Back to results
US 11,905,667 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for mobile additive manufacturing
OwnerRobert A. Flitsch, Frederick A. Flitschinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides various advancements for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing. The present disclosure includes methods for the utilization of mobile and automated processing apparatus and may include examples of sealcoating operations. In some examples, omnidirectional drive systems such as Mecanum wheels may create novel operational aspects. Artificial intelligence techniques may enhance operations and may be used to create model for the processing apparatus.
Claims17
A method for applying a first material to a surface, the process comprising:
- loading at least the first material into a team comprising at least a first mobile additive manufacturing apparatus and a second mobile additive manufacturing apparatus, wherein each of the first mobile manufacturing apparatus and the second mobile manufacturing apparatus comprise:
- a navigation system to determine location,
- a mobile additive manufacturing apparatus controller capable of executing algorithms and providing control signals,
- a vision system capable of scanning the surface and measuring a topography of the surface,
- a mobile additive manufacturing system to deposit at least the first material in a prescribed location on the surface according to a digital model processed by the mobile additive manufacturing apparatus controller,
- a power system capable of providing power to operate at least the vision system, the navigation system, the mobile additive manufacturing apparatus controller and the mobile additive manufacturing system, and
- a communication system;
- loading software algorithms into an artificial processing system with a communication system, wherein the communication system provides communication between at least the first mobile additive manufacturing apparatus, the second mobile additive manufacturing apparatus and the artificial intelligence processing system;
- communicating an objective for applying the material to the surface to the artificial intelligence processing system, wherein the artificial intelligence processing system comprises a program which executes at least a first algorithm;
- receiving information at the artificial intelligence processing system from the first mobile additive manufacturing apparatus comprising at least a location determined by the navigation system of the first mobile additive manufacturing apparatus;
- processing the received information with the artificial intelligence processing system with at least a first artificial intelligence algorithm;
- and
- communicating at least movement plans from the artificial intelligence processing system to at least each of the first mobile additive manufacturing apparatus and the second mobile additive manufacturing apparatus of the team.
10 more elements
A mobile additive manufacturing apparatus for depositing a first seal coating material comprising:
- a navigation system to determine location;
- a controller capable of executing algorithms and providing control signals,
- a vision system capable of scanning a first surface and measuring a topography of the surface as the mobile additive manufacturing apparatus moves over the first surface;
- a drive system to move the mobile additive manufacturing apparatus;
- a mobile additive manufacturing system to deposit at least the first material for seal coating in a prescribed location on the surface according to a digital model processed by the controller;
- a power system capable of providing power to operate at least the drive system, the navigation system, the controller and the mobile additive manufacturing system;
- a chassis, wherein the chassis supports all of the navigation system, the controller, the vision system, the drive system, the mobile additive manufacturing system and the power system;
- and
- a rotary dispensing system, wherein the rotary dispensing system comprises a rotary gantry, wherein the rotary gantry is moved by a motor driving an element around a central axis supported by the chassis;
- and
- wherein the rotary gantry comprises at least a first squeegee and at least a first nozzle, wherein the rotary gantry continuously rotates around the central axis while the nozzle dispenses the first seal coating material, and wherein the rotating squeegee spreads out the first seal coating material on the first surface as the mobile additive manufacturing apparatus moves across the first surface.
8 more elements
A method of seal coating a first surface, the method comprising:
- loading at least a first seal coating material into at least a first mobile additive manufacturing apparatus, wherein the first mobile manufacturing apparatus comprises:
- a navigation system to determine location,
- a controller capable of executing algorithms and providing control signals,
- a vision system capable of scanning a first surface and measuring a topography of the surface as the first mobile additive manufacturing apparatus moves over the first surface,
- a drive system to move the first mobile additive manufacturing apparatus,
- a first mobile additive manufacturing system to deposit at least the first material for seal coating in a prescribed location on the surface according to a digital model processed by the controller,
- a power system capable of providing power to operate at least the drive system, navigation system, controller and the first mobile additive manufacturing system,
- a chassis, wherein the chassis supports all of the navigation system, the controller, the vision system, the drive system, the first mobile additive manufacturing system and the power system, and
- a rotary dispensing system, wherein the rotary dispensing system comprises a rotary gantry, wherein the rotary gantry is moved by a motor driving an element around a central axis supported by the chassis;
- moving the first mobile additive manufacturing apparatus with the drive system, wherein the amount of movement is controlled by the digital model;
- and
- dispensing the seal coating material on the first surface while the first mobile additive manufacturing apparatus is moving, wherein the amount of the seal coating material dispensed is controlled by the digital model;
- and
- wherein the rotary gantry comprises at least a first squeegee and at least a first nozzle, wherein the rotary gantry continuously rotates around the central axis while the nozzle dispenses the first seal coating material, and wherein the rotating squeegee spreads out the first seal coating material on the first surface as the first mobile additive manufacturing apparatus moves across the first surface.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.