AUTONOMOUS ROBOT CHARGING STATION

• US 20190092179A1
• Filed: 09/22/2017
• Published: 03/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Locus Robotics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Locus Robotics Corporation
• Inventors: Kwa, Kai Hian, Sussman, Michael, Moore, Thomas, Powers, Bradley, Fong, Christina Nicole
• Granted Patent: US 10,399,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/005 using batteries, e.g. as a back-up power source
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An electrical charging station for charging an autonomous robot with first and second cameras used for docking the autonomous robot with the electrical charging station. There is a front side cover with a surface, the front side cover including a first charging member configured to receive a second charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station for charging. There is a first fiducial surface including a first fiducial marker affixed to the first surface. The first fiducial surface defines a plane disposed at a first non-zero angle relative to a plane defined by the surface of the front side cover. There is a second fiducial surface including a second fiducial marker affixed to the second surface. The second fiducial surface defines a plane disposed at a second non-zero angle relative to the plane defined by the surface of the front side cover.

Claims

1. An electrical charging station for charging an autonomous robot with first and second cameras used for docking the autonomous robot with the electrical charging station, the electrical charging station comprising:

a front side cover with a surface, the front side cover including a first charging member configured to receive a second charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station for charging;

a first fiducial surface including a first fiducial marker affixed to the first surface, wherein the first fiducial surface defines a plane disposed at a first non-zero angle relative to a plane defined by the surface of the front side cover; and

a second fiducial surface including a second fiducial marker affixed to the second surface;

wherein the second fiducial surface defines a plane disposed at a second non-zero angle relative to the plane defined by the surface of the front side cover.

2. The charging station of claim 1 wherein the first and second angles are selected such that when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station for charging, an optical axis of the first camera intersects the plane defined by first fiducial surface at a perpendicular angle and an optical axis of the second camera intersects the plane defined by the second fiducial surface at a perpendicular angle.

3. The charging station of claim 1 wherein the first non-zero angle and the second non-zero angle are equal.

4. The charging station of claim 3 wherein the first non-zero angle and the second non-zero angle are obtuse angles.

5. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the first and second fiducial surfaces are proximate a back side cover, opposite the front side cover.

6. The charging station of claim 1, wherein the first charging member is one of a male charging member or a female charging member and the second charging member is the other of the male or female charging member.

7. An electrical charging system, comprising:

an autonomous robot including;

a first optical camera having a first optical axis;

a second optical camera having a second optical axis; and

a first charging member; and

an electrical charging station including;

a front side cover with a surface, the front side cover including a second charging member configured to receive the first charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station for charging;

a first fiducial surface including a first fiducial marker affixed to the first surface, wherein the first fiducial surface defines a plane disposed at a first non-zero angle relative to a plane defined by the surface of the front side cover; and

a second fiducial surface including a second fiducial marker affixed to the second surface, wherein the second fiducial surface defines a plane disposed at a second non-zero angle relative to the plane defined by the surface of the front side cover.

8. The charging system of claim 7 wherein the first and second angles are selected such that when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station for charging, the first optical axis of the first camera intersects the plane defined by first fiducial surface at a perpendicular angle and the second optical axis of the second camera intersects the plane defined by the second fiducial surface at a perpendicular angle.

9. The charging system of claim 7 wherein the first non-zero angle and the second non-zero angle are equal.

10. The charging system of claim 9 wherein the first non-zero angle and the second non-zero angle are obtuse angles.

11. The charging system of claim 7, wherein the first and second fiducial surfaces are proximate a back side cover, opposite the front side cover.

12. The charging system of claim 7, wherein the first charging member is one of a male charging member or a female charging member and the second charging member is the other of the male or female charging member.

13. The charging system of claim 7, wherein the first optical camera has a first field of view.

14. The charging system of claim 13, wherein the second optical camera has a second field of view.

15. The charging system of claim 14, wherein the first field of view and the second field of view are equal.

16. The charging system of claim 14, wherein the first field of view and the second field of view are approximately 80 degrees.

17. The charging system of claim 16, wherein the first field of view and the second field of partially overlap and the combined field of view of the autonomous robot is approximately 120 degrees.