Robotic maintenance vehicle and modules
AssigneeRmv Leasing LLC
InventorTodd Hendricks, Sr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The robotic maintenance vehicle (RMV) has a propulsion system, a control system, an electrical power source, a maintenance module, a multi-axis robot, an optical system, and a location translator. The maintenance module is configured to hold different kinds of road maintenance materials. The multi-axis robot is configured to convey the road maintenance material from either the maintenance module to the road, the road to the maintenance module, or both. The optical system and the location translator are configured to be controlled by the control system and operate in conjunction to instruct the multi-axis robot where to pick up and/or place the road maintenance material. The multi-axis robot is configured to be selectively coupled to a distal arm tool.
Claims21
A robotic maintenance vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle platform;
- an electrical power source;
- a multi-axis robot powered by the electrical power source, the multi-axis robot configured to perform a road maintenance operation;
- an optical system configured to identify a road feature;
- a location translator spaced apart from the multi-axis robot, the location translator including a linear encoder, the location translator configured to translate a location of the road feature identified by the optical system to a working area of the multi-axis robot;
- a propulsion system configured to propel the robotic maintenance vehicle;
- and
- an autonomous control system spaced apart from the location translator, the autonomous control system configured to control motion of the multi-axis robot based on the translated location of the road feature.
A method of using a robotic maintenance vehicle comprising:
- providing a robotic maintenance vehicle including:
- a vehicle platform;
- an electrical power source,
- a multi-axis robot powered by the electrical power source, the multi-axis robot configured to perform a road maintenance operation;
- an optical system configured to identify a road feature;
- a location translator spaced apart from the multi-axis robot, the location translator including a linear encoder, the location translator configured to translate a location of the road feature identified by the optical system to a working area of the multi-axis robot;
- a propulsion system configured to propel the robotic maintenance vehicle;
- and
- an autonomous control system spaced apart from the location translator, the autonomous control system configured to control motion of the multi-axis robot based on the translated location of the road feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.