System and method of enabling a mobile robot to take an elevator autonomously

A system for enabling a mobile robot to take an elevator autonomously, comprising:

• a plurality of autonomous elevator systems, each system positioned in front of an elevator call control panel at a plurality of floors accessible by an elevator car of the elevator, each system comprising:
• a pressing module including a pressing finger adapted to press elevator call buttons on an elevator call control panel;
• a lifting device supporting the pressing module for selectively adjusting a height position of the pressing module for aligning the pressing finger on the pressing module to height positions horizontally aligned with the elevator call buttons;
• and
• a controller adapted to wirelessly communicate with the mobile robot and the pressing module, the controller, in response to a command sent by the mobile robot, controlling the pressing module to press predetermined elevator call buttons on the elevator call control panel, the mobile robot sends a first command to press an elevator call button to one of the plurality of autonomous elevator systems positioned on a departure floor, and upon entering the elevator car at the departure floor, sends a second command to press an elevator call button to another one of the plurality of autonomous elevator systems positioned on a destination floor for moving the elevator car to the destination floor.

A system for enabling a mobile robot to utilize an elevator autonomously, comprising:

• a pressing module including at least one pressing finger for pressing elevator call buttons on an elevator call control panel;
• a lifting device supporting the pressing module and selectively adjusting a height position of the pressing module for aligning the at least one pressing finger on the pressing module to height positions horizontally aligned with the elevator call buttons, the lifting device includes a liftable telescopic rod supporting the pressing module on an end thereof and a support plate fixed on a top end of the telescopic rod, the pressing module is fixed on the support plate;
• a controller for wirelessly communicating with the mobile robot and the pressing module, the controller, in response to a command sent by the mobile robot, controlling the pressing module to press an elevator call button on the elevator call control panel associated with the command;
• a base on which the lifting device and the controller are mounted;
• and
• a pair of fixed support columns fixed on the base, the pair of fixed support columns being located below two ends of the support plate respectively for supporting the supporting plate at a predetermined height position.