Apparatus system and method of wireless robot charging

A wirelessly chargeable robotic device, comprising:

• a power receiving unit comprising at least one conducting wire comprising at least one induction coil configured to wirelessly receive power transmitted by a charging apparatus;
• and
• a chargeable battery connected to the power receiving unit and configured to store the received power, wherein the charging apparatus includes:
• a power transmitting unit comprising a plurality of conducting wires each configured to carry a respective alternating current signal and to generate a time-varying magnetic flux when the conducting wire carries the alternating current signal;
• a processor configured to detect a presence or an absence of an induction coil of a robotic device within a predetermined distance of a conducting wire and to generate control data based on the result of the detection;
• and
• a control unit configured to control at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of each respective alternating current signal supplied to each of the conducting wires based on the control data, wherein the control unit is configured to increase at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of an alternating current signal supplied to a conducting wire in response to control data indicating the presence of the induction coil within the predetermined distance of the conducting wire, wherein:
• the plurality of conducting wires comprises one or more planar tiles configured to be connected to one or more other planar tiles when arranged on substantially the same plane,
• each planar tile comprises at least a portion of at least a first conducting wire extending in a first direction and at least a portion of at least a second conducting wire extending in a second direction, and
• each planar tile comprises circuitry having either a first configuration or a second configuration in dependence upon a number of other planar tiles connected to the planar tile.

A method of wirelessly charging one or more robotic devices, comprising:

• supplying a respective alternating current signal to each conducting wire of a plurality of conducting wires and generating a time-varying magnetic flux when a conducting wire carries the alternating current signal;
• detecting a presence or an absence of an induction coil of a robotic device within a predetermined distance of a conducting wire;
• generating control data based on the result of the detection;
• controlling at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of each respective alternating current signal supplied to each conducting wire of the plurality of conducting wires based on the control data;
• and
• increasing at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of an alternating current signal supplied to a conducting wire in response to control data indicating the presence of the induction coil within the predetermined distance of the conducting wire, wherein:
• the plurality of conducting wires comprises one or more planar tiles configured to be connected to one or more other planar tiles when arranged on substantially the same plane,
• each planar tile comprises at least a portion of at least a first conducting wire extending in a first direction and at least a portion of at least a second conducting wire extending in a second direction, and
• each planar tile comprises circuitry having either a first configuration or a second configuration in dependence upon a number of other planar tiles connected to the planar tile.

A non-transitory, computer readable storage medium containing computer software which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to carry out a method of wirelessly charging one or more robotic devices actions, the method comprising:

• supplying a respective alternating current signal to each conducting wire of a plurality of conducting wires and generating a time-varying magnetic flux when a conducting wire carries the alternating current signal;
• detecting a presence or an absence of an induction coil of a robotic device within a predetermined distance of a conducting wire;
• generating control data based on the result of the detection;
• controlling at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of each respective alternating current signal supplied to each conducting wire of the plurality of conducting wires based on the control data;
• and
• increasing at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of an alternating current signal supplied to a conducting wire in response to control data indicating the presence of the induction coil within the predetermined distance of the conducting wire, wherein:
• the plurality of conducting wires comprises one or more planar tiles configured to be connected to one or more other planar tiles when arranged on substantially the same plane,
• each planar tile comprises at least a portion of at least a first conducting wire extending in a first direction and at least a portion of at least a second conducting wire extending in a second direction, and
• each planar tile comprises circuitry having either a first configuration or a second configuration in dependence upon a number of other planar tiles connected to the planar tile.