{
  "patent_number": "US 11794345",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How One Person Can Control Two Robots as a Team",
  "original_title": "Unified robotic vehicle systems and methods of control",
  "summary": "This patent describes a system where a single operator can control two separate robots together as one unified machine, or switch to control them individually, using a master control system.",
  "what_it_does": "The patent describes a robotic system that lets a single operator control two separate robots, referred to as a \"first robotic system\" and a \"second robotic system,\" either together or individually. In a \"paired control mode\" (Claim 1), a master control system's \"drive input device\" (like a joystick or steering wheel) can jointly move both robots' \"mobile platforms\" (their bases that move them around) as if they were a single, larger machine (Claim 3). For example, if you push forward on the joystick, both robots move forward in sync. The system can also switch to an \"unpaired control mode\" (Claim 5), allowing the operator to control just one of the robots at a time using the same drive input. This switch is done with a \"switch input device\" on the master system. Additionally, if both robots have \"manipulators\" (robot arms), the master system can also control both arms together in a \"paired manipulator control mode\" (Claim 7).",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover systems where a single robot is controlled by a master system.",
    "Does not cover controlling multiple robots without the ability to switch between paired and unpaired control modes.",
    "Does not cover systems where the \"unified robotic system\" is physically connected or a single, monolithic machine.",
    "Does not cover multi-robot systems where each robot is controlled by a separate human operator.",
    "Does not cover robots that cannot autonomously move into a paired position relative to each other."
  ],
  "filed": "2020-12-31",
  "granted": "2023-10-24",
  "expires": "2040-12-31",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Sarcos",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/sarcos",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Marc X. Olivier",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/marc-x-olivier"
    },
    {
      "name": "Fraser M. Smith",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/fraser-m-smith"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 2,
  "tags": [
    "robotics",
    "industrial_automation",
    "aerospace",
    "defense",
    "manufacturing"
  ],
  "abstract": "A robotic system comprising a master robotic system, and a first robotic system comprising a first mobile platform operable to move about a surface, and comprising a first manipulator. The robotic system can comprise a second robotic system comprising a second mobile platform operable to move about the surface, and comprising a second manipulator. A control module can be associated with the master robotic system and the first and second robotic systems, and can be operable in a paired control mode to facilitate paired control of the first and second robotic systems to move about the ground surface, and operable in an unpaired control mode to facilitate non-paired control of a selected one of the first or second robotic systems.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11794345/unified-robotic-vehicle-systems-and-methods-of-control",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11794345/unified-robotic-vehicle-systems-and-methods-of-control/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US11794345",
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}