SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODULAR ROBOTIC SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A user-customizable modular robotic system comprising:
- a robot base unit including;
a battery housing containing a power source, anda magnetic base coupled to the battery housing and having a plurality of magnetic sockets; and
a plurality of modular components, each modular component including;
at least one magnetic coupling member attachable to one of the plurality of magnetic sockets, such that the modular component receives power from the power source when the modular component is attached to the magnetic socket by the at least one magnetic coupling member,at least one connection port for data communication with another modular component of the plurality of modular components, anda processor configured to communicate data to the another modular component.
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Abstract
A user-customizable modular robotic method and system that includes a robot base unit that has a battery housing containing a power source and a magnetic tower connected to the battery housing that includes a plurality of magnetic sockets. The method and system further includes modular components that each include magnetic coupling members attachable to the magnetic sockets, such that the connected modular components receive power from the battery of the base unit. The modular components further include a connection port for data communication with a connected modular component and a processor that can transmit status and query data to the connected modular component. In addition, system and method include a programming station that can be patched to a particular robot that enables a user to easily customize the operation and function of the components of the patched robot using a simple touch and drag user interface.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A user-customizable modular robotic system comprising:
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a robot base unit including; a battery housing containing a power source, and a magnetic base coupled to the battery housing and having a plurality of magnetic sockets; and a plurality of modular components, each modular component including; at least one magnetic coupling member attachable to one of the plurality of magnetic sockets, such that the modular component receives power from the power source when the modular component is attached to the magnetic socket by the at least one magnetic coupling member, at least one connection port for data communication with another modular component of the plurality of modular components, and a processor configured to communicate data to the another modular component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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3. The modular robotic system according to claim I, wherein the magnetic base includes a plurality of power cables electrically connecting the plurality of magnetic sockets to the power source.
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13. A method for customizing a modular robotic system, which includes a robot base unit having a battery housing containing a power source and a magnetic base coupled to the battery housing and having a plurality of magnetic sockets, and a plurality of modular components, each modular component including at least one magnetic coupling member, at least one connection port for data communication with a connected modular component, and a processor configured to transmit data to the connected modular component, the method comprising:
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attaching at least three of the plurality of modular components to respective magnetic sockets of the magnetic base, where one of the three modular components is a control module having a processor and electronic memory; attaching respective cable connectors between connection ports of the control module and connection ports of the other two modular components; communicatively coupling the control module to a programming station; and loading, by the programming station, a computer program onto the electronic memory of the control module coupled to the programming station, wherein the computer program establishes a communication protocol between the control module and the other two modular components when the computer program is executed by the processor of the control module. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification