Implement attachment system for autonomous modular ground utility robot system

An automatic implement attachment and detachment system comprising:

• a ground utility robot configured to work in an outside environment having:
• at least two fused sensors used to collect data from a sensed environment where said at least one of said two fused sensors is a camera;
• a computer processor that combines said sensed environment data to map said sensed environment;
• and
• a computer memory to store said data;
• a quick hitch attachment apparatus comprising:
• a body securable to said ground utility robot;
• at least one mateable connection part;
• at least one lockable connection point;
• an implement comprising:
• an implement body;
• and
• at least one connection member mateably connectable to said at least one connection part at said at least one connection point;
• an identification tag, embedded with implementation identification data, that is visible and readable by at least one of said at least two fused sensors;
• said implement attachment and detachment system uses said map and said identification tag to navigate said robot to automatically attach and detach said implement to and from said ground utility robot;
• and
• said processor utilizes and combines said identification tag implement identification data with newly acquired data from said sensed environment that is collected, compiled and uploaded to said memory each time said utility robot attaches and detaches from said implement.

A method of automatically attaching and detaching an implement to and from a ground utility robot configured to work in an outside environment, comprising the steps of:

• using at least two fused sensors affixed to said ground utility robot for sensing an environment and collecting data from said sensed environment where said at least one of said at least two fused sensors is a camera;
• said camera is receiving images and communicating said images to a computer processor;
• using said computer processor for combining said data from said sensed environment and mapping said sensed environment;
• said computer processor is collecting and compiling all data into a databank;
• storing compiled data in a computer memory;
• learning within a system;
• and
• eventually recognizing said implement;
• connecting a quick hitch attachment apparatus to an implement where said quick hitch attachment apparatus comprises:
• a body securable to said ground utility robot;
• at least one mateable connection part;
• at least one locking device;
• and
• said implement comprises;
• an implement body;
• and
• at least one connection member;
• using said ground utility robot for locating said implement;
• activating and using said at least two fused sensors for sensing and recognizing said implement and combining implement data with said mapped data;
• aligning said implement with said quick hitch attachment apparatus by using said implement data and said mapped data from said sensed environment;
• engaging said implement with said quick hitch attachment apparatus by connecting said at least one connection part to said at least one connection member;
• securing said implement to said quick hitch attachment apparatus by using said at least one locking device, where
• said implement further includes an identification tag having data about said implement, where said system is used for:
• reading said identification tag;
• conveying said data from said identification tag to said computer processor for processing;
• and
• using said data for attaching and detaching said implement to and from said quick hitch attachment apparatus.