Docking station for the mechanical alignment of an autonomous robotic platform
US10661672B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 13, 2018 |
| Grant date | May 26, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T90/14
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Various embodiments are directed to a docking station for the mechanical alignment of an autonomous robotic platform. A correlator may receive the wheels of a moving autonomous robotic platform. A first set of rollers in the correlator may align the wheels, in a substantially linear direction, into a space created by a second set of rollers attached to a frame of a backstop. The second set of rollers may continue to align the wheels of the moving autonomous robotic platform until the wheels come in contact with a stopping roller coupled to the backstop. The stopping roller may be vertically oriented at a height above a wheel radius of the autonomous robotic platform. The stopping roller provides a force to prevent further forward travel. Upon being stopped by the stopping roller, the autonomous robotic platform is positioned for mating with charging contacts in the docking station.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.