Microtransporters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11459044-B2
Application number	US-201616087366-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2016
Priority date	Mar 22, 2016
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

A microtransporter system includes a plurality of microtransporters and a housing. The microtransporters each include a rigid base structure, three wheels rotatably mounted in the base structure, an electric motor drivingly connected to one of the wheels, and a load support surface connected to the base structure. The housing includes a storage chamber sized to store a plurality of microtransporters, and a passageway connecting the chamber to an outside of the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A microtransporter system comprising:
a plurality of microtransporters, each including:
a rigid base structure,
three wheels rotatably mounted in the base structure,
an electric motor drivingly connected to one of the wheels, and
a load support surface connected to the base structure; and

a housing including:
a storage chamber sized to store a plurality of microtransporters, and
a passageway connecting the chamber to an outside of the housing, wherein the housing is adapted for mounting in a motor vehicle such that the passageway connects to an opening in a rear bumper of the vehicle.

2. The microtransporter system of claim 1 , wherein each microtransporter further comprises a first charging connector fixed to the base structure.

3. The microtransporter system of claim 2 , including a charging tether having a first end disposed in the storage chamber and having a plurality of second charging connectors complementary to the first charging connectors and selectively engageable with the first charging connector of one of the microtransporters.

4. The microtransporter system of claim 1 , wherein each microtransporter further comprises an identifying color marking.

5. The microtransporter system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the microtransporters further comprises a speaker integrated into the microtransporter.

6. The microtransporter system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the microtransporters further comprises a camera integrated into an upper surface of the base structure.

7. The microtransporter system of claim 6 , further comprising a second camera integrated into the upper surface of the base structure.

8. The microtransporter system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the microtransporters including a first charging connector fixed to the base structure; and
a charging tether disposed in the storage chamber in a first condition and having a first end fixed within the storage chamber and having a plurality of second charging connectors selectively engageable with the first charging connectors of the microtransporters.

9. The microtransporter system of claim 8 , wherein the tether extends through the passageway in a second condition.

10. The microtransporter system of claim 9 , wherein at least one microtransporter engaged by the tether and is suspended from the vehicle by the tether with the tether in the second condition.

11. The microtransporter system of claim 3 , wherein the first charging connector and the second charging connector each have a magnet engaging the first charging connector and the second charging connector.

12. The microtransporter system of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the magnets is an electromagnet.

13. The microtransporter system of claim 11 , wherein the tether to microtransporter engagement has sufficient strength to suspend the microtransporter above ground from the tether.

14. A method of operating a microtransporter system comprising:
providing a plurality of microtransporters, each including:
a rigid base structure,
three wheels rotatably mounted in the base structure,
an electric motor drivingly connected to one of the wheels, and
a load support surface connected to the base structure; and

providing a housing including:
a storage chamber sized to store a plurality of microtransporters, and
a passageway connecting the chamber to an outside of the housing,

wherein the housing is adapted for mounting in a motor vehicle such that the passageway connects to an opening in a rear bumper of the vehicle;
discharging a one of the microtransporters from the housing;
positioning the microtransporter to a preferred location outside of the housing;
placing a load on the microtransporter; and
guiding the microtransporter and the load to a second location.

15. The method of operation of claim 14 , further comprising:
discharging a plurality of microtransporters from the housing;
positioning the microtransporters into a preferred pattern in a preferred location outside of the housing.

16. The method of operation of claim 14 , further comprising:
providing a first charging connector fixed to the base structure of the microtransporters;
providing a tether having a first end disposed in the storage chamber and having a plurality of second charging connectors selectively engageable with the first charging connectors;
discharging the microtransporters from the housing; and
disconnecting the tether from the microtransporter after the microtransporters have been discharged from the housing.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
mounting the housing in a motor vehicle; and
providing the tether to microtransporter engagement with sufficient strength to suspend the microtransporter above ground from the tether.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
directing the microtransporters to self-connect to the tether connectors;
withdrawing the tether into the housing, lifting microtransporters up and into the passageway; and
moving the microtransporters to a parked position within the housing.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Schmidt Eike
• Engelke Maximilian Julius

Classifications

• H02J2105/30

  the load networks being external to vehicles, i.e. exchanging power with vehicles · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/50

  acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title

• B62D61/06 Primary

  with only three wheels · CPC title

• B60L53/18

  Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles · CPC title