Methods and systems for charging a robotic device

• US 8,977,393 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X Development LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kohler, Damon
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US13/612,218
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/248, 700/259, 320/107, 320/137, 320/109, 320/166, 320/115
• US Class Current: 700/248
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/20 Vehicles specially adapted for children, e.g. toy vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/53 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• 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

Abstract

Methods and systems for robotic device charging are described. Within examples, a robotic device may be any device that has a computing ability and interacts with its surroundings with an actuation capability (e.g., electromechanical capabilities). In some examples, a robotic device may be configured to receive a second device, such as a mobile phone, that may be configured to function as necessary as an accessory or a “brain” of the robotic device. A power source apparatus may be any apparatus able to distribute charge in some form in any method to a device wanting charge, including robotic devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a computing system of a robotic device, that a power level associated with the robotic device is below a threshold level;

based on determining that the power level associated with the robotic device is below the threshold level, coupling, by the computing system of the robotic device, a mechanical manipulator of the robotic device to a terminal of a power source, wherein the mechanical manipulator includes an elongated arm or leg of the robotic device configured to perform one or more grip operations, and wherein coupling the mechanical manipulator to the terminal of the power source comprises coupling a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact of the mechanical manipulator to respective corresponding portions of the terminal of the power source by performing a respective grip operation of the one or more grip operations; and

responsive to coupling the mechanical manipulator of the robotic device to the terminal of the power source, receiving, at the robotic device, an electrical charge from the power source through the mechanical manipulator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the robotic device identifying the power source via object recognition in an image captured by the robotic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mechanical manipulator includes a plurality of portions coupled via one or more joints, and is configured to move the plurality of portions relative to each other as well as relative to the one or more joints.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

making a determination that the received electrical charge is below a threshold; and

repositioning the first electrical contact and the second electric contact of the mechanical manipulator relative to the terminal of the power source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mechanical manipulator is the elongated arm of the robotic device, and wherein the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact have respective positions on an actuator of the elongated arm.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the robotic device is configured to uncouple the mechanical manipulator upon receiving a threshold amount of electrical charge.

7. A robotic device comprising:

a mechanical manipulator coupled to a base of the robotic device configured to perform one or more grip operations, wherein the mechanical manipulator includes an elongated arm or leg of the robotic device and includes a first portion and a second portion movably coupled relative to each other, the first portion and the second portion of the member including electrical contacts and the first portion includes a first electrical contact configured to receive a first type of charge and the second portion includes a second electrical contact configured to receive a second type of charge; and

a control unit configured to control movement of the mechanical manipulator, wherein movement of the mechanical manipulator includes coupling the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact of the mechanical manipulator to respective portions of a terminal of a power source by performing a respective grip operation of the one or more grip operations to receive electrical charge at the robotic device through the mechanical manipulator.

8. The robotic device of claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to execute instructions to configure movement of the mechanical manipulator.

9. The robotic device of claim 7, wherein the control unit comprises a gauge configured to measure an amount of charge in the robotic device.

10. The robotic device of claim 7, wherein the mechanical manipulator of the robotic device includes a gripper with a first portion and a second portion.

11. The robotic device of claim 7, wherein the control unit of the robotic device is configured to make a determination that the charge entering the mechanical manipulator of the robotic device is below a threshold, and to reposition the mechanical manipulator relative to the terminal of the power source.

12. The robotic device of claim 7, wherein the control unit of the robotic device is configured to make a determination that the charge available for use in the robotic device is above a threshold.

13. A system comprising:

a plurality of robotic devices, wherein a given robotic device of the plurality of robotic devices includes at least one mechanical manipulator configured to perform one or more grip operations, and wherein the at least one mechanical manipulator includes an elongated arm or leg of the robotic device that includes a first electrical contact configured to receive a first type of charge and a second electrical contact configured to receive a second type of charge having respective positions on the mechanical manipulator; and

a power source apparatus configured to couple to a planar surface and including a plurality of terminals located on the power source apparatus, wherein a given terminal of the plurality of terminals is configured to provide an electrical charge, the electrical charge being transferable to the at least one mechanical manipulator of the given robotic device of the plurality of robotic devices coupling to the given terminal of the plurality of terminals via a respective grip operation of the one or more grip operations.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the power source apparatus is a planar surface having a first side and a second side.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising the first side of the planar surface having a first type of charge and the second side having a second type of charge.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the power source apparatus is configured to constantly output a charge within an optimal range.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the power source apparatus is configured to increase a charge level when at least one member of a robotic device couples to the power source apparatus.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the power source apparatus is configured to charge through induction.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the power source apparatus is configured to couple to a ceiling of a room.