US 12,251,627 B2
Foot-operated robot interface
Grant Christian Ozaki, Cary, NC (US); Benjamin James Miranda, Durham, NC (US); Thomas Ryan Michael Greene, Raleigh, NC (US); Brett Matthew Lopez, Raleigh, NC (US); Charles Joseph Kilani, Raleigh, NC (US); William Michael Meyers, Chapel Hill, NC (US); Grace Ann Eberle, Raleigh, NC (US); Ian Setia, Raleigh, NC (US); Joseph Michael Biersack, Morrisville, NC (US); Joseph Andrew Milazzo, Cary, NC (US); Brett Richard Gallagher, Raleigh, NC (US); Cassian Farias Kraus, Apex, NC (US); Nicole Carol Allen, Raleigh, NC (US); and Kevin Nicolas Haller, Chapel Hill, NC (US)
Assigned to Cardinal Gibbons High School, Raleigh, NC (US)
Filed by Cardinal Gibbons High School, Raleigh, NC (US)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/677,003.
Prior Publication US 2022/0176238 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. A63F 13/245 (2014.01)
CPC A63F 13/245 (2014.09) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A foot-operated robot control apparatus comprising:
a foot-operated controller comprising an array of tiles, wherein at least one tile of the array of tiles is a rigid platform, and wherein at least one tile of the array of tiles is a pressure-sensitive tile that includes a pressure sensor configured to produce a first signal when a force applied to an upper surface of the pressure-sensitive tile exceeds a threshold, wherein the upper surface measures at least 144 square inches;
a controller board operatively coupled to the foot-operated controller, wherein the controller board is configured to receive the first signal produced by the pressure-sensitive tile;
a processor operatively coupled to receive a second signal from the controller board, the processor further including a first wireless communication interface operable within an unlicensed radio frequency band;
a robotic vehicle comprising:
a rigid frame supported by a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the frame;
at least one motor mechanically coupled to selectively provide a rotational force to at least one wheel of the plurality of wheels; and
a robot control hub affixed to the frame, wherein the robot control hub includes a second wireless communication interface configured to receive a third signal from the first wireless communication interface and, in response to the third signal, to activate at least one motor to provide the rotational force; and
a game controller,
wherein the processor is configured to give precedence to a signal received from the game controller over the second signal.