United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

Jonathan J Lutz

Chunhao J Lee

Christopher E Borroni-Bird

Robert Louis Vitale

Robert O Ambrose

Raymond Guo

Anthony Joseph Lapp

Lucien Q Junkin

William J Bluethmann

Justin Ridley

A modular robotic vehicle includes a chassis, driver input devices, an energy storage system (ESS), a power electronics module (PEM), modular electronic assemblies (eModules) connected to the ESS via the PEM, one or more master controllers, and various embedded controllers. Each eModule includes a drive wheel containing a propulsion-braking module, and a housing containing propulsion and braking control assemblies with respective embedded propulsion and brake controllers, and a mounting bracket covering a steering control assembly with embedded steering controllers. The master controller, which is in communication with each eModule and with the driver input devices, communicates with and independently controls each eModule, by-wire, via the embedded controllers to establish a desired operating mode. Modes may include a two-wheel, four-wheel, diamond, and omni-directional steering modes as well as a park mode. A bumper may enable docking with another vehicle, with shared control over the eModules of the vehicles.

Modular robotic vehicle

Growing community of inventors

League City, TX, United States of America

Jonathan J Lutz