Patent ID: 8602456

Claim:
A telematic control unit, comprising: a ball joint comprising: a ball housing defining a socket having an inner surface, the ball housing having an opening and a first passageway; a ball pivot disposed in the socket, the ball pivot comprising a ball head and a ball pin, the ball pin disposed through the opening, the surface of the ball head having a first region conformal to at least a portion of the inner surface of the socket and a second region that is not conformal to the inner surface of the socket; wherein the ball head comprises a second passageway connected to the second region and to the ball pin, and the ball pin comprises a third passageway connected to the second passageway and to an external surface of the ball pin; one or more sensors disposed within the ball joint; and control circuitry in communication with the one or more sensors, the control circuitry configured to communicate with a remote robotic system.