having a first basket position, in which said holding basket is positioned to receive the rollable object from the rotating collector while in the horizontal position and in the first basket position;
(h) a controller connected to provide control signals to the drive motor; and
(i) a sensor connected to provide data to the controller.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dual functional robot for collecting rollable objects capable of a stable upright position and a stable horizontal position, in which the robot includes a way to propelling the robot; a way to controlling propulsion of the robot connected to provide commands to the means for propelling; a way to locating the rollable object connected to provide data to the way to controlling propulsion; means for collecting the rollable object; a way to storing the rollable object positioned to accept the rollable object from the way to collecting; a way to supporting the robot and allowing the robot to move across a surface in a low-friction manner; and a way to stably reorienting the robot from the horizontal position into the upright position.
35 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A robot for collecting a rollable object capable of a stable upright position and a stable horizontal position, said robot comprising:
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(a) a center of mass, a front end, a rear end, a midpoint, and a first axis of rotation, wherein the center of mass is between the front end and the midpoint, and the first axis of rotation is an axis about which the robot rotates when tilted between the upright position and the horizontal position, wherein the front end has a bottom surface, and wherein the bottom surface has a clearance distance (C) at every distance (h) in front of the first axis of rotation, such that C≥
h+r*[1−
sqrt(2)] when the robot is in the horizontal position;(b) a first load-bearing wheel capable of supporting the robot forward of the midpoint, having a radius (r), positioned so that the robot may be rotated at least 45°
from the horizontal position along the first axis of rotation without the front end coming into contact with the ground, and having a second axis of rotation that is coaxial with the first axis of rotation;(c) a mobile load-bearing support structure capable of supporting the robot rearward of the midpoint while in the horizontal position; (d) a drive motor providing rotation to a drive wheel; (e) an energy source providing energy to the drive motor; (f) a rotating collector proximate to the front end; (g) a holding basket having a first basket position, in which said holding basket is positioned to receive the rollable object from the rotating collector while in the horizontal position and in the first basket position; (h) a controller connected to provide control signals to the drive motor; and (i) a sensor connected to provide data to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19)
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15. A robot for collecting a rollable object and capable of assuming a stable upright position and a stable horizontal position, the robot comprising:
- (a) means for propelling the robot;
(b) means for controlling propulsion of the robot connected to provide commands to the means for propelling;
(c) means for locating the rollable object connected to provide data to the means for controlling propulsion;
(d) means for collecting the rollable object;
(e) means for storing the rollable object positioned to accept the rollable object from the means for collecting;
(t) means for supporting the robot and allowing the robot to move across a surface in a low-friction manner; and
(g) means for stably reorienting the robot from the horizontal position into the upright position, wherein said means for stably reorienting the robot is a load-bearing wheel having an axis of rotation about which the wheel rotates and about which the robot rotates at least 45°
while the wheel is in contact with the ground when tilted between the upright position and the horizontal position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
- (a) means for propelling the robot;
Specification