Unmanned vehicle retrofitting applique assembly

• US 9,844,880 B1
• Filed: 08/06/2015
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kairos Autonomi, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kairos Autonomi, Inc.
• Inventors: Takach, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/820,337
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/00 Manipulators not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0009 Constructional details, e.g. manipulator supports, bases
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1679 characterised by the tasks executed
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/16 operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/00 Arrangements for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or ground-surface conditions, e.g. limiting or varying distribution of braking force by changing number of effective brake cylinders in power brake systems B60T17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17 Using electrical or electronic regulation means to control braking detecting or indicating faulty operation B60T8/885
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/00 Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/00 Testing of vehicles testing fluid tightness G01M3/00; testing elastic properties of bodies or chassis, e.g. torsion-testing, G01M5/00; testing alignment of vehicle headlight devices G01M11/06; testing of engines G01M15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/30 End effector

Abstract

A robotic applique assembly for incorporation into a manually controlled vehicle to provide unmanned operational capability to the vehicle includes an assembly body configured to be positioned into the vehicle in substantially the same area occupied by a user of the vehicle. The assembly body can have a series of segments including a torso segment, a bench segment and a leg segment. The segments are pivotally coupled one to another to allow adjustment of position of the segments relative to one another.

Claims

1. A method of providing unmanned operational capability to a manually controllable vehicle, comprising:

obtaining an assembly body, including a bench segment, a torso segment and a leg segment folded into a folded configuration such that the bench segment, torso segment and leg segment stack atop one another;

unfolding and positioning a bench segment of an assembly body upon a seat portion of a seat of the vehicle;

unfolding and positioning a torso segment of the assembly body against a back rest portion of the seat of the vehicle;

unfolding and extending a leg segment of the assembly body downwardly from the seat portion of the seat of the vehicle toward foot pedals of the vehicle; and

engaging the foot pedals of the vehicle with legs extending from the leg segment of the assembly body to enable operation of the foot pedals by the legs.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising engaging a steering wheel of the vehicle with a steering linkage extending from the torso segment, to enable operation of the steering wheel by the steering linkage.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the torso segment is foldable relative to the bench segment, and wherein the bench segment is foldable relative to the leg segment, to allow the segments to be foldable into a compact configuration.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising returning the vehicle to a manually controllable state by removing the steering extension and legs from the vehicle while the assembly body remains within the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising positioning an operator upon the assembly body while the assembly body remains in the vehicle and engaging the foot pedals of the vehicle with feet of the operator.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the body assembly from the vehicle and storing the assembly body in the folded condition.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more moveable feet, coupleable to the leg segment, the moveable feet being positionable so as to allow operation of foot pedals of the vehicle by the moveable feet.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the moveable feet are removably coupleable to the leg segment, so as to be removable for carriage and storage of the assembly.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the compact configuration has a total width of about sixteen inches, a total height of about ten inches, and a total depth of about twenty-three inches.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the segments has a thickness of less than about 2.75 inches.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly has a total weight of less than about fifty pounds.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a human operator can sit atop the assembly, when the assembly in positioned in the vehicle, and manually operate the vehicle while the assembly is positioned in the vehicle.

7. A robotic applique assembly for incorporation into a manually controllable vehicle to provide unmanned operational capability to the vehicle, the assembly comprising:

an assembly body configured to be positioned into the vehicle in an area normally occupied by a user of the vehicle, the body having a series of segments including;

a torso segment;

a bench segment; and

a leg segment; and

a steering linkage, coupleable to the torso segment, the steering linkage coupleable to a steering wheel of the vehicle so as to be controllable by the applique assembly;

wherein the segments are pivotally coupled one to another to allow adjustment of position of the segments relative to one another; and

wherein the torso segment, bench segment and leg segments are foldable atop one another to allow the assembly to be folded into a compact configuration when removed from the vehicle.

14. A robotic applique assembly for incorporation into a manually controllable vehicle to provide unmanned operational capability to the vehicle, the assembly comprising:

a bench segment positionable upon a seat portion of a seat of the manually controllable vehicle;

a torso segment positionable against a back rest portion of the seat of the manually controllable vehicle, the torso segment including a rotatable hub associated therewith;

a leg segment extending downwardly from the seat portion of the seat of the vehicle toward foot pedals of the vehicle;

a steering extension, coupleable to the rotatable hub of the torso segment, the steering extension sized to extend from the torso segment to an area adjacent a steering wheel of the manually controllable vehicle; and

a steering plate, coupleable to the steering extension and to a steering wheel of the manually controllable vehicle;

the steering plate, steering extension and rotatable hub cooperatively allowing unmanned control of the steering system of the manually operable vehicle;

wherein

the torso segment, bench segment and leg segments are foldable atop one another to allow the assembly to be folded into a compact configuration when removed from the vehicle.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the rotatable hub includes one or more components that are rotatable relative to the torso segment.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the steering extension is adjustable in length.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the steering extension includes one or more removable pins that allow a length of the steering extension to be adjusted.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the steering extension includes one or more components arranged telescopically relative to one another.