US 12,358,575 B1
Autonomous vehicle connected tool interchange systems and methods
Tim Alan Matus, San Antonio, TX (US); and Michael Odell Blanton, Jr., San Antonio, TX (US)
Assigned to RENU ROBOTICS CORP., San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed by RENU ROBOTICS CORP., San Antonio, TX (US)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/217,464.
Application 18/217,464 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/408,355, filed on Aug. 20, 2021, granted, now 12,253,352.
Int. Cl. B62D 49/06 (2006.01); B60D 1/36 (2006.01); B60D 1/64 (2006.01); H01R 43/26 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 49/065 (2013.01) [B60D 1/36 (2013.01); B60D 1/64 (2013.01); H01R 43/26 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for an autonomous vehicle to interconnect with a connectable tool, the method comprising:
aligning the autonomous vehicle for interconnecting with the connectable tool based on a location and an orientation of the connectable tool;
engaging the connectable tool at one or more physical connection points and at least one electrical connection point;
establishing power line modem (PLM) communications between the autonomous vehicle and the connectable tool via an electrical power connection resulting from the engaging the at least one electrical connection point; and
before commencing full power operations over said electrical power connection, determining that the electrical power connection is without current diversion by:
transmitting a fixed amount of non-lethal electrical power from the autonomous vehicle to the connectable tool via the electrical power connection, and
determining whether the difference between the power transmitted by the autonomous vehicle and the power received by the connectable tool exceeds a threshold for indicating current diversion.