AUTOMATED BATTERY AND DATA DELIVERY SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An automated battery exchange system for exchanging a discharged battery coupled to a battery operated device with a charged battery, comprising:
- a battery operated device positioned within a retail environment, the battery operated device comprising a display for presenting data to one or more users in the retail environment and a rechargeable battery for powering the battery operated device;
a base station remotely located from the battery operated device, the base station electrically coupled to a power source and configured to charge a rechargeable battery; and
a mobile robotic device comprising a transportation system for moving the mobile robotic device between the battery operated device and the base station, a storage platform for supporting a set of rechargeable batteries that include at least one charged battery, and a battery exchange system configured to decouple from the battery operated device the rechargeable battery, couple to the battery operated device a charged battery from the set of rechargeable batteries supported on the storage platform, decouple from the base station a rechargeable battery, and couple to the base station a rechargeable battery from the set of rechargeable batteries supported on the storage platform,wherein the mobile robotic device is configured to travel between the battery operated device and the base station so that the battery exchange system can exchange a discharged battery from the battery operated device with a charged battery from the set of rechargeable batteries supported on the storage platform after the mobile robotic device travels to the battery operated device and exchange a charged battery from the base station with a discharged battery from the set of rechargeable batteries supported on the storage platform after the mobile robotic device travels to the base station.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided that use a mobile robotic device (120, 220, 800) to transport rechargeable batteries (322, 422, 530, 570, 610, 722) between a base station (110, 600, 700), which charges the batteries, and a battery operated device (130, 230, 300, 400, 500, 550), such as battery powered kiosk (400) or signage system (300), which uses a charged battery as a power source. After traveling to a battery operated device, the mobile robotic device removes any discharged batteries from the battery operated device and installs a charged battery. The mobile robotic device then travels to the base station and attaches the discharged battery to the base station for recharging. The mobile robotic device may be configured to perform other transfers, such as data transfers and paper transfers. In addition, the mobile robotic device may be configured to perform a photographic and spatial survey of the isles, retail shelves, and surrounding environment for various purposes, such as generating three-dimensional store models and remote viewing.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An automated battery exchange system for exchanging a discharged battery coupled to a battery operated device with a charged battery, comprising:
-
a battery operated device positioned within a retail environment, the battery operated device comprising a display for presenting data to one or more users in the retail environment and a rechargeable battery for powering the battery operated device; a base station remotely located from the battery operated device, the base station electrically coupled to a power source and configured to charge a rechargeable battery; and a mobile robotic device comprising a transportation system for moving the mobile robotic device between the battery operated device and the base station, a storage platform for supporting a set of rechargeable batteries that include at least one charged battery, and a battery exchange system configured to decouple from the battery operated device the rechargeable battery, couple to the battery operated device a charged battery from the set of rechargeable batteries supported on the storage platform, decouple from the base station a rechargeable battery, and couple to the base station a rechargeable battery from the set of rechargeable batteries supported on the storage platform, wherein the mobile robotic device is configured to travel between the battery operated device and the base station so that the battery exchange system can exchange a discharged battery from the battery operated device with a charged battery from the set of rechargeable batteries supported on the storage platform after the mobile robotic device travels to the battery operated device and exchange a charged battery from the base station with a discharged battery from the set of rechargeable batteries supported on the storage platform after the mobile robotic device travels to the base station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An automated energy delivery system operating within a retail environment to deliver to one or more battery operated devices electrical energy, comprising:
-
a battery operated device positioned within the retail environment, the battery operated device comprising a display for presenting data to one or more users in the retail environment and a rechargeable battery for powering the battery operated device; and a mobile robotic device comprising a transportation system for moving the mobile robotic device between the battery operated device and a power source, an energy storage device configured to store electrical energy from the power source, and an energy exchange system for transferring from the power source to the energy storage device electrical energy and transferring from the energy storage device to the rechargeable battery electrical energy, wherein the mobile robotic device is configured to travel between the battery operated device and the power source so that the energy exchange system can transfer from the power source to the energy storage device electrical energy after the mobile robotic device travels to the power source and the energy exchange system can transfer from the energy storage device to the rechargeable battery electrical energy for charging the rechargeable battery after the mobile robotic device travels to the battery operated device.
-
Specification