Modular mobility base for a modular autonomous logistics vehicle transport apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11077551-B2
Application number	US-201916351566-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2019
Priority date	Mar 14, 2018
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A modular mobility base for a modular autonomous bot apparatus transporting an item being shipped including a mobile base platform, a component alignment interface, a mobility controller, a propulsion and steering system, and sensors. The component alignment interface provides an alignment channel into which another modular component can be placed and secured on the platform. The mobility controller generates propulsion control signals for controlling speed of the modular mobility base and steering control signals for navigation of the modular mobility base. The propulsion system is connected to the platform and responsive to the propulsion control signal. The steering system is connected to the mobile base platform and is responsive to the steering control signal to cause changes to directional movement of the modular mobility base. The sensors are disposed on the platform provide feedback sensor data to the mobility controller about a condition of the modular mobility base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular mobility base for a modular autonomous bot apparatus that transports an item being shipped, the modular mobility base comprising:
a mobile base platform;
a modular component alignment interface disposed on the mobile base platform, the modular alignment interface providing at least one channel into which another modular component of the modular autonomous bot apparatus can be placed and secured on the mobile base platform;
a mobility controller disposed as part of the mobile base platform, the mobility controller being operative to generate a propulsion control signal for controlling speed of the modular mobility base and a steering control signal for controlling navigation of the modular mobility base;
a propulsion system connected to the mobile base platform, the propulsion system being responsive to the propulsion control signal from the mobility controller and operative to cause changes to the speed of the modular mobility base;
a steering system connected to the mobile base platform and coupled to the propulsion system, the steering system being responsive to the steering control signal from the mobility controller and operative to cause changes to directional movement of the modular mobility base; and
a plurality of sensors coupled to the mobility controller, wherein each of the sensors being disposed on the mobile base platform, wherein the sensors being operative to autonomously generate and provide feedback sensor data to the mobility controller about a condition of the modular mobility base.

2. The modular mobility base of claim 1 , wherein the mobile base platform comprises:
a support base having the modular alignment interface and the sensors, the support base comprising at least (a) a top support surface on which the modular alignment interface is disposed and (b) a plurality of peripheral edges on which the sensors are disposed; and
a set of wheels coupled to the support base, wherein at least a first portion of the set of wheels being further coupled to the propulsion system and wherein at least a second portion of the set of wheels being further coupled to the steering system.

3. The modular mobility base of claim 2 , wherein the set of wheels comprises a set of tracks.

4. The modular mobility base of claim 2 , wherein the mobile base platform further comprises a selectively adjustable suspension system that couples the set of wheels to the support base, the selectively adjustable suspension system activating to change an oriented configuration of the support base relative to the set of wheels from a first orientation state to a second orientation state in response to a support base orientation control signal from the mobility controller.

5. The modular mobility base of claim 4 , wherein the oriented configuration of the support base comprises a lifted attitude orientation.

6. The modular mobility base of claim 4 , wherein the oriented configuration of the support base comprises a tilted attitude orientation.

7. The modular mobility base of claim 4 , wherein the oriented configuration of the support base comprises a combination lift and tilt attitude orientation.

8. The modular mobility base of claim 4 , wherein the selectively adjustable suspension system comprises a plurality of actuators individually responsive to one of a plurality of actuator control signals as part of the support base orientation control signal from the mobility controller.

9. The modular mobility base of claim 4 , wherein the mobility controller generates the support base orientation control signal to cause the selectively adjustable suspension system to activate and change the oriented configuration of the support base relative to the set of wheels from the first orientation state to the second orientation state based upon and in response to feedback sensor data from at least one of the sensors.

10. The modular mobility base of claim 4 , wherein the mobility controller generates the support base orientation control signal to cause the selectively adjustable suspension system to activate and change the oriented configuration of the support base relative to the set of wheels from the first orientation state to the second orientation state based upon and in response to a control command from the another modular component of the modular autonomous bot apparatus.

11. The modular mobility base of claim 4 further comprising a wireless transceiver operatively coupled to the mobility controller, the wireless transceiver providing a bi-directional wireless data path between the mobility controller and an external wireless node disposed external to the modular autonomous bot apparatus; and
wherein the mobility controller generates the support base orientation control signal to cause the selectively adjustable suspension system to activate and change the oriented configuration of the support base relative to the set of wheels from the first orientation state to the second orientation state based upon and in response to a wireless control command from the external wireless node disposed external to the modular autonomous bot apparatus.

12. The modular mobility base of claim 2 , wherein the modular component alignment interface comprises:
a registration interface disposed on the top support surface of the mobile base platform as the at least one channel into which the another modular component of the modular autonomous bot apparatus can be placed and secured on the mobile base platform; and
a coupling receiver disposed on the top support surface of the mobile base platform, the coupling receiver providing a secure receiving latch element for a mated coupling latch element on the another modular component of the modular autonomous bot apparatus, wherein the secure receiving latch element being operative to temporarily attach to the mated coupling latch element on the another modular component of the modular autonomous bot apparatus.

13. The modular mobility base of claim 12 , wherein the registration interface comprises a plurality of raised alignment channels.

14. The modular mobility base of claim 12 , wherein the registration interface comprises a plurality of recessed alignment channels.

15. The modular mobility base of claim 12 , wherein the registration interface comprises a plurality of alignment channels where each of the alignment channels are disposed proximate one of the peripheral edges of the support base.

16. The module mobility base of claim 12 , wherein the secure receiving latch element comprises an interlocking latch element for a mated interlocking coupling latch element on the another modular component of the modular autonomous bot apparatus.

17. The modular mobility base of claim 12 , wherein the modular component alignment interface further comprising a modular component electronics interface disposed on the top support surface of the mobile base platform, the modular component electronics interface being operatively coupled to the mobility controller as a power and data mated interface to at least the another modular component of the modular autonomous bot apparatus.

18. The modular mobility base of claim 17 further comprising an onboard power source that supplies electrical power to at least the mobility controller, the propulsion system, the steering system, and the sensors; and
wherein the power and data mated interface is operatively connected to the onboard power source, the power and data mated interface further including a power output connection that provides electrical power to the another modular component of the mo

Assignees

• Fedex Corp Services Inc

Inventors

• Skaaksrud Ole-Petter
• Mayfield Frank
• Gates Daniel

Classifications

• G07C9/37

  using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition · CPC title

• G07C9/00571

  operated by interacting with a central unit · CPC title

• G07C9/00563

  using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns · CPC title

• B65G1/1373

  for fulfilling orders in warehouses · CPC title

• G06Q10/083 Primary

  Shipping · CPC title