Patent ID: 11951627
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 0:
1. A method for controlling an autonomous modular robotic (AMR) vehicle comprising an exchangeable top module disposed onboard a robotic vehicle bottom module, the method comprising:
navigating the AMR vehicle to a target destination, via a bottom module controller disposed onboard the bottom module;
determining, via the bottom module controller disposed onboard the bottom module, that the AMR vehicle is localized at the target destination;
transmitting, via a transceiver of a top module controller disposed onboard the top module, a request for a cargo unloading instruction set;
receiving, via the top module controller, a response comprising the cargo unloading instruction set; and
unloading the cargo to a target destination surface via an unloading mechanism associated with the top module, wherein the unloading is responsive to the cargo unloading instruction set,
wherein navigating the AMR vehicle to the target destination further comprises:
determining, via a top module sensory device disposed in communication with the top module controller, pose of the top module;
generating an instruction set for changing a pose of the top module based on an orientation of the AMR vehicle;
receiving, via the bottom module controller, the instruction set for changing the pose of the top module; and
commanding, via the bottom module controller, an actuator disposed on the bottom module to change the pose of the top module such that the pose of the top module shifts from an unbalanced pose to a balanced pose.