Howard C Florus

US Patent:

8342279, Jan 1, 2013

Filed:

Sep 21, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/563642

Inventors:

Howard C. Florus - Madison AL, US
David E. Hall - Madison AL, US

Assignee:

The Boeing Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

B60K 6/28

US Classification:

180 685

Abstract:

A modular vehicle and an associated method of constructing a modular vehicle are provided. A modular vehicle includes a chassis and a plurality of docking fixtures carried by the chassis. The docking fixtures may include an electrical power connection and optionally a fluid connection. The docking fixtures may provide for data communications via data communication connections or via the electrical power connections. The modular vehicle may also include a plurality of modules removably connected to respective ones of the docking fixtures. The plurality of modules may include at least one of an energy supply module an energy storage module or a cooling module. At least one module may include an electrical power connection coupled to the electrical power connection of a docking fixture and optionally a fluid connection coupled to the fluid connection of a docking fixture. At least one module may also provide for data communications with a docking fixture.