Recharge docking system for mobile robot
AssigneeDenning Mobile Robotics, Inc.
InventorsRobert W. George, II, Michael C. DiPietro, Mark B. Kadonoff, James F. Maddox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A recharge docking system for a battery-powered mobile robot which senses when the battery charge is below a predetermined level and halts the travel of the robot at its next navigational node, following which the robot independently plots and negotiates a path from the next node back to a base node at a recharge station, where the batteries are charged.
Claims10
A recharge docking system for a mobile robot powered by at least one battery navigating from node to node, comprising:
- means for sensing when the charge of said battery is below a first predetermined level;
- means, responsive to said means for sensing, for halting the travel of said robot at its next navigation node when said charge is below said first predetermined level;
- means, responsive to said means for sensing, for determining a path from said next node to a base node;
- means at said base node for recharging said battery;
- means, responsive to said means for recharging, for detecting when said battery is sufficiently recharged;
- and
- means, responsive to said means for detecting, for resuming said travel of said robot from node to node.
A recharge docking system for a mobile robot navigating from node to node and powered by at least one battery, comprising:
- means for sensing when the battery charge is below a first predetermined level;
- means, responsive to said means for sensing, for halting the travel of the robot at its next navigation node when said battery charge is below said first predetermined level;
- means, responsive to said means for sensing, for determining a path from said next node back to base node, said means for determining including means for selecting the shortest path to said base node;
- and
- means at said base node for charging said battery of said robot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.