Modular autonomous vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11840400-B2
Application number	US-202117196248-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2021
Priority date	Mar 9, 2021
Publication date	Dec 12, 2023
Grant date	Dec 12, 2023

Abstract

Autonomous vehicle (AV) systems are disclosed that may be deployed as a single vehicular unit or multiple units that operate synchronously. An AV system may deploy a flexible and scalable number of autonomous vehicles of different sizes, capacities, and propulsion systems that either transport smaller or lighter goods alone or connect with other vehicular units to form a larger, higher capacity vehicle. Each of these units is configured to navigate independently, as well as synchronously with companion units. For example, a unit may be paired with one, two, or three or more other units to provide greater capacity in which to carry goods.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A modular driverless vehicle system comprising:
a first autonomous vehicular unit including:
a first chassis with a wheeled propulsion system including a first number of axles,
a first sensor, and
a first control unit;

a second autonomous vehicular unit that is discrete and separate from the first vehicular unit and includes:
a second chassis with a tracked propulsion system including a second number of axles that is different from the first number,
a second sensor, and
a second control unit that is configured to wirelessly receive data from both the first sensor and the second sensor in order to synchronize operations of the second vehicular unit with operations of the first vehicular unit;

a first modular sidewall mounted atop a first side of the first chassis and a second modular sidewall mounted along an upper edge of the first modular sidewall to form a taller interconnected sidewall; and
wherein the first vehicular unit and second vehicular unit are configured to:
operate synchronously such that they operate at generally the same speed at the same time in the same direction without a mechanical connection,
maintain stable, steady motion relative to one another, and automatically maintain a substantially constant distance between each other during operation,

the first autonomous vehicular unit and the second autonomous vehicular unit thereby collectively operating as a single autonomous vehicle entity with a mixed propulsion system.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third modular sidewall removably mounted atop a second side of the first chassis;
a fourth modular sidewall that is larger than the third modular sidewall removably mounted on a third side of the second chassis; and
wherein the third modular sidewall is interchangeable with the fourth modular sidewall, such that the fourth modular sidewall may be removably mounted on the second side of the first chassis and the third modular sidewall may be removably mounted on the third side of the second chassis.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first control unit further includes a communications module configured to receive commands from a remote operator.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises one of a camera, radar, proximity sensor, and infrared sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first control unit and the second control unit are configured to communicate wirelessly with one another in order for the first autonomous vehicular unit and second autonomous vehicular unit to operate synchronously.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first platform with a first end and a second end, the first end being removably mounted on the first chassis and the second end being removably mounted on the second chassis.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of modular sidewalls that can be removably mounted on either or both of the first chassis or the second chassis to form an enclosed structure.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first control unit further includes a navigation module that accesses a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) in order to allow the first autonomous vehicular unit to derive a route from its current position to a destination.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein a LIDAR sensor that measures scattered light with respect to irradiation light and measures a distance to a target is attached to a front of the first chassis.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first control unit further includes a storage module that includes road information and traffic regulations information.

11. A kit of parts comprising:
a first autonomous vehicle comprising a first chassis with at least a first wheeled assembly and a first control unit, the first chassis including a first number of axles;
a second autonomous vehicle that is discrete and separate from the first autonomous vehicle comprising a second chassis with a first tracked assembly and a second control unit, the second chassis including a second number of axles that is different from the first number; and
a first sidewall that is configured to be removably fastened to either or both of the first chassis or the second chassis,
wherein the first autonomous vehicular unit and second autonomous vehicular unit are configured to operate synchronously as a single autonomous vehicle entity with a mixed propulsion system such that they operate at generally the same speed at the same time in the same direction without a mechanical connection.

12. The kit of claim 11 , wherein the first chassis includes a first battery storage receptacle, the second chassis includes a second battery storage receptacle, and each of the first battery storage receptacle and second battery storage receptacle are configured to receive and connect to a rechargeable battery.

13. The kit of claim 11 , further comprising a second sidewall, wherein the second sidewall has a larger surface area than the first sidewall, and the second sidewall is configured to be removably fastened to either or both of the first chassis or the second chassis.

14. The kit of claim 13 , further comprising a first platform that is configured to be removably fastened to either or both of the first chassis or the second chassis.

15. The kit of claim 14 , further comprising a second platform that is configured to be removably fastened to either or both of the first chassis or the second chassis, the second platform has a thickness that differs from a thickness of the first platform.

16. An autonomous modular vehicle system comprising:
a first vehicular unit comprising a first chassis with a first propulsion system, a first number of axles, and a first control unit configured to communicate with a remote operator; and
a second vehicular unit comprising a second chassis with a second propulsion system that differs from the first propulsion system and a second number of axles that differs from the first number, and a second control unit configured to communicate to communicate with a remote operator;
wherein the first control unit and the second control unit are configured to communicate wirelessly with one another to maintain a substantially constant distance between each other during operation.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first vehicular unit is configured to navigate in a free manner without human support based on sensor data acquired by one or more sensor(s) and processed in the first control unit to generate control signals for the first propulsion system.

18. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of modular sidewalls that can be removably mounted onto the first chassis to form an enclosed structure.

19. The first vehicular unit of claim 16 , wherein the first propulsion system includes a first wheeled assembly.

20. The first vehicular unit of claim 16 , wherein the first propulsion system includes a first tracked assembly.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Moradnia Pirooz

Classifications

• B65G1/0492 Primary

  with cars adapted to travel in storage aisles · CPC title

• G05D1/0293 Primary

  Convoy travelling · CPC title