ROBOTIC VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A robotic vehicle comprising:
- a chassis having front and rear ends and supported on right and left driven tracks, each track trained about a corresponding front wheel rotatable about a front wheel axis;
right and left elongated flippers disposed on corresponding sides of the chassis and operable to pivot about the front wheel axis of the chassis, each flipper having a driven track about its perimeter;
a battery unit holder disposed on the chassis for removably receiving a battery unit weighing at least 50 lbs, the battery unit holder comprising;
a guide for receiving and guiding the battery unit to a connected position; and
a connector mount having locating features and communication features, the locating features receiving corresponding locating features of the battery unit, as the battery unit is moved to its connected position, to align the communication features of the connector mount with corresponding communication features of the battery unit;
wherein the communication features of the connector mount are movable in a plane transverse to the guide to aid alignment of the communication features for establishment of an electrical connection therebetween when the battery unit is in its connected position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A robotic vehicle includes a chassis supported on right and left driven tracks, right and left elongated flippers disposed on corresponding sides of the chassis, and a battery unit holder disposed on the chassis for removably receiving a battery unit weighing at least 50 lbs. The battery unit holder includes a guide for receiving and guiding the battery unit to a connected position and a connector mount having locating features and communication features. The locating features receive corresponding locating features of the battery unit, as the battery unit is moved to its connected position, to align the communication features of the connector mount with corresponding communication features of the battery unit. The communication features of the connector mount are movable in a plane transverse to the guide to aid alignment of the communication features for establishment of an electrical connection therebetween when the battery unit is in its connected position.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A robotic vehicle comprising:
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a chassis having front and rear ends and supported on right and left driven tracks, each track trained about a corresponding front wheel rotatable about a front wheel axis; right and left elongated flippers disposed on corresponding sides of the chassis and operable to pivot about the front wheel axis of the chassis, each flipper having a driven track about its perimeter; a battery unit holder disposed on the chassis for removably receiving a battery unit weighing at least 50 lbs, the battery unit holder comprising; a guide for receiving and guiding the battery unit to a connected position; and a connector mount having locating features and communication features, the locating features receiving corresponding locating features of the battery unit, as the battery unit is moved to its connected position, to align the communication features of the connector mount with corresponding communication features of the battery unit; wherein the communication features of the connector mount are movable in a plane transverse to the guide to aid alignment of the communication features for establishment of an electrical connection therebetween when the battery unit is in its connected position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A robotic vehicle comprising:
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a chassis having front and rear ends and supported on right and left driven tracks, each track trained about a corresponding front wheel rotatable about a front wheel axis; right and left elongated flippers disposed on corresponding sides of the chassis and operable to pivot about the front wheel axis of the chassis, each flipper having a driven track about its perimeter; a deck assembly configured to receive a removable payload; and a linkage connecting the deck assembly to the chassis, the linkage having a first end rotatably connected to the chassis at a first pivot, and a second end rotatably connected to the deck assembly at a second pivot, both of the first and second pivots including independently controllable pivot drivers operable to rotatably position their corresponding pivots to control both fore-aft position and pitch orientation of the deck assembly with respect to the chassis; wherein the linkage comprises a single unitary link connecting the deck assembly to the chassis. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A robotic vehicle comprising:
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a chassis having front and rear ends and supported on right and left driven tracks, each track trained about a corresponding front wheel rotatable about a front wheel axis; right and left elongated flippers disposed on corresponding sides of the chassis and operable to pivot about the front wheel axis of the chassis, each flipper having a driven track about its perimeter; a deck assembly configured to receive a removable payload; and a linkage connecting the payload deck to the chassis, the linkage having a first end rotatably connected to the chassis at a first pivot, and a second end rotatably connected to the deck assembly at a second pivot, both of the first and second pivots including independently controllable pivot drivers operable to rotatably position their corresponding pivots to control both fore-aft position and pitch orientation of the deck assembly with respect to the chassis; wherein the deck assembly comprises; a deck base pivotably connected to the linkage at the second pivot and electrically connected to the chassis to receive power and communication therefrom; and at least one connection point disposed on the deck base and configured to provide a payload power link and a payload communication link; wherein top and bottom portions of the deck base are each configured to receive a removable payload. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 24)
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23. The robotic vehicle of claim 23, wherein the linkage together with the deck assembly shifts more between about 10% and about 50% of the vehicle weight, shifting a combined center of gravity of the vehicle between an aft center of gravity position intermediate the front and rear ends of the chassis and a fore center of gravity position intermediate the distal and pivot ends of the flippers.
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25. A method of providing power to a robotic vehicle, the method comprising:
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sliding a battery unit weighing at least 50 lbs onto a guide of a battery holder of the robotic vehicle, the guide substantially aligning a connector of the battery unit with a connector mount of the battery holder; and moving the battery unit to a connect position, the connector mount having locating features and communication features, the locating features receiving corresponding locating features of the battery unit, as the battery unit is moved to its connected position, to align the communication features of the connector mount with corresponding communication features of the battery unit; wherein the communication features of the connector mount are movable in a plane transverse to the guide to aid alignment of the communication features for establishment of an electrical connection therebetween when the battery unit is in its connected position. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification