Nesting negotiation for self-mobile devices

• US 7,894,940 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2008
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daedalus Blue LLC
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kiswanto; Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US12/136,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20080231227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/248
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/005 using batteries, e.g. as a back-up power source
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/32 Auto pilot mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/58 Departure time prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

Disparate robotic devices can be automatically recharged and reprogrammed by self-scheduling individual time slots for the available recharging area(s) of a charging station. These charging stations provide a nest to which each robot must return periodically for power. These nests can also provide new tasking or patches for the robotic devices. The charging station and the robotic devices are both provided with communications capabilities and a protocol by which they can negotiate to find a time slot in which the device can be recharged, as well as determining a correct connector and a battery type.

Claims

1. A method of recharging robotic devices, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting when a robotic device has reached a given level of depletion;

establishing a communications link between said robotic device and a charging station;

using a protocol to determine a connector or correct current needed for charging said robotic device; and

charging said robotic device using said connector or said correct power;

wherein said steps are performed solely by said robotic device and said charging station further comprising using the protocol to determine a time slot for charging said robotic device to provide, in response to a request, a first available time at which said robotic device can report to said nesting station for charging; and

to provide either a confirmation of said time slot or a request for a different time slot.

2. The method of recharging robotic devices of claim 1, wherein said correct power has the output characteristics of a voltage source.

3. The method of recharging robotic devices of claim 1, wherein said correct power has the output characteristics of a current source.

4. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer executable code that is operable to perform the steps of claim 1.

5. The method of recharging robotic devices of claim 1, further comprising:

using the protocol to determine a time slot for charging said robotic device; and

providing said robotic device with new tasks or updated programming during said time slot.

6. The method of recharging robotic devices of claim 1, wherein said charging station maintains separate schedules for each of a plurality of connectors.