Q: Is it possible to patent my robotics idea?

A: Well, you can't patent an idea, but you can patent your invention in the field of robotics.

A: The patent system is a trade for a limited period of exclusivity in return for providing an explanation on how to make and use an invention so that people of skill in the art can use the invention after the period of exclusivity is over.

Your invention needs to be new and more than an obvious recombination of other known tricks. You need to provide enough information to enable the invention so people can make and use it. Sometimes people hope to patent something before they have a good understanding on how they would make a proof of concept prototype. That is not how the process is supposed to work.

While making a prototype is not required, having enough knowledge so that you could make a prototype is required. (you can certainly get people to help you with certain known processes, like putting together integrated circuits onto a circuit board, welding components you need, plastic injection molding, 3D printing, etc. But you need to know how you are going to implement the new inventive part of the process.

If you found this answer helpful, you may want to look at my answers to other questions about patent law are available at the bottom of my profile page at

https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/kevin-e-flynn-880338

Kevin E Flynn

A: Hi. I can't tell you if it's possible to patent your specific device. However, you can patent any invention that meets the following requirements:

1. Patentable subject matter. It can't occur naturally in nature or simply be an algorithm. Robotics should qualify.

2. You must be the first to invent and apply for a patent.

3. The invention must be new and can't have been patented, disclosed in a printed publication, used publicly or offered for sale more than 12 months before the application is filed.

4. The invention must be nonobvious.