Modular, robotic road repair machine
First Claim
1. A robotic, modular road repair machine comprising:
- a movable vehicle having at least one slot defined by predetermined dimensions designed to receive a work module;
at least two work modules each having predetermined dimensions adapted to fit within each said slot, wherein a first of said work modules is capable of being removed from one of said at least one slots and being replaced by a second of said at least two work modules;
means for robotically moving said at least one of said work modules between a working position and an inoperative position; and
means for controlling said means for robotically moving and for controlling actuation of said at least one work module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A combination asphalt/concrete surface repair machine. The machine is a direction-finding, wheeled, transportable vehicle, which is a self-regulating, repair machine, controlled by a complex central computer. The machine is capable of being attached to and hauled by another faster vehicle (i.e., truck) if necessary. This machine is guided by a positioning device, which uses advanced radar and laser technology to place the machine above every position of the road surface to be repaired. The machine uses data from seismic or radar analysis carried out in preparation for repairing the road surface by the use of robotic modules within the machine. This technology can also be used to build new roads, racetracks, airport runways, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, etc. Multiple construction or repair functions are provided within one machine.
56 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A robotic, modular road repair machine comprising:
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a movable vehicle having at least one slot defined by predetermined dimensions designed to receive a work module;
at least two work modules each having predetermined dimensions adapted to fit within each said slot, wherein a first of said work modules is capable of being removed from one of said at least one slots and being replaced by a second of said at least two work modules;
means for robotically moving said at least one of said work modules between a working position and an inoperative position; and
means for controlling said means for robotically moving and for controlling actuation of said at least one work module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for efficiently repairing road surfaces;
- said system comprising;
a relatively large machine including a movable vehicle having multiple slots, each defined by predetermined dimensions designed to receive a work module;
multiple work modules having predetermined dimensions adapted to fit within each said slot, and wherein at least one of said modules comprises a surveying module;
means for robotically moving said work modules between a working position and an inoperative position; and
means for controlling said means for robotically moving and for controlling actuation of said work modules; and
a relatively small machine including a movable vehicle having at least one slot defined by predetermined dimensions matching said predetermined dimensions of said slots included in said relatively large machine;
wherein said surveying module may be removed from said large machine and placed in said slot of said small machine to conduct surveying operations prior to road repair, and then removed from said small machine and replaced in a slot of said large machine for use during road repair operations.- View Dependent Claims (14)
- said system comprising;
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15. A robotic, modular road repair machine comprising:
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a movable vehicle having a plurality of slots, each defined by predetermined dimensions designed to receive a work module;
a plurality of work modules having predetermined dimensions adapted to fit within each said slot;
means for robotically moving said work modules between a working position and an inoperative position; and
means for controlling said means for robotically moving and for controlling actuation of said at least one work module.
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16. A robotic, modular road repair machine comprising:
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a movable vehicle having at least one slot defined by predetermined dimensions designed to receive a work module;
at least one work module having predetermined dimensions adapted to fit within each said slot;
means for robotically moving said at least one work module between a working position and an inoperative position;
means for controlling said means for robotically moving and for controlling actuation of said at least one work module;
at least one hopper for containing a road repair material to be delivered to at least one said module for filling defects; and
means for conveying the repair material from said at least one hopper to said at least one module, wherein said at least one hopper is modular and may be interchanged among various locations in said machine.
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17. A robotic, modular road repair machine comprising:
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a movable vehicle having at least two one slots, each defined by predetermined dimensions designed to receive a work module;
at least one work module having predetermined dimensions adapted to fit within each said slot, wherein said at least one work module may be readily removed from a first of said at least two slots and inserted into a second of said at least two slots;
means for robotically moving said at least one work module between a working position and an inoperative position; and
means for controlling said means for robotically moving and for controlling actuation of said at least one work module.
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Specification