Vehicle Service Robots

A vehicle service robot is a robot that is installed in a car or truck. The vehicle service robot provides useful services to the driver of the vehicle, for example, it can lift suitcases or other objects,  and put them into the vehicle. It can also unload the suitcases or other items from the vehicle. A vehicle service robot can also pump the gas for you, at  a gas station. If you carry a bicycle on top of your car, on a roof-mounted bike rack, the vehicle service robot can lift up the bicycle, and place it on the rack. If you want to remove a bicycle from a roof-mounted bike rack, the robot can remove it for you.     

The illustration above shows a vehicle service robot that  is designed to refuel a car with gasoline at  a gas station. This invention was made on November 7, 2001.

The illustrations above show an invention that is an improvement to the basic gas-pumping robot. This invention is a two-camera that uses two different cameras to identify the location of the gasoline nozzle so the robot can reach for the gasoline nozzle on the gas pump. These illustrations were done in November, 2001.

The illustrations above show the step-by-step process of how the robot reaches out for the gasoline nozzle, and inserts the nozzle into the car so the car can be refueled. These illustrations were made on November 10, 2001.

Above: An invention for a front-mounted vehicle service robot that is designed for refueling. It differs from the previous invention since it is mounted at the front of the vehicle, instead of at the side. This was invented on November 13, 2001. 

Above: An illustration of a car with a bicycle  a roof-mounted bike rack. A vehicle service robot could lift up the bicycle and put it into the rack, or remove the bike from the rack.

The illustration above is an invention for a vehicle service robot with the capability for handling bikes. The robot is designed to pick up a bike and put it into a roof-mounted bike rack, the robot can also remove the bike from the rack. This was invented on November 15, 2001.

The illustrations above show a multi-function vehicle service robot that is installed in the front of a car. The vehicle service robot shown here has three different functions. It can put a bike on the roof-mounted bike rack, it can pump the gas for you at a gas station, and it can fix a flat tire for you if you get  a flat tire. These illustrations were made in November, 2001.

The illustrations above show a rear-mounted vehicle service robot. These illustrations were made in November, 2001.

Another use for a vehicle service robot is to install or remove mechanical legs. A set of mechanical legs  can give the car the ability to walk, so it can leave the road and walk over rough terrain. The mechanical legs may be carried in the trunk of the car when they are not being used.  The vehicle service robot (which is normally stored in the trunk of the car) can remove the legs and install them, by plugging them into sockets located on the side of the car. The illustration above shows the sockets on the side of the car.

In the illustration above, the trunk lid has been opened, the robot has extended from the trunk and the robot is in the process of installing the mechanical legs on the car.  In this picture, one leg on the front of the car has already been installed, and the robot is in the process of installing one of the rear legs. When all four legs are installed, the car will be capable of walking, climbing over obstacles, etc.  

In the illustration above, the robot has finished installing the mechanical legs on the car, and the robot has folded itself up and has put itself into storage in the trunk. The car is now capable of walking. When the legs are no longer needed, the robot can remove all for legs from the car and put them into storage in the car's trunk.