Systems and methods for powering robots

{
  "publication_number": "US2023205291A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Systems and methods for powering robots",
  "abstract": "In an implementation, a robotic system includes a robot, a power source exchange station, and a controller. A method of operation of the robotic system includes identifying by the controller a low-power condition of the robot, and, in response to the identifying of a low-power condition, causing by the controller the robot and the power source exchange station to exchange a first primary electrical power source from the robot for a second primary electrical power source from the power source exchange station. The first and the second primary electrical power source may be a first and a second primary battery, respectively. The robotic system may engage a secondary power source operable to maintain a power supply to the robot during the exchange. The secondary power source may be a secondary battery on-board the robot.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of operation of a robotic system, the robotic system comprising a robot, a power source exchange station, and a controller, the method comprising: identifying, by the controller, a low-power condition of the robot; and in response to the identifying of a low-power condition, causing, by the controller, the robot and the power source exchange station to exchange a first primary electrical power source from the robot for a second primary electrical power source from the power source exchange station. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the robot comprises at least one processor, and wherein the identifying by the controller a low-power condition of the robot includes identifying by the at least one processor the low-power condition of the robot. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying by the at least one processor the low-power condition of the robot includes autonomously identifying the low-power condition of the robot by the at least one processor of the robot. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing by the controller the robot and the power source exchange station to exchange a first primary electrical power source from the robot for a second primary electrical power source from the power source exchange station includes causing by the controller the robot and the power source exchange station to exchange a first primary battery from the robot for a second primary battery from the power source exchange station. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the identifying by the controller a low-power condition of the robot includes at least one of performing a capacity test to determine whether the first primary battery can support a desired current for a given length of time, or monitoring an internal resistance of one or more cells in the first primary battery. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing by the controller the robot and the power source exchange station to exchange a first primary electrical power source from the robot for a second primary electrical power source from the power source exchange station includes engaging by the robot a secondary power source, the secondary power source operable to maintain a power supply to the robot. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the engaging by the robot a secondary power source includes engaging by the robot a secondary battery on-board the robot. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the engaging by the robot a secondary power source includes electrically coupling, by the robot, a tethered connector port of the robot to a corresponding tethered connector port of the power source exchange station. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein electrically coupling, by the robot, a tethered connector port of the robot to a corresponding tethered connector port of the power source exchange station includes electrically coupling, by the robot, a tethered male connector plug of the robot to a female connector socket of the power source exchange station. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein electrically coupling, by the robot, a tethered connector port of the robot to a corresponding tethered connector port of the power source exchange station includes electrically coupling, by the robot, a female connector socket of the robot to a tethered male connector plug of the power source exchange station. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the power source exchange station is a mobile power source exchange station, and wherein the causing by the controller the robot and the power source exchange station to exchange a first primary electrical power source from the robot for a second primary electrical power source from the power source exchange station includes directing the mobile power source exchange station by the controller to the robot. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing by the controller the robot and the power source exchange station to exchange a first primary electrical power source from the robot for a second primary electrical power source from the power source exchange station includes: identifying by the robot a location of the power source exchange station; determining by the robot a route from a current location of the robot to the location of the power source exchange station; and relocating the robot by the robot from the current location of the robot to the location of the power source exchange station. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing by the controller the robot and the power source exchange station to exchange a first primary electrical power source from the robot for a second primary electrical power source from the power source exchange station includes: disconnecting and removing by the robot the first primary power source; and installing by the robot the second primary power source. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing by the controller the robot and the power source exchange station to exchange a first primary electrical power source from the robot for a second primary electrical power source from the power source exchange station includes: disconnecting and removing by the power source exchange station the first primary power source; and installing by the power source exchange station the second primary power source. 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of recharging or replenishing by the power source exchange station the first primary electrical power source. 16. The method of claim 1 wherein the robot comprises the controller, and wherein identifying by the controller a low-power condition of the robot includes autonomously identifying the low-power condition of the robot by the robot. 17. The method of claim 1 wherein the robot comprises at least one processor, and wherein, causing, by the controller, the robot and the power source exchange station to exchange a first primary electrical power source from the robot for a second primary electrical power source from the power source exchange station includes autonomously exchanging a first primary electrical power source from the robot for a second primary electrical power source from the power source exchange station by the robot. 18. The method of claim 1 wherein the robot comprises the controller, and wherein, causing, by the controller, the robot and the power source exchange station to exchange a first primary electrical power source from the robot for a second primary electrical power source from the power source exchange station includes autonomously exchanging a first primary electrical power source from the robot for a second primary electrical power source from the power source exchange station by the robot."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present systems, devices, and methods generally relate to powering robots, and particularly relate to replacing and/or replenishing depleted electrical power sources (e.g., batteries) for autonomous or semi-autonomous general purpose robots.\n\nRobots are machines that can assist humans or substitute for humans. Robots can be used in diverse applications including construction, manufacturing, monitoring, exploration, learning, and entertainment. Robots can be used in dangerous or uninhabitable environments, for example. Some robots require user input, and can be operated by humans. Other robots have a degree of autonomy, and can operate, in at least some situations, without human intervention. Some autonomous or semi-autonomous robots are designed to mimic human behavior. Autonomous or semi-autonomous robots can be particularly useful in applications where robots (for example, general purpose robots) are needed to work for an extended time without operator intervention, to navigate within their operating environment, and/or to adapt to changing circumstances.\n\nA method of operation of a robotic system that comprises a robot, a power source exchange station, and a controller, may be summarized as comprising identifying by the controller a low-power condition of the robot, and, in response to the identifying of a low-power condition, causing by the controller the robot and the power source exchange station to exchange a first primary electrical power source from the robot for a second primary electrical power source from the power source exchange station.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06F 1/263",
    "B25J 19/005",
    "B25J 9/161",
    "B25J 9/1674",
    "G05B 2219/39413",
    "Y02T 10/70",
    "Y02T 10/7072"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25J 19/00",
    "G06F 1/26"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "SANCTUARY COGNITIVE SYSTEMS CORP"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "SHANNON CONNOR RICHARD"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2022-12-27",
  "publication_date": "2023-06-29",
  "priority_date": "2021-12-27",
  "application_number": "US-202218089517-A",
  "family_id": "86897837",
  "citations": [
    "EP3517353A1",
    "EP4137356A1",
    "US2002007320A1",
    "US2020091744A1",
    "US2023264588A1",
    "US6307377B1",
    "WO2022126560A1"
  ]
}