Apparatus and method for joining modules in a field configurable autonomous vehicle
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsEric Seeley, Jacob Snow
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A field configurable autonomous vehicle includes modular elements and attachable components. The vehicle can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed vehicles for each mission. The joints connecting the modules are designed such that power and data connections between modules are reliably made.
Claims38
A connector for joining a first component to a second component in a field configurable autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- a. a male end having:
- i. a plurality of pins;
- ii. a first data bus terminal;
- and
- iii. a first power bus terminal;
- b. a single piece female end having:
- i. a plurality of slots sized for receiving said plurality of pins;
- ii. a second data bus terminal, wherein said second data bus terminal is positioned on said female end to align with said first data bus terminal when said female end is joined with said male end;
- and
- iii. a second power bus terminal, wherein said second power bus terminal is positioned on said female end to align with said first power bus terminal when said female end is joined with said male end;
- and,
- c. a sealing gasket, wherein at least one of the male and female ends further comprise the sealing gasket, wherein the male end is adapted to join to the female end by rotating the male end into the female end, whereby the first and second data bus terminals align as the female end is joined with the male end, and whereby the first and second power bus terminals align as the female end is joined with the male end.
A connector for joining a first component to a second component in a field configurable autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- a. a male end having:
- i. a male thread;
- ii. a first data bus terminal;
- and
- iii. a first power bus terminal;
- b. a single piece female end having:
- i. a female thread;
- ii. a second data bus terminal, wherein said second data bus terminal is positioned on said female end to align with said first data bus terminal when said female end is joined with said male end;
- and
- iii. a second power bus terminal, wherein said second power bus terminal is positioned on said female end to align with said first power bus terminal when said female end is joined with said male end;
- and,
- c. a sealing gasket, wherein at least one of the male and female ends further comprise the sealing gasket, wherein the male end is adapted to join to the female end by rotating the male end into the female end, whereby the first and second data bus terminals align as the female end is joined with the male end, and whereby the first and second power bus terminals align as the female end is joined with the male end.
A modular component for a field configurable autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- a. a male end having:
- i. a plurality of pins;
- ii. a first data bus terminal;
- and
- iii. a first power bus terminal;
- b. a single piece female end having:
- i. a plurality of slots sized for receiving said plurality of pins;
- ii. a second data bus terminal, wherein said second data bus terminal is positioned on said female end to align with said first data bus terminal;
- and
- iii. a second power bus terminal, wherein said second power bus terminal is positioned on said female end to align with said first power bus terminal;
- and,
- c. a sealing gasket, wherein at least one of the male and female ends further comprise the sealing gasket, wherein the male end is adapted to join to the female end by rotating the male end into the female end, whereby the first and second data bus terminals align as the female end is joined with the male end, and whereby the first and second power bus terminals align as the female end is joined with the male end.
A modular component for a field configurable autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- a. a male end having:
- i. a male thread;
- ii. a first data bus terminal;
- and
- iii. a first power bus terminal;
- and
- b. a single piece female end having:
- i. a female thread;
- ii. a second data bus terminal, wherein said second data bus terminal is positioned on said female end to align with said first data bus terminal;
- and
- iii. a second power bus terminal, wherein said second power bus terminal is positioned on said female end to align with said first power bus terminal;
- and,
- c. a sealing gasket, wherein at least one of the male and female ends further comprise the sealing gasket, wherein the male end is adapted to join to the female end by rotating the male end into the female end, whereby the first and second data bus terminals align as the female end is joined with the male end, and whereby the first and second power bus terminals align as the female end is joined with the male end.
In a field configurable autonomous vehicle, a method for attaching a first configurable component to a second configurable component comprising the steps of:
- a. inserting a plurality of pins from a male end of a first configurable component into a plurality of slots located on a female end of a second configurable component wherein at least one of the male and single piece female ends further comprise the sealing gasket;
- b. rotating the male end into the female end, whereby said plurality of pins traverses in said plurality of slots until a first power bus terminal and a first data bus terminal of said first configurable component aligns with a second power bus terminal and a second data bus terminal of said second configurable component.
In a field configurable autonomous vehicle, a method for attaching a first configurable component to a second configurable component, comprising the steps of:
- a. inserting a male thread from a male end of a first configurable component into a female thread located on a female end of a second configurable component, wherein at least one of the male and single piece female ends further comprise the sealing gasket;
- and,
- b. rotating said male thread in said female thread until a first power bus terminal and a first data bus terminal of said first configurable component aligns with a second power bus terminal and a second data bus terminal of said second configurable component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.