Autonomous modular robot
First Claim
1. An autonomous modular robot comprising:
- a main body;
a drive system attached to the main body and configured to move the main body;
an attachment retention system configured to couple two or more interchangeable attachments to the main body,wherein each of the interchangeable attachments are configured to perform a task,wherein the attachment retention system comprises a rail configured to attach to each of the two or more interchangeable attachments,wherein the rail comprises a channel on an underside of the rail, andwherein the channel is sized and shaped to mate with a protrusion on a top of the interchangeable attachments;
a lift mechanism, wherein the attachment retention system is part of the lift mechanism; and
a control system configured to autonomously control;
the drive system; and
the interchangeable attachments upon coupling of the interchangeable attachments to the main body.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous modular robot includes an attachment retention system that for retaining two or more interchangeable attachments for performing unique tasks, e.g., steam cleaning, vacuuming, grass cutting, etc. The attachments may be sequentially positioned in the path of travel of the robot and configured to perform complementary tasks. For example, for cleaning a floor, a first attachment may be configured to vacuum the floor and a second attachment may be configured for steam cleaning the floor. The robot may also include a vertically translatable lift mechanism. The lift mechanism may include the attachment retention system, thereby allowing the attachments to be moved vertically. The lift mechanism may also include a dimension sensor proximate a top of the lift mechanism. The dimension sensor may be utilized to determine the size, e.g., a height and/or a width of the robot with any retained attachments, to help navigate the robot and avoid obstacles.
36 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An autonomous modular robot comprising:
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a main body; a drive system attached to the main body and configured to move the main body; an attachment retention system configured to couple two or more interchangeable attachments to the main body, wherein each of the interchangeable attachments are configured to perform a task, wherein the attachment retention system comprises a rail configured to attach to each of the two or more interchangeable attachments, wherein the rail comprises a channel on an underside of the rail, and wherein the channel is sized and shaped to mate with a protrusion on a top of the interchangeable attachments; a lift mechanism, wherein the attachment retention system is part of the lift mechanism; and a control system configured to autonomously control; the drive system; and the interchangeable attachments upon coupling of the interchangeable attachments to the main body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An autonomous modular robot comprising:
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a main body; a drive system attached to the main body and configured to move the main body; an attachment retention system configured to couple two or more interchangeable attachments to the main body, wherein each of the interchangeable attachments are configured to perform a task; a lift mechanism, wherein the attachment retention system is part of the lift mechanism and wherein the lift mechanism is configured to laterally extend and retract; and a control system configured to autonomously control; the drive system; and the interchangeable attachments upon coupling of the interchangeable attachments to the main body.
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21. An autonomous modular robot comprising:
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a main body; a drive system attached to the main body and configured to move the main body, wherein the drive system comprises; one or more drive wheels and at least one motor connected to the drive wheels; and one or more rotatable wheels proximate an end of the robot opposite to an end of the robot occupied by the drive wheels; an attachment retention system configured to couple two or more interchangeable attachments to the main body, wherein each of the interchangeable attachments are configured to perform a task; and a control system configured to autonomously control; the drive system; the interchangeable attachments upon coupling of the interchangeable attachments to the main body; and wherein the control system is configured to lift the robot off the rotatable wheels and to balance the robot on the drive wheels.
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Specification