Field deployable docking station for mobile robots
First Claim
1. A deployable docking station coupleable to a mobile robot to provide support services to the mobile robot and to selectively move in tandem with the mobile robot, the mobile robot being of the type that is capable of traversing a surface, the deployable docking station comprising:
- a housing;
an anchor connected to the housing, wherein the deployable docking station is configured to selectively engage and disengage with the surface via the anchor;
a coupling connected to the housing and configured to selectively connect and disconnect with the mobile robot, wherein when the anchor is engaged with the surface, the coupling is disconnected from the mobile robot, and when the anchor is disengaged with the surface, the coupling is connected to the mobile robot; and
a sensor connected to the housing and configured to verify engagement of the anchor with the surface and connection of the coupling with the mobile robot, wherein confirmation by the sensor of engagement of the anchor with the surface is required before the coupling is configured to disconnect from the mobile robot.
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Abstract
A deployable docking station for supporting at least one mobile robot is provided. The deployable docking station includes a housing and an anchor connected to the housing. The anchor can engage with a surface to maintain the position of the deployable docking station. The deployable docking station is further configured to couple and decouple with the at least one mobile robot. The deployable docking station can be configured to selectively alternate between a first and second condition. In the first condition, the deployable docking station is coupled with the at least one mobile robot and the at least one mobile robot can transport the deployable docking station to a desired location on the surface. In the second condition, the deployable docking station is de-coupled from the at least one mobile robot.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A deployable docking station coupleable to a mobile robot to provide support services to the mobile robot and to selectively move in tandem with the mobile robot, the mobile robot being of the type that is capable of traversing a surface, the deployable docking station comprising:
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a housing; an anchor connected to the housing, wherein the deployable docking station is configured to selectively engage and disengage with the surface via the anchor; a coupling connected to the housing and configured to selectively connect and disconnect with the mobile robot, wherein when the anchor is engaged with the surface, the coupling is disconnected from the mobile robot, and when the anchor is disengaged with the surface, the coupling is connected to the mobile robot; and a sensor connected to the housing and configured to verify engagement of the anchor with the surface and connection of the coupling with the mobile robot, wherein confirmation by the sensor of engagement of the anchor with the surface is required before the coupling is configured to disconnect from the mobile robot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for providing support services to one or more robots, the system comprising:
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a first mobile robot having a connection mechanism and configured to traverse a surface; a deployable docking station configured to provide support services including at least one resource to the first mobile robot when coupled thereto, wherein the deployable docking station comprises; a housing; an anchor connected to the housing, wherein the deployable docking station is configured to selectively engage and disengage with the surface via the anchor; a coupling connected to the housing and configured to selectively connect and disconnect with the first mobile robot via the connection mechanism, wherein when the anchor is engaged with the surface, the coupling is disconnected from the connection mechanism of the first mobile robot, and when the anchor is disengaged with the surface, the coupling is connected to the first mobile robot via the connection mechanism; and a sensor connected to the housing and configured to verify engagement of the anchor with the surface and connection of the coupling with the connection mechanism of the first mobile robot, wherein confirmation by the sensor of engagement of the anchor with the surface is required before the coupling is configured to disconnect from the connection mechanism of the first mobile robot; and a control center remote from the first mobile robot and the deployable docking station and configured to receive data from and transmit data to the deployable docking station. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification