US 12,485,809 B2 · Interfaces for vehicular retrieval, transportation, and/or deposition of payloads and methods thereof

Abstract

Some embodiments of the disclosure are directed to latching interfaces of a vehicle. In some embodiments, the vehicle comprises a latch system including a plurality of latches configured to selectively interlock with a corresponding first plurality of latch receptacles of a respective payload. In some embodiments, the vehicle comprises a second plurality of latch receptacles disposed on exterior portions of the chassis of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the second plurality of latch receptacles correspond to the first plurality of latch receptacles. In some embodiments, a spatial arrangement of the second plurality of latch receptacles on the exterior portions of the chassis of the vehicle corresponds to a spatial arrangement of the first plurality of latch receptacles on exterior portions of the respective payload. In some embodiments, the second plurality of latch receptacles of the vehicle are configured to interlock with a latching interface of an external system.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A vehicle comprising:

a chassis, comprising:
a first plurality of attachment elements configured to be attached to an external system for retrieving and transporting the vehicle with respect to a reference by the external system, wherein the attachment elements included in the first plurality of attachment elements are arranged with a respective spatial arrangement relative to each other;
and
a payload retrieval system configured to attach the chassis to a respective payload at a second plurality of attachment elements included in the respective payload, wherein the attachment elements included in the second plurality of attachment elements are arranged with the respective spatial arrangement relative to each other;
a plurality of control legs coupled to the chassis;
a plurality of propulsion components coupled to the plurality of control legs;
and
one or more processors in communication with the payload retrieval system, the one or more processors programmed to selectively control the payload retrieval system to attach the chassis to the respective payload at the second plurality of attachment elements;
wherein the external system includes a crane system.

6 more elements

A vehicle comprising:

a chassis, comprising:
a first plurality of attachment elements configured to be attached to an external system for retrieving and transporting the vehicle with respect to a reference by the external system, wherein the attachment elements included in the first plurality of attachment elements are arranged with a respective spatial arrangement relative to each other;
and
a payload retrieval system configured to attach the chassis to a respective payload at a second plurality of attachment elements included in the respective payload, wherein the attachment elements included in the second plurality of attachment elements are arranged with the respective spatial arrangement relative to each other;
a plurality of control legs coupled to the chassis;
a plurality of propulsion components coupled to the plurality of control legs;
one or more processors in communication with the payload retrieval system, the one or more processors programmed to selectively control the payload retrieval system to attach the chassis to the respective payload at the second plurality of attachment elements;
and
wherein:
the first plurality of attachment elements includes a first plurality of latch receptacles;
the second plurality of attachment elements includes a second plurality of latch receptacles;
and
when the respective payload is attached to the chassis at the second plurality of latch receptacles, the vehicle and the respective payload are configured to be retrieved and transported together via the external system attached to the first plurality of latch receptacles.

10 more elements

A vehicle comprising:

a chassis, comprising:
a first plurality of attachment elements configured to be attached to an external system for retrieving and transporting the vehicle with respect to a reference by the external system, wherein the attachment elements included in the first plurality of attachment elements are arranged with a respective spatial arrangement relative to each other;
and
a payload retrieval system configured to attach the chassis to a respective payload at a second plurality of attachment elements included in the respective payload, wherein the attachment elements included in the second plurality of attachment elements are arranged with the respective spatial arrangement relative to each other;
a plurality of control legs coupled to the chassis;
a plurality of propulsion components coupled to the plurality of control legs;
one or more processors in communication with the payload retrieval system, the one or more processors programmed to selectively control the payload retrieval system to attach the chassis to the respective payload at the second plurality of attachment elements;
and
wherein:
the payload retrieval system is further configured to attach the chassis to a respective functional module, the respective functional module comprising a third plurality of attachment elements;
the plurality of control legs includes a first control leg and a second control leg;
the plurality of propulsion components includes a first propulsion component and a second propulsion component, the first propulsion component coupled to the first control leg, and the second propulsion component coupled to the second control leg;
and
the one or more processors are in communication with the first control leg and the second control leg and the first propulsion component and the second propulsion component, the one or more processors programmed to selectively control the first control leg and the second control leg and selectively control the first propulsion component and the second propulsion component to perform a respective action involving the respective functional module.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interfaces for vehicular retrieval, transportation, and/or deposition of payloads and methods thereof

Life of this patent

Interfaces for vehicular retrieval, transportation, and/or deposition of payloads and methods thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24