Rapidly configurable braiding machine

Abstract

A braiding system having a plurality of mobile carrier devices movable under its own power, each mobile carrier including a plurality of wheels, a motor driving the wheels, a power source, a controller, and a pick-up unit having a receiver. Each of the plurality of mobile carriers has a tow carrier positioned in the receiver, and each mobile carrier is simultaneously movable along a virtual track-less path predetermined for each individual carrier, such that the simultaneous movement of the mobile carrier devices along their predetermined paths form a braid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A braiding system comprising:
 a plurality of mobile carrier devices movable under its own power including
 a plurality of wheels, 
 a motor driving the wheels, 
 a power source, 
 a controller, and 
 a pick-up unit having a receiver, 
   each of the plurality of mobile carriers having a tow carrier positioned in the receiver,   each mobile carrier simultaneously movable along a virtual track-less path predetermined for each individual carrier, the simultaneous movement of the mobile carrier devices along their predetermined paths forming a braid.   
     
     
         2 . The braiding system of  claim 1  comprising:
 each mobile carrier device being configured to monitor its movement and make directional corrections to maintain its direction along the virtual path. 
 
     
     
         3 . The braiding system of  claim 1  comprising:
 each mobile carrier device being configured to monitor its movement relative to other mobile carriers and alter course to avoid collision with other carriers. 
 
     
     
         4 . The braiding system of  claim 3  comprising:
 each mobile carrier device being configured to determine its direction back to the virtual path after altering course to avoid collision.