Field Deployable Rapid Prototypable UXVs

1 . A computer implemented method for rapid prototypable, the method comprising:

a computer executing the following steps:

providing and storing a library of platforms;

providing and storing a library of standard parts and components;

providing and storing a library of interchangeable payloads;

providing and executing protocols for communicating interchangeable payloads with standard parts;

displaying an interface allowing the selection of platform and payload parts;

storing and tracking parts and desired updates to platforms, standard parts, and interchangeable payloads;

providing access by third parties to provide new software and hardware components to the library for storage and use, to supplement the initial platforms, standard parts, and interchangeable payloads;

selecting one or more platforms, standard parts, and interchangeable payloads to create a printing system;

generating a performance envelop of the printing system,

sending the a parts list to a 3D printing machine; and

printing parts by the 3D printing machine.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

creating a library of autonomous vehicles utilizing the platforms, standard parts, and interchangeable payloads.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the library includes a variety of light weight UGVS, fixed wings UAVS, quads rotors, hex-rotors, and UGS.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein

the library includes one or more standard payloads that are interchangeable from platform to platform; and

each model in the library provides the operator with a performance envelop of the printed system.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

selecting one or more payloads from the library for a desired printing system;

reducing and streamlining the number of parts as determined by the system components selected for the desired printing system;

generating a performance envelope of the desired printing system;

reviewing the performance envelop information of the desired printing system;

either confirming or substituting parts of the desired printing system components based on the performance envelope and any component changes;

upon confirmation of the printed system components, sending the parts list to the 3D printer for printing by the 3D printer.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

providing a submission and approval process in order for developers to create new models for inclusion in the libraries; and

requiring a common control architecture for controlling the devices on every model in the library.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

printing simple instructions with visual explanations to assemble the parts printed with the 3D printer together with standard components.

8 . A method for providing field deployable rapid prototypable devices comprising the steps of:

deploying a computer capable of storing and executing software and sending printing commands to a 3D printer in the field;

deploying a 3D printer in the field;

deploying a small number of standard components and platforms in the field with the computer and 3D printer;

providing a library of autonomous vehicles, platforms, parts, and payloads by the computer;

selecting printed parts for use in creating components to be used along or in combination with the standard components; and

creating the selected parts by sending the printing information from the computer to the 3D printer for printing.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the standard components deployed in the field include small motors, controllers, radios, propellers, and batteries.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein one or more printed system component parts are used in combination to create a complete system.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein one or more printed system component parts are used in combination with the deployed standard components to create a complete system.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the library includes a variety of light weight UGVS, fixed wings UAVS, quads rotors, hex-rotors, and UGS.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the library includes a variety of standard payloads that would be interchangeable from platform to platform.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the library provides the operator with a performance envelop of the printed system.

15 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the 3D printer uses ABS-plus plastic material to create parts.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the 3D printer uses ABS-plus plastic material in combination with one or more other materials to create composite parts.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein multiple material parts are printed.

18 . The method of claim 8 , wherein a common control architecture for controlling the devices is forced on every model in the library.