AUTONOMOUS SELF-LEVELING VEHICLE

• US 20150168953A1
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: iTrack LLC
• Original Assignee: iTrack LLC
• Inventors: Smid, Edzko
• Application Number:
  US14/570,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20150168953A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/912 Attitude Control; levelling control
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/00 Stabilising vehicle bodies without controlling suspension arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 using a RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0891 specially adapted for land vehicles

Abstract

An autonomous self-leveling vehicle is provided that includes a controller and an RF antenna. A platform is attached to articulating legs with joint actuators for leveling or maintaining said platform at a defined angle. A set of wheels are powered by wheel actuators mounted to the distal ends of the articulating legs to provide self-leveling. A system for a self-leveling vehicle includes at least three or more base stations. A vehicle with a platform having articulating legs with joint actuators for leveling or maintaining the platform at a defined angle is provided above and operates with an RF antenna mounted to the vehicle and a controller with a tracking module in the range of the base stations.

Claims

1. An autonomous self-leveling vehicle, said vehicle comprising:

a controller;

a RF antenna;

a platform attached to a plurality of articulating legs with joint actuators for leveling or maintaining said platform at a defined angle; and

a set of wheels powered by wheel actuators mounted to the distal ends of said plurality of articulating legs.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said controller further comprises a tracking module in electrical communication with said RF antenna and a tilt-compensated (TC) compass;

and

wherein said TC compass provides data to calculate a translation of the position of said vehicle and said platform.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein said tracking module comprises at least one of a 3D accelerometer, a 3D compass, a 3D Gyroscopic sensor, a rechargeable battery, and a microcontroller with software.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said controller is in electrical communication with said joint actuators and said wheel actuators via a controller area network (CAN).

5. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a camera mounted to said platform.

6. A system for a self-leveling vehicle, said system comprising:

at least three or more base stations;

a vehicle with a platform, said platform attached to a plurality of articulating legs with joint actuators for leveling or maintaining said platform at a defined angle;

a set of wheels powered by wheel actuators mounted to the distal ends of said plurality of articulating legs;

a RF antenna mounted to said vehicle; and

a controller with a tracking module.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said tracking module communicates via said RF antenna with said at least three or more base stations to determine a location of said vehicle.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said at least three or more base stations are formed in an ad hoc network communicating via high frequency ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) wireless signals.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein said at least three or more base stations form a mobile network.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein said tracking module further comprises a tilt-compensated (TC) compass;

and

wherein said TC compass provides data to calculate a translation of the position of said vehicle and said platform.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein said tracking module further comprises at least one of a 3D accelerometer, a 3D compass, a 3D Gyroscopic sensor, a rechargeable battery, and a microcontroller with software.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein said controller is in electrical communication with said joint actuators and said wheel actuators via a controller area network (CAN).

13. The system of claim 6 further comprising a camera mounted to said platform.