Mobile delivery robot with interior cargo space

• US 9,535,421 B1
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savioke, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Savioke, Inc.
• Inventors: Canoso, Adrian, Binney, Jonathan, Rockey, Chad
• Primary Examiner(s): MOYER, DALE S
• Application Number:
  US14/636,084
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 901/1, 382/568.12, 701 23- 28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/008 Manipulators for service tasks
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/007 mounted on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0214 in accordance with safety or protection criteria, e.g. avoiding hazardous areas monitoring the location of vehicles within a certain area, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas, in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/13
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0248 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A mobile robot can include an elongated body disposed in a vertical direction and having an approximately cylindrical shape; a user interface within an upper 20 centimeters of the body and inclined to be accessible from above and in front of the robot; at least one depth sensor that is mounted at or near a top of the body and having at least one field of view; at least one container formed within the body; and a drive mechanism disposed within the body.

Claims

1. A mobile robot, comprising:

an elongated body disposed in a vertical direction and having an approximately cylindrical shape;

a user interface within an upper 20 centimeters of the body and inclined to be accessible from above and in front of the robot;

at least one depth sensor that is mounted at or near a top of the body and having at least one field of view;

at least one container formed within the body that includes a lid actuated by the robot; and

a drive mechanism disposed within the body.

2. The mobile robot of claim 1, wherein:

the user interface comprises a touchscreen.

3. The mobile robot of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one container is accessible from a top of the robot.

4. The mobile robot of claim 1, wherein:

the lid opens in a direction away from the user interface.

5. The mobile robot of claim 1, wherein:

the lid is electronically securable.

6. The mobile robot of claim 1, wherein:

the robot travels on a surface, and

the at least one field of view includes at least a portion of a first meter of the surface in the robot'"'"'s direction of travel.

7. The mobile robot of claim 6, wherein:

the at least one field of view further includes a space directly in front of the robot in the robot'"'"'s direction of travel.

8. The mobile robot of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one container is formed within a top of the robot and the lid is electronically securable lid and opens in a direction away from the user interface; and

the robot has a center of gravity below a vertical midway point of the robot when the at least one container is empty.

9. A mobile robot, comprising:

an elongated body having a height between 0.5 and 2 meters and width no greater than a meter;

at least one depth sensor proximate a top of the body;

a user interface proximate or on the top of the body;

at least one container formed in the top of the body; and

a drive mechanism disposed within the body;

wherein

the at least one container includes a lid that is actuated by the robot.

10. The mobile robot of claim 9, wherein:

the lid opens in a direction away from the user interface.

11. The mobile robot of claim 9, wherein:

the lid is electronically securable.

12. The mobile robot of claim 9, wherein:

the user interface is accessible from a front of the robot; and

the lid includes a hinge at a back of the robot;

wherein

the front of the robot faces the robot'"'"'s direction of travel.

13. The mobile robot of claim 9, wherein:

the body has a rounded shape in cross section;

the user interface is inclined to be accessible from above and in front of the robot;

the at least one container is accessible from a front of the robot, where the user interface is accessed, and the lid is electronically securable;

the at least one depth sensor has at least one field of view that includes at least a portion of a first meter of a surface on which the robot travels; and

the robot has a center of gravity below a vertical midway point of the robot when the at least one container is empty.

14. A mobile robot, comprising:

an elongated body with a generally round cross section;

at least one depth sensor;

a user interface proximate a top of the body;

at least one container formed within the body that includes a lid actuated by the robot; and

a drive mechanism disposed within the body;

wherein

the robot has a center of gravity below a vertical midway point of the robot when the at least one container is empty.

15. The mobile robot of claim 14, wherein:

the robot has a center of gravity below a vertical midway point of the robot when storing objects in the at least one container that weighs no more than ¼

the weight of the robot.

16. The mobile robot of claim 14, wherein:

the at least one container is formed in a top of the robot.

17. The mobile robot of claim 14, wherein:

the user interface comprises a touchscreen.

18. The mobile robot of claim 14, wherein:

the user interface is disposed within an upper 20 centimeters of the body and inclined to be accessible from above and in front of the robot.

19. The mobile robot of claim 14, wherein:

the body has a rounded shape in cross section;

the user interface is inclined to be accessible from above and in front of the robot;

the at least one container is accessible from a front of the robot where the user interface is accessed, and includes an electronically securable lid;

the at least one depth sensor has at least one field of view that includes at least a portion of a first meter of a surface on which the robot travels; and

the robot has a center of gravity below a vertical midway point of the robot when the at least one container is empty.