Patent ID: 9043016
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: B60T,B60W,B62D,G05B,G05D,H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A robotic control module comprising: an enclosure having at least one surface, the enclosure being mountable on or in the vehicle; a processing module disposed within the enclosure, the processing module having a processor and memory, wherein the processing module is configured for monitoring sensors on or in the vehicle; for determining a role of the robotic control module based on (i) a location of the robotic control module in the vehicle or (ii) a physical connection to the robotic control module; and for executing and arbitrating among mobile robotic control behaviors that are configured to control operation of the vehicle as a robotic vehicle based on the role of the robotic control module, the mobile robotic control behaviors comprising steering actuator control, braking actuator control, throttle actuator control, transmission actuator control, and sensor driver; a reprogrammable actuator controller disposed within the enclosure and configured for being in communication with the processing module for issuing actuator control signals based at least in part on the mobile robotic control behaviors and for controlling signals other than the actuator control signals for actuator driving; an actuator connector on the at least one surface of the enclosure, the actuator connector being in communication with the reprogrammable actuator controller and configured for transmitting actuator control signals that are configured to robotically control actuator operation in a vehicle steering system, a vehicle braking system, a vehicle throttle system, and a vehicle transmission system; a packet network switch disposed within the enclosure; and a network connector on the at least one surface of the enclosure, the network connector being configured for connecting to a packet network and communicating with the packet network switch, wherein the processing module is configured for transmitting instructions to the packet network.