초록 ▼

A robot, a station, system and method therefor is described. The docking system includes, among other items, a robot and a docking station. The robot may have a power storage unit configured to supply power for the robot, a docking terminal group having a first docking terminal and a second docking

A robot, a station, system and method therefor is described. The docking system includes, among other items, a robot and a docking station. The robot may have a power storage unit configured to supply power for the robot, a docking terminal group having a first docking terminal and a second docking terminal, and a robot control unit configured to control working state of the robot. The docking station includes a conductive terminal group comprising at least a first conductive terminal and a second conductive terminal. The conductive terminal group is configured to be electrically connected to the docking terminal group respectively. The robot control unit comprises a signal transmission module configured to be electrically connected to the first docking terminal and send a predetermined detection signal, a signal receiving module configured to be electrically connected to the second docking terminal. When the signal receiving module receives a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to the predetermined detection signal, the robot control unit verifies that the docking of the docking terminal group of the robot with the conductive terminal group of the docking station has succeeded. The robot can reliably dock to the docking station without human intervention, which brings extreme convenience to production and life.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A docking system comprising: a robot and a docking station,wherein said robot includesa power storage unit configured to supply power for the robot,a docking terminal group including a first docking terminal and a second docking terminal;a robot control unit configured to control a working state

1. A docking system comprising: a robot and a docking station,wherein said robot includesa power storage unit configured to supply power for the robot,a docking terminal group including a first docking terminal and a second docking terminal;a robot control unit configured to control a working state of said robot;wherein said docking station includesa conductive terminal group, including a first conductive terminal and a second conductive terminal,said conductive terminal group configured to be electrically connected to the docking terminal group respectively; wherein said robot control unit includes a signal transmission module configured to be electrically connected to said first docking terminal and send a predetermined detection signal;a signal receiving module configured to be electrically connected to said second docking terminal;wherein said robot control unit verifies docking of said docking terminal group of said robot with said conductive terminal group of said docking station responsive to receipt by said signal receiving module of a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to the predetermined detection signal transmitted by the signal transmission module to at least one terminal of the docking terminal group. 2. The docking system of claim 1, wherein said robot also includes at least one of a first signal conversion unit and a second signal conversion unit, said first signal conversion unit positioned between said signal transmission module and said first docking terminal, said second signal conversion unit positioned between said signal receiving module and said second docking terminal, said first signal conversion unit operable to modify electrical parameters of the predetermined detection signal; said second signal conversion unit operable to modify electrical parameters of the predetermined feedback signal received from the second docking terminal. 3. The docking system of claim 2, wherein said robot includes said first signal conversion unit and said second signal conversion unit, said first signal conversion unit amplifying the predetermined detection signal, said second signal conversion unit decreasing the predetermined feedback signal. 4. The docking system of claim 3, wherein said second signal conversion unit isolates the predetermined feedback signal transferred between said second docking terminal and said signal receiving module. 5. The docking system of claim 1, wherein after said robot control unit verifies docking of said docking terminal group in said robot and said conductive terminal group in said docking station, said robot control unit stops the robot from moving. 6. The docking system of claim 5, wherein after said robot stops moving, said signal transmission module transmits a second predetermined detection signal, and further when said signal receiving module receives a second predetermined feedback signal corresponding to said second predetermined detection signal, said robot control unit keeps the robot from moving, and if said signal receiving module does not receive the second predetermined feedback signal corresponding to said second predetermined detection signal, said robot control unit allows said robot to move. 7. The docking system of claim 1, wherein said docking station further includes an across circuit between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal, said across circuit transfers signal between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal. 8. The docking system of claim 1, wherein said docking station further includes a docking station control unit, said docking station control unit controlling a working state of said docking station and detecting a signal transferred between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal, and when the docking station control unit detects a predetermined startup signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal, the docking station control unit begins a charging process. 9. The docking system of claim 8, wherein said docking station also includes a signal detecting unit which is electronically connected between said docking station control unit and said first and second conductive terminals, said docking station control unit detecting signals transferred between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal through said signal detecting unit. 10. The docking system of claim 9, wherein said signal detecting unit modifies electrical parameters of the detected signals. 11. The docking system of claim 10, wherein said signal detecting unit isolates the detected signals transferred between said first and second conductive terminals. 12. The docking system of claim 8, wherein said docking station also includes an output power control unit which controls providing a charging power to said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal, and wherein, before beginning the charging process, said docking station control unit controls said output power control unit to remove charging power to said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal, thereby causing the output power of said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal to be zero, and, after beginning the charging process, said docking station control unit controls said output power control unit to supply charging power to said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal. 13. A docking method for docking a robot to a docking station, said robot comprising a docking terminal group and a robot control unit, said docking terminal group comprising at least a first docking terminal and a second docking terminal, said robot control unit comprising a signal transmission module configured to be electrically connected to said first docking terminal and a signal receiving module configured to be electrically connected to said second docking terminal, said docking station comprising a conductive terminal group, said conductive terminal group comprising at least a first conductive terminal and a second conductive terminal, said conductive terminal group configured to be electrically connected to said docking terminal group of the robot, said docking method comprising:sending from said signal transmission module a predetermined detection signal through at least one terminal of the docking terminal group to be received by at least one terminal of the conductive terminal group;transferring a predetermined feedback signal to the at least one terminal of the docking terminal group of the robot from the docking station;determining if said signal receiving module has received the predetermined feedback signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal;verifying that the docking of said docking terminal group in said robot with said conductive terminal group in said docking station has succeeded when said signal receiving module has received the predetermined feedback signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal. 14. The docking method of claim 13, wherein a first signal conversion unit and a second signal conversion unit is in said robot, said first signal conversion unit electronically positioned between said signal transmission module and said first docking terminal, said second signal conversion unit is electronically positioned between said signal receiving module and said second docking terminal, said first signal conversion unit altering electrical parameters of the predetermined detection signal; and the second signal conversation unit altering electrical parameters of the predetermined feedback signal. 15. The docking method of claim 14, said first signal conversion unit and said second signal conversion unit in electrical communication with the docking terminal group in said robot, said first signal conversion unit amplifying the predetermined detection signal, said second signal conversion unit decreasing the predetermined feedback signal. 16. The docking method of claim 15, wherein said second signal conversation unit isolates the predetermined feedback signal transferred between said second docking terminal and said signal receiving module. 17. The docking method of claim 13, wherein after verifying docking of said docking terminal group in said robot and said conductive terminal in said docking station has succeeded, stopping said robot. 18. The docking method of claim 17, further including after said robot stops moving, sending by said signal transmission module a predetermined detection signal and, if said signal receiving module receives a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal, keeping the robot stopped by the robot control unit, and if said signal receiving module does not receive a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal, said robot control unit allowing said robot to move. 19. The docking method of claim 13, wherein an across circuit is positioned between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive, said across circuit transfers transferring signals between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal. 20. The docking method of claim 13, wherein a docking station control unit is in said docking station, said docking station control unit controlling a working state of said docking station and detecting signals transferred between said first conductive terminal and said second conductive terminal, such that when the docking station control unit detects a predetermined startup signal corresponding to said predetermined detection signal, said docking station control unit begins a charging process.