The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 2013
Filed:
Jun. 17, 2011
Trevor Taylor, Redmond, WA (US);
Michael Wyrzykowski, Seattle, WA (US);
Glen C. Larsen, Issaquah, WA (US);
Mike M. Paull, Kenmore, WA (US);
Trevor Taylor, Redmond, WA (US);
Michael Wyrzykowski, Seattle, WA (US);
Glen C. Larsen, Issaquah, WA (US);
Mike M. Paull, Kenmore, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
Described herein are technologies pertaining to autonomously docking a mobile robot at a docking station for purposes of recharging batteries of the mobile robot. The mobile robot uses vision-based navigation and a known map of the environment to navigate toward the docking station. Once sufficiently proximate to the docking station, the mobile robot captures infrared images of the docking station, and granularly aligns itself with the docking station based upon the captured infrared images of the docking station. As the robot continues to drive towards the docking station, the robot monitors infrared sensors for infrared beams emitted from the docking station. If the infrared sensors receive the infrared beams, the robot continues to drive forward until the robot successfully docks with the docking station.