US 9,287,703 B2Granted

Generalized system architecture for peripheral connectivity and control

AssigneeDRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.

InventorsMatthew Wootton, Travis Dierks

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Abstract

Generally, systems, devices, and methods for a generalized architecture for power and networking in robotic systems is presented. On a robotic chassis, a branching cable harness routes multiple power connections and communications interfaces from an onboard computer and multiple power supplies to various locations on the chassis. Each branch carries all the power and communications connections that are needed by various peripherals, and all the branches terminate with identical connectors. A custom patch cable for each peripheral, such as a camera, taps the appropriate power and communications interfaces from the branches for the peripheral. The peripherals can be relocated on the chassis by unplugging their respective patch cables from the central cable, relocating, and then plugged the patch cables into the nearest branch.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A robotic system having multiple common interfaces for user-relocatable peripherals, comprising:

a chassis;
multiple power supplies;
at least one communication interface;
a plurality of common connectors located on positions distributed around the chassis, each common connector operatively connected via conductors with the multiple power supplies and the at least one communication interface, the common connectors having an identical power and communication layout with respect to one another, at least one conductor configured for connecting with a first power supply having a different gauge than a second conductor configured for connecting with a second power supply;
a set of patch cables for connecting the common connectors with different peripherals, each patch cable adapted to mate with any of the common connectors and tap appropriate power and communications lines for a respective peripheral, whereby the different peripherals and associated patch cables can be moved to different positions around the chassis by an end user without re-wiring the chassis;
a plurality of common rigid mechanical mounts for the peripherals, each common rigid mechanical mount being identical to one another and located proximate to a common connector;
and
a plurality of thumbscrews, each thumbscrew connected with a corresponding mechanical mount.

5 more elements

A power and signal distribution system for a robotic system, comprising:

a first power supply, the first power supply adapted to provide a first voltage;
a second power supply, the second power supply adapted to provide a second voltage;
at least one communication interface, the at least one communication interface adapted to send or receive signals;
a central cable having a first end and a plurality of branches opposite the first end, each branch of the central cable having a common branch connector, each common branch connector having a same type and size as all of the other common branch connectors of the central cable, each common branch connector having an identical layout of power and signal connection points with respect to the other common branch connectors, the connection points of each common branch connector operatively connected through the first end of the central cable with the first power supply, the second power supply, and the communication interface;
and
a first power conductor in the central cable operatively connected with the first power supply;
a second power conductor in the central cable operatively connected with the second power supply, wherein the first and second power conductors are of a different gauge than one another;
a first patch cable and a second patch cable, each patch cable having a common proximal connector configured to mate with any of the common branch connectors of the central cable, each patch cable having a distal connector opposite the respective proximal connector, wherein the first patch cable distal connector is not operatively connected with the second power supply and the second patch cable distal connector is not operatively connected with the first power supply;
a plurality of common rigid mechanical mounts for peripherals, each common rigid mechanical mount being identical to one another and located proximate to a common branch connector;
and
a plurality of thumbscrews, each thumbscrew connected with a corresponding mechanical mount.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.