Robotic maintenance vehicle and modules

A robotic maintenance vehicle for conveying traffic cones, comprising:

• a vehicle platform;
• an electrical power source;
• a maintenance module configured to hold a plurality of traffic cones;
• a multi-axis robot powered by the electrical power source, the multi-axis robot configured to convey one of the traffic cones from a road to the maintenance module and convey one of the traffic cones from the maintenance module to the road, the multi-axis robot includes a distal arm tool having a vertical clamp configured to releasably grasp one of the traffic cones disposed substantially vertical on a surface and a horizontal clamp configured to releasably clasp one of the traffic cones disposed substantially horizontal on a surface;
• an optical system configured to identify one of the traffic cones on the road and a location to place one of the traffic cones on the road;
• a location translator spaced apart from the multi-axis robot, the location translator including a linear encoder, the location translator configured to translate the location of one of the traffic cones on the road and the location to place one of the traffic cones on the road identified by the optical system to a working area of the multi-axis robot;
• a control system configured to control the functions of the robotic maintenance vehicle, including the multi-axis robot, the optical system, and the location translator to convey the traffic cones to and from the road;
• and
• an alert system powered by the electrical power source and controlled by the control system, the alert system configured to configured to provide a t least one of a notification to a human operator where an undesired object enters a work area of the multi-axis robot and emergency control of the multi-axis robot where an undesired object enters a work area of the multi-axis robot, wherein the emergency control includes at least one of a speed reduction, an avoidance movement, and an emergency stopping of the multi-axis robot.

A method of using a robotic maintenance vehicle comprising:

• providing a robotic maintenance vehicle including:
• a vehicle platform;
• an electrical power source;
• a maintenance module configured to hold a plurality of traffic cones;
• a multi-axis robot powered by the electrical power source, the multi-axis robot configured to convey one of the traffic cones from a road to the maintenance module and convey one of the traffic cones from the maintenance module to the road;
• an optical system configured to identify one of the traffic cones on the road and a location to place one of the traffic cones on the road;
• a location translator spaced apart from the multi-axis robot, the location translator including a linear encoder, the location translator configured to translate the location of one of the traffic cones on the road and the location to place one of the traffic cones on the road identified by the optical system to a working area of the multi-axis robot;
• and
• a control system configured to control the functions of the robotic maintenance vehicle, including the multi-axis robot, the optical system, and the location translator;
• and
• conveying one of the traffic cones on the road identified by the optical system from the road to the maintenance module or conveying one of the traffic cones from the maintenance module to the location on the road identified by the optical system.