How would I build a robot?

I have an idea for a massively successful robotic device that could be marketed virtually everywhere. I am really confident in the idea.

So my question... How would I build it? I am not asking for DIYer ideas or YouTube links. I am asking about the process to hire a company to design and/or build them.

How would I begin the process of approaching an engineering company for a product like this when all I have is an idea- I do not have patents, designs, etc. How would I protect my idea and establish protocol that would enable them to profit while protecting my idea from being stolen?

Hire an engineer, and get them to sign a NDA? I have no idea, just thinking aloud...

You can patent your concept and have a patent attorney do the work once you have the idea on paper. I'm sure you can DIY the process but it sounds painful. We just went through this with my wife having an idea, i suggest not trying to cheap out and go through a university law program as when school semester changed her student left and they started over with a new one. But the patent attorney is your friend in this case, they can help you protect yourself.

Also, not china. They'll just steal the plans when you walk out the door. It may be best, if it's a super number one idea, to sell the idea to the big boys once it's protected and you are on record as owning the idea

This isn't really what I do, but I've read two articles that I know I'd re-read if I were to embark on something like this:

Andrew "bunnie" Huang's blog on Chumby talks at length about his experiences getting the Chumby built in China:

http://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?cat=6

Here's a good article on what Automoblox (the wooden and plastic toy cars) had to go through to get into production:

http://www.toydirectory.com/monthly/article.asp?id=1603

At some level, I'm not even that concerned about protecting the idea for myself.

I'd like to OWN one, sell the services it could produce, and wouldn't mind selling finished units to other companies.

I could find 5 different companies in virtually every city in this country that would buy them, perhaps at a pricetag of up to $500K each.

Design and document a prototype. If you can't do at least the preliminary stuff this will be hard and expensive. Finding a company that is willing to do all the design work for you without just stealing your idea will take lawyers and contracts to protect you, and you still may not end up with much. A basic protectable patent will cost over 20K by the time you get a patent attorney to help you. Protectable in a court of law is the key phrase, as if its not you just wasted a lot of money, a common misconception is that all patents are bulletproof.

If you do find a company to design/patent/build you idea you will probably have to give away the lion's share of it.

If I gave away 99% of this, I'd still be a millionaire many times over.

SVreX wrote: At some level, I'm not even that concerned about protecting the idea for myself. I'd like to OWN one, sell the services it could produce, and wouldn't mind selling finished units to other companies. I could find 5 different companies in virtually every city in this country that would buy them, perhaps at a pricetag of up to $500K each.

If that is truly the case, build one for yourself. Find someone that will help you build it and try it out. They of course would have to sign a non-compete, and if you let them have first crack at building a future product they may get on board. Do you have the money to finance the build of the first one? Not to many companies are going to be willing to do this for you.

I build a lot of custom automated heavy equipment but I wouldn't really call it robotics. I'm currently designing a product for my own shop use that isn't available on the market. If I can find some interest I may see if I can build it to sell.

So here is how thing get built in the engineering world which are protected.

Get a lawyer. Get a 'freedom to operate", because as much as you have an idea now, you don't have the details of the patent claims yet. Hire a good automation place. I can help you with some around here if need be. Get them to sign a non disclosure and include the point that any IP developed during the design and build is yours exclusively. Make a prototype and then talk with the patent attorney about how to write the claims in the best way.

Most of this happens behind the scenes where I (and many others) work, but you can do it yourself.

In reply to D2W:

I could probably finance the build of a prototype. Depends, of course, on how expensive it was!

SVreX wrote: In reply to D2W: I could probably finance the build of a prototype. Depends, of course, on how expensive it was!

Call me if you want to chat about it offline. I think you still have my number.