Self-contained modular manufacturing tool

1. A device, comprising:

a housing having an actuator mount configured to removably engage an actuator suited to maneuver any housing coupled thereto;

an interface disposed in the housing and configured to communicate with a master control system remote from the housing that is capable of controlling the actuator;

an end-effector disposed in the housing and configured to accomplish a manufacturing function; and

a local controller disposed in the housing and configured to control the end-effector independent of the master control system.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a motion actuator assembly disposed in the housing and configured to maneuver the end-effector under control of the local controller.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the end-effector comprises one from the group comprised of: a drill assembly, a camera assembly, a hole-depth determining assembly, a counter-sink-depth determining assembly, a fastener inserter assembly, and a fastener installer assembly.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the local controller comprises an electronic processor configured to execute computer instructions stored in a memory disposed in the housing.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a memory having computer-executable instructions capable of being executed by the local controller, the computer-executable instructions, when executed, cause the end-effector to perform the manufacturing function.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a communication module configured to communicate electronic signals to and from the master control system.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

the local controller is further configured to receive an electronic start signal from the master control system that causes the local controller to initiate the manufacturing function; and

the local controller is further configured to send an electronic finish signal to the master control system indicating that manufacturing function is accomplished.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second end-effector disposed in the housing and configured to accomplish a second manufacturing function under control of the local controller.

9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface configured to provide a graphic user interface configured to provide local programmatic control of the device independent of the master control system.

10. A manufacturing system, comprising:

a master control system configured to interface with at least one subsystem, the at least one subsystem configured to accomplish one or more manufacturing tasks;

at least one robotic actuator coupled to the master control system and configured to be maneuvered by the master control system;

at least one self-contained modular device configured to be removably mounted to the at least one robotic actuator, the at least one self-contained modular device comprising:

a housing having an actuator mount configured to removably engage the robotic actuator;

an interface disposed in the housing and configured to communicate with the master control system;

an end-effector disposed in the housing and configured to accomplish the manufacturing task; and

a local controller disposed in the housing and configured to control the end-effector independent of the master control system.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the master control system is configured to relinquish control of the robotic actuator to the self-contained modular device to accomplish the manufacturing task.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the self-contained modular device further comprises a motion actuator disposed in the housing and configured to maneuver the self-contained modular device in cooperation with the robotic actuator.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the self-contained modular device is configured to relinquish control of the robotic actuator to the master control system after the manufacturing task is accomplished.

14. A method, comprising:

maneuvering a self-contained modular manufacturing device to a position to accomplish a manufacturing function, the maneuvering controlled by a master controller remote from the self-contained modular manufacturing device;

indicating to the self-contained modular manufacturing device that the self-contained modular manufacturing device is in the position;

accomplishing the manufacturing function, the accomplishing controlled by a local controller disposed in the self-contained modular manufacturing device;

indicating to the master controller that the self-contained modular manufacturing device has accomplished the manufacturing function; and

maneuvering the self-contained modular manufacturing device away from the position, the maneuvering controlled by the master controller.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the position comprises a rough estimate of a final position and wherein the method further comprises relinquishing control of the maneuvering to the self-contained modular manufacturing device to maneuver the self-contained modular manufacturing device into the final position with greater precision.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising accomplishing the manufacturing task by actuating an end-effector configured to accomplish the manufacturing function.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising storing results of accomplishing the manufacturing function in a local memory disposed in the self-contained modular manufacturing device.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising loading parameters for accomplishing the manufacturing function from a local memory disposed in the self-contained modular manufacturing device prior to accomplishing the manufacturing function.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

maneuvering the self-contained modular manufacturing device to a second position to accomplish the manufacturing function, the maneuvering controlled by the master controller;

indicating to the self-contained modular manufacturing device that the self-contained modular manufacturing device is in the second position;

accomplishing the manufacturing function, the accomplishing controlled by the local controller;

indicating to the master controller that the self-contained modular manufacturing device has accomplished the manufacturing function; and

maneuvering the self-contained modular manufacturing device away from the second position, the maneuvering controlled by the master controller.

20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

after maneuvering the self-contained modular manufacturing device away from the position, moving an underlying manufactured item to the position;

maneuvering the self-contained modular manufacturing device to the position to accomplish the manufacturing function on the underlying manufactured item, the maneuvering controlled by the master controller;

indicating to the self-contained modular manufacturing device that the self-contained modular manufacturing device is in the position;

accomplishing the manufacturing function on the underlying manufactured item, the accomplishing controlled by the local controller;

indicating to the master controller that the self-contained modular manufacturing device has accomplished the manufacturing function;

maneuvering the self-contained modular manufacturing device away from the position, the maneuvering controlled by the master controller; and

maneuvering the underlying manufactured item away from the position.