Modular Mobile Robot With Interchangeable Implements for Product Transport

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicles in manufacturing environments face challenges in efficiently supporting and transporting diverse products with varying sizes and types, requiring multiple vehicles or complex configurations that increase costs and operational complexity.

Innovation Solution

A modular vehicle system with interchangeable implements, including a frame, tractive elements, and a motor-driven propulsion system, allows for removably coupling different implements to support and transport various products, enabling flexibility and efficiency in manufacturing environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple vehicles or complex configurations are used to support diverse products, then the ability to handle various product sizes and types is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle diverse productsVSAvoidvehicle complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle system employs a universal base vehicle platform that can accommodate multiple different implements through standardized mounting interfaces. This allows a single vehicle to perform multiple functions by simply changing the attached implement, eliminating the need for multiple specialized vehicles and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability to diverse product sizes and types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system divides the vehicle into separable components: a standardized base vehicle and interchangeable implements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining compatibility through standardized interfaces, reducing the complexity of individual components while achieving high versatility through their combination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple vehicles or complex configurations are used to support diverse products, then the ability to handle various product sizes and types is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle diverse productsVSAvoidvehicle cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By designing a universal base vehicle platform with standardized mounting interfaces, the system eliminates the need to manufacture multiple specialized vehicles. The same base platform can be produced in volume, reducing per-unit costs, while implements can be manufactured separately and attached as needed, significantly reducing overall system cost while maintaining the ability to handle diverse products.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the common functional elements of multiple vehicles into a single standardized base platform, while separating the product-specific functions into interchangeable implements. This combining of shared components into one standardized design reduces manufacturing costs through economies of scale and simplifies the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a modular vehicle system with interchangeable implements is used, then adaptability to diverse products is improved, but implement coupling and alignment precision must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in transporting various productsVSAvoidimplement interface alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The standardized mounting interface design ensures that all implements align with the base vehicle using the same reference points and fastening locations. This universal interface specification maintains consistent alignment precision across different implement types while enabling the adaptability to handle diverse products, as each implement is designed to conform to the same mounting standards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250346169A1Modular vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 OSHKOSH CORPORATION

AI summary

A system for transporting products throughout a manufacturing environment includes a mobile robot including a frame including a mounting interface, a tractive element coupled to the frame, a motor coupled to the frame and configured to drive the tractive element to propel the mobile robot, and a controller configured to control the motor to navigate the mobile robot along a predetermined path. The system includes a first implement including a first implement interface configured to be coupled to a first type of product and a first base frame configured to be removably coupled to the mounting interface of the frame. The system includes a second implement including a second implement interface configured to be coupled to a second type of product and a second base frame configured to be removably coupled to the mounting interface of the frame.