Interchangeable modular robotic unit

• US 8,930,021 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Schmidt, Ramon Green
• Original Assignee: Peter Schmidt, Ramon Green
• Inventors: Green, Ramon, Schmidt, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US13/779,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20130226342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 701/41, 700/245, 180/65.5, 180/65.1, 180/2.2, 180/8.2, 105/11.4, 105/49
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/026 Acoustical sensing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/08 characterised by modular constructions

Abstract

A modular, mobile, robotic unit having an octagon frame with a removable top and a bottom. The frame is of a substantial diameter to hold various attachments. Centered on the faces of the sides of the frame are utility augment ports capable of equipping utility augments. A magnetic fastener strip is located between a plurality of utility augment port shields and a magnet. The frame has an inner compartment housing a plurality of electronics and a plurality of components. The frame has a main compartment crib enclosure, a power supply crib enclosure located below the main compartment crib enclosure, and a waterproof crib enclosure coupled to a platform on the top of the frame. Ultrasonic collision detection sensors are attached to the sides of the frame. Mobility augmentation ports are coupled onto the top and bottom of the frame to hold mobility augments for attaching various transportation methods.

Claims

1. A modular robotic unit comprising:

a multi-sided frame, comprising a removable top and a bottom, of a substantial diameter to hold a plurality of attachments;

a set of utility augment ports centered on a face of the multi-sided of the frame;

a set of utility augments attached to the set of utility augment ports;

a set of utility augment port shields, wherein a magnetic fastener strip is located between a set of shields and a magnet;

an inner compartment of the frame housing a set of electronics and a set of components;

a main compartment crib enclosure located within the frame;

a power supply crib enclosure located below the main component crib enclosure;

a platform coupled onto the removable top of the frame housing the set of attachments;

a waterproof crib enclosure coupled to a top of the platform;

a set of ultrasonic collision detector sensors coupled to the sides of the frame below the utility augment ports;

a set of mobility augment ports coupled on the removable top and the bottom of the frame; and

a mobility augment located on the removable top and the bottom of the frame disposed to attach a set of transportation methods.

2. The modular robotic unit of claim 1, wherein the set of main components further comprise a microcontroller, a central processing unit, a SD memory card, and an inertial measurement unit.

3. The modular robotic unit of claim 2, wherein the central processing unit further comprises a USB wireless adapter disposed to allow a user to access the robotic unit using any networked device selected from the group consisting of a computer, a tablet, or a smartphone.

4. The modular robotic unit of claim 2, wherein the inertial measurement unit further comprises an accelerometer and a gyroscope sensor connected to the microcontroller.

5. The modular robotic unit of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a LED status indicator, wherein the LED illuminates red when the unit is booting, illuminates green when the unit is ready for command and illuminates yellow when the unit is attempting recovery from a potentially hazardous or unsuitable environment and is not accepting command.

6. The modular robotic unit of claim 1, wherein the utility augment ports house a set of utility augments selected from the group consisting of sensors, mounting brackets, and interactive devices.

7. The modular robotic unit of claim 6, wherein the utility augments are removably pinned to the utility augment ports.

8. The modular robotic unit of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic collision detector sensors sweep comprises a range of 360 degrees out from a center of the robotic unit.

9. The modular robotic unit of claim 1, further comprising a secondary utility augment hub comprising a power switch;

a SD card slot, a plurality of USB ports;

an auxiliary power supply port; and

a simple two-pin communications port.

10. The modular robotic unit of claim 1, further comprising a Lithium-Ion battery pack.

11. The modular robotic unit of claim 1, wherein the mobility augment further comprises:

a plurality of rotatable shafts coupled to the bottom of the frame, further comprising a plurality of wheels; and

a rotor system coupled to a top portion of the frame.

12. A robotic unit comprising:

a frame apparatus comprising an internal portion comprising at least two compartments, wherein the at least two compartments house a set of systems electronics and a set of systems components wherein the systems components comprise;

a set of utility augment port crib enclosures;

a set of collision detection sensors to detect objects and obstacles and to prevent collisions;

at least one power source;

a set of lock couplings;

and a set of motherboards comprising wherein each of the set of motherboards comprises;

a microcontroller;

a central processing unit;

a memory card; and

,

an inertial measurement unit.

13. The robotic unit of claim 12 wherein the inertial measurement unit comprises an accelerometer and a gyroscopic sensor for control of the stability of the robotic unit.

14. The robotic unit of claim 12 wherein the frame apparatus comprises an upper segment and a lower segment and a set of mobility augment ports disposed to receive a set of mobility and dynamic attachments.

15. The robotic unit of claim 12 wherein the frame apparatus comprises an upper portion and the upper portion comprises a platform comprising a utility crib enclosure.

16. The robotic unit of claim 12 wherein the frame apparatus comprises a set of side portions and the side portions comprise a set of ultrasonic collision detector sensors attached to the side potions of the frame apparatus.

17. The robotic unit of claim 12 wherein the frame apparatus further comprises a set of lock couplings in mechanical communication with the utility augments and in mechanical communication with the robotic unit in order to join the utility augments to the robotic unit.

18. The robotic unit of claim 15 wherein the utility port crib enclosure comprises:

a removable cover;

a utility augment port connector; and

,

a utility augment port fastener aperture.

19. The robotic unit of claim 12 further comprising a set of utility augments.

20. The robotic unit of claim 19 wherein the set of utility augments is selected from group consisting of sensors, electronic devices, mounting brackets, converter platforms and grabber claws.