Modular mobile robot
AssigneeFoster-Miller, Inc.
InventorsLance L. Andrus, Brian DeStefano, Scott R. Albin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular mobile robot with a chassis including a power source housed therein. Right and left hand track modules are each removeably coupled to the robot chassis. Each track module includes a side plate, at least one drive wheel rotatable with respect to the side plate, a motor for driving the drive wheel, at least one idler rotatable with respect to the side plate, and a track extending around the drive wheel, the side plate, and the idler. A turret assembly with its own turret drive subsystem is removeably coupled to the robot chassis via a quick release mechanism.
Claims24
A modular mobile robot comprising:
- a robot chassis;
- a power source housed therein;
- right and left hand track modules each removably coupled to the robot chassis, each track module including:
- a side plate,
- at least one drive wheel rotatable with respect to the side plate,
- a motor for driving the drive wheel,
- at least one idler rotatable with respect to the side plate, and
- a track extending around the drive wheel, the side plate, and the idler;
- and
- a turret assembly with its own turret drive subsystem and removeably coupled to the robot chassis via a quick release mechanism.
A mobile robot comprising:
- a robot chassis defining a battery cavity;
- and
- left and right track modules spreadable with respect to the chassis via hinges attaching the track modules to the robot chassis to access the battery cavity, each module including:
- a side plate,
- at least one drive wheel rotatable with respect to the side plate,
- a motor for driving the drive wheel,
- at least one idler rotatable with respect to the side plate, and
- a track extending around the drive wheel, the side plate, and the idler,
- a clamp assembly for each track side plate releasably coupling each track module to the robot chassis, each clamp assembly including a cam follower releasably urged against a portion of the robot chassis.
A mobile robot comprising:
- a robot chassis defining a battery cavity;
- left and right track modules each including a side plate, at least one drive wheel rotatable with respect to the side plate, a motor for driving the drive wheel, at least one idler rotatable with respect to the side plate, and a track extending around the drive wheel, the side plate, and the idler;
- a hinge attaching each track module to the robot chassis;
- and
- a clamp assembly for each track module releasably coupling the track module to the robot chassis, each clamp assembly including a cam follower releasably urged against a portion of the robot chassis.
A mobile robot comprising:
- a robot chassis defining a battery cavity;
- left and right track modules each including a side plate, at least one drive wheel
- rotatable with respect to the side plate, a motor for driving the drive wheel, at
- least one idler rotatable with respect to the side plate, and a track extending
- around the drive wheel, the side plate, and the idler;
- a hinge attaching each track module to the robot chassis;
- and
- a clamp assembly for each track module releasably coupling the track module to the robot chassis,
- each clamp assembly further including a clamping bracket coupled to a track side plate and a bore therethrough having a first longitudinal central axis, and a cam throw sleeve secured to the cam follower and including a bore having a second longitudinal central axis offset from the first longitudinal axis, and a handle for rotating the cam throw sleeve and the cam follower.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.