Modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly for transporting an item being shipped

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11224969-B2
Application number	US-202017100037-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2020
Priority date	Mar 14, 2018
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

A modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly is described for transporting an item being shipped. The assembly includes a modular mobility base having propulsion, steering, sensors for collision avoidance, and suspension actuators; a modular auxiliary power module with a power source and cargo door; a modular cargo storage system with folding structural walls and a latching system; and a modular mobile autonomy module that covers the cargo storage system and provides human interaction interfaces, externals sensors, a wireless interface, and an autonomous controller with interfacing circuitry coupled to the human interaction interfaces and sensors on the mobile autonomy module. The assembly has a power and data transport bus that provides a communication and power conduit across the different modular components. A method for on-demand assembly of such a bot apparatus is further described with steps for authenticating the different modular components during assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly for transporting an item being shipped, comprising:
a modular mobility base comprising
a base platform,
a mobility controller disposed as part of the base platform,
a propulsion system on the base platform, the propulsion system being responsive to inputs from the mobility controller,
a steering system coupled to the propulsion system, the steering system responsive to inputs from the mobility controller and operative to cause changes to movement of the modular mobility base,
a plurality of sensors coupled to the mobility controller and disposed on the base platform, the sensors being operative to autonomously detect objects and obstacles in the path of the modular mobility base and provide feedback data to the mobility controller on detections, and
a set of actuators for tilting the orientation of the base platform relative to the parts of the propulsion system that contact the ground;

a modular auxiliary power module affixed to the powered mobility base, the auxiliary power module comprising at least
a power connection that provides power to the powered mobility base, and
an articulating cargo door extending from a side of the auxiliary power module;

a modular cargo storage system affixed to the auxiliary power module, the modular cargo storage system comprising
a set of folding structural walls configured to partially enclose a payload area on at least three sides above the base platform and forming vertical boundaries of the payload area with the articulating cargo door of the auxiliary power module
a locking handle that causes the modular cargo storage system to latch to the base platform, and
a power and data transport bus that provides communication and power conduit up from the modular auxiliary power module and the modular mobility base; and

a modular mobile autonomy control module connected to a top edge of the folding structure walls of the cargo storage system, the modular mobile autonomy control module completing the enclosure of the payload area when connected to the top edge of the folding structure walls of the modular cargo storage system, the modular mobile autonomy control module comprising
a plurality of human interaction interfaces disposed on edges of the modular mobile autonomy control module,
a plurality of sensors disposed on the modular mobile autonomy control module,
a controller with interfacing circuitry coupled to the human interaction interfaces and sensors on the modular mobile autonomy control module and with the power and data transport bus for operative communications with the powered mobility base, and
a wireless communication interface coupled to the controller.

2. The modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly of claim 1 , wherein the controller of the modular mobile autonomy control module is programmatically adapted and configured to be operative to at least
receive sensor information from the mobility controller through the power and data transport bus, the received sensor information being about the feedback data on detections by the sensors coupled to the mobility controller,
receive sensor data from the sensors disposed on the modular mobile autonomy module,
generate the inputs to each of the steering system and the propulsion system based at least upon the received sensor information from the mobility controller, the received sensor data from the sensors disposed on the mobile autonomy module, and destination information data maintained by the controller of the modular mobile autonomy control module,
transmit the inputs to each of the steering system and the propulsion system through the power and data transport bus for receipt by the mobility controller in the modular mobility base, and
generate transport and delivery information to provide on the human interaction interfaces of the modular mobile autonomy module.

3. The modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly of claim 1 , wherein the modular mobility base, the modular auxiliary power module, the modular cargo storage system, and the modular mobile autonomy control module are each authenticated modular components based upon a component-to-component secure handshaking between proximately attached ones of the modular mobility base, the modular auxiliary power module, the modular cargo storage system, and the modular mobile autonomy control module.

4. The modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly of claim 3 , wherein the component-to-component secure handshaking comprises a challenge and security credential response between proximately attached ones of the modular mobility base, the modular auxiliary power module, the modular cargo storage system, and the modular mobile autonomy control module.

5. The modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly of claim 1 , wherein the modular mobility base, the modular auxiliary power module, the modular cargo storage system, and the modular mobile autonomy control module are verified to be authenticated modular components for the modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly as each of the modular mobility base, the modular auxiliary power module, the modular cargo storage system, and the modular mobile autonomy control module are assembled into the modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly.

6. The modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly of claim 3 , wherein the component-to-component secure handshaking is based upon at least one from a group comprising one or more regulatory rules, one or more contractual rules, and one or more safety rules.

7. The modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly of claim 3 , wherein the component-to-component secure handshaking is based upon logistical constraint information on a determined work environment for the modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly.

8. The modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly of claim 7 , wherein the logical constraint information being identified as part of the security credential response.

9. The modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly of claim 7 , wherein the logistical constraint information identifies a size limitation for the modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly.

10. The modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly of claim 7 , wherein the logistical constraint information identifies a weight limitation for the modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly.

11. The modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly of claim 7 , wherein the logistical constraint information identifies a readiness limitation for the modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly.

12. The modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly of claim 11 , wherein the readiness limitation comprising one or more performance thresholds for the modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly in an anticipated deployment operation of the modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly.

13. The modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly of claim 3 , wherein the controller of the modular mobile autonomy control module is further programmatically adapted and configured to be operative to
notify a server over the wireless communication interface that one or more of the modular mobility base, the modular auxiliary power module, and the modular cargo storage system are not authenticated modular components based upon the component-to-component secure handshaking between the modular mobile autonomy control module and each of the modular mobility base, the modular auxiliary power module, and the modular cargo storage system, and
request a replacement component for the one or more of the modular mobility base, the modular auxiliary power module, and the modular cargo storage system that are not authenticated modular components.

Assignees

• Fedex Corp Services Inc

Inventors

• Skaaksrud Ole-Petter
• Mayfield Frank
• Gates Daniel

Classifications

• B60C5/005

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• B65D90/18

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• G06Q10/0836

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• G06Q10/0833

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• G06Q30/0633

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