Patent ID: 8532820

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving a task order, wherein the task order comprises: information that identifies configuration requirements for a task to be performed by a robotic device that is selected from among a pool of robotic devices, program instructions executable by the robotic device to perform the task, information that identifies one or more actuators or sensors to be attached to the robotic device for performing the task, and payment information for the task; selecting, by a computing device having a processor and a memory, one or more robotic devices that are configurable to perform the task from among the pool of robotic devices, wherein given robotic devices of the pool are configured to operate at given remote locations and the selected one or more robotic devices are leased for a period of time to perform the task by attaching the one or more actuators or sensors; providing the configuration requirements, the information that identifies the one or more actuators or sensors, and the program instructions to the selected one or more robotic devices; receiving confirmation that the task has been performed; and providing payment to one or more accounts registered with the selected one or more robotic devices.