Mobile robot docking systems and methods

• Main Authors: Dell'Accio, Douglas, Torrente, Leo, Morris, William, Wolff, Andrew Vincent, Pastore, Flavia
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 05.04.2022
• Subjects: CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; COFFEE MILLS; CONTROLLING; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT OR PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLEDVEHICLES; ELECTRICITY; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, IN GENERAL; FURNITURE; GENERATION; HAND TOOLS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MANIPULATORS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; REGULATING; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

A mobile robot system includes a docking station and a mobile robot. The docking station includes a platform, first and second charging contacts on the platform, and first and second ramp features on the platform. The robot includes a housing, first and second drive wheels, first and second raised charging contacts on a bottom of the housing, and a cleaning module including at least one rotatable cleaning head that extends below the bottom of the housing. The robot is movable from an approach position with the robot spaced apart from a front of the platform to a docked position with the robot on the platform and the docking station charging contacts engaged with the robot charging contacts. As the robot moves from the approach position to the docked position, the robot engages the first and second ramp features and the cleaning mechanism is lifted over the docking station charging contacts.