Compliant Robot Charging Dock for Alignment Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robot technologies face challenges in efficiently and quickly picking items from shelves and placing them on totes, requiring human assistance due to difficulties in robotic manipulation, and there is a need for an efficient electrical charging system to support continuous robot operation in warehouse environments.
Innovation Solution
An electrical charging system featuring a docking station with a compliant electrical charger assembly that allows movement in all six degrees of freedom, ensuring easy alignment and secure mating with the robot's charging port, combined with navigation techniques using fiducial markers and SLAM for efficient navigation and charging station localization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed electrical charger assembly is used in the docking station, then the charging connection is stable, but it is difficult to align with the robot's charging port due to positioning errors
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical charger assembly is made dynamically adjustable through compliant members that enable movement in six degrees of freedom. This allows the charger assembly to adapt its position and orientation to match the robot's charging port, resolving the contradiction between connection stability and alignment ease by providing both mechanical compliance and secure electrical contact.
2Reliability
If the robot requires precise positioning for charging, then the charging connection is reliable, but the navigation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station's charger assembly performs self-alignment through its compliant members that automatically adjust to the robot's position and orientation. This self-adjusting mechanism eliminates the need for highly precise robot positioning, thereby maintaining reliable charging connections while reducing navigation complexity.
3Ease of operation
If a compliant electrical charger assembly is used to allow movement, then the alignment with charging port is easy, but the charging connection stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The compliant members provide controlled flexibility that enables alignment while maintaining stable electrical connections. The design allows movement in six degrees of freedom during the approach phase, then secures the connection once mated, thus achieving both ease of alignment and connection reliability.
4Productivity
If robots are used for autonomous picking and placing, then productivity increases, but the need for efficient charging infrastructure becomes more critical
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station with compliant charger assembly provides autonomous charging capability that requires minimal intervention. The system automatically aligns and establishes electrical connection when the robot docks, enabling continuous operation and high productivity without complex charging infrastructure management.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables efficient navigation and charging of robots within the warehouse, reducing the need for human intervention in picking and placing items and ensuring rapid and reliable battery recharging, thereby enhancing overall warehouse operation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
There is at least one compliant member interconnecting the electrical charger assembly to a portion of the docking station to allow movement of the electrical charger assembly relative to the electrical charging port on the robot when the robot is mating with the docking station.
Data Source
AI summary
A docking station for charging a robot including an electrical charger assembly affixed to the charger docking station and configured to mate with an electrical charging port on the robot when the robot is docked at the docking station for charging. There is at least one compliant member interconnecting the electrical charger assembly to a portion of the docking station to allow movement of the electrical charger assembly relative to the electrical charging port on the robot when the robot is mating with the docking station.