Modular Robotic Platform With Interchangeable Tooling and Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing industrial robotic platforms are complex and expensive to manufacture and operate, limiting their widespread adoption for various industrial tasks.
Innovation Solution
A modular industrial robotic platform with a universal framework that supports interchangeable payload components and mobility systems, enabling autonomous operation in swarm robotic systems for diverse industrial applications, including mining, construction, and disaster recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a universal modular platform is used to support multiple payload types, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for standardized interfaces and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal robotic platform with standardized mechanical interfaces, electrical connectors, and communication protocols that enable a single base platform to support multiple interchangeable payload modules. This allows one robotic system to perform diverse industrial tasks by simply changing the payload attachment, achieving multi-functionality without requiring separate specialized robots for each task.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system is divided into distinct modular components: a universal base platform and interchangeable payload modules. Each payload module is designed as an independent unit with standardized mounting interfaces, allowing them to be easily attached and detached from the base platform. This segmentation enables flexibility while managing complexity through modular design.
2Productivity
If autonomous swarm robotic systems are deployed for industrial tasks, then productivity and efficiency are improved, but manufacturing and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a universal base platform that can support multiple payload types, the system reduces the total number of different robot models needed. This standardization enables mass production of common platform components, lowering per-unit manufacturing costs while still achieving high productivity through autonomous swarm operations with diverse capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines common subsystems (power management, control electronics, navigation, communication) into a shared universal platform, while only duplicating task-specific payload modules. This merging of common functions reduces overall system complexity and manufacturing costs compared to having fully independent specialized robots, while maintaining the productivity benefits of autonomous swarm operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Industrial robotic platforms are described. The robotic platform includes a universal platform configured to attach to interchangeable task-specific tooling systems and mobility systems. The robots may be mining robots, with a mining-specific tooling system attached to the universal platform, and configured for mining tasks. The platform is modular and may be used for other industrial applications and/or robot types, such as construction, satellite swarms, fuel production, disaster recovery, communications, remote power, and others. The robot may be included in a swarm or colony as part of an overall autonomous architecture. The robot may be part of an architecture having a colony or remote control center that communicates with and monitors the robots.