Robotic cart configured for effective navigation and multi-orientation docking
A system includes: a cart including: four legs; at least one shelf, each shelf attached to each of the legs; the cart having a generally rectangular shape, a width of the cart being longer than a length of the robot, a length of the cart being longer than a length of the robot; four wheels, each wheel attached to a different leg at a bottom of the leg, the wheels configured to roll to facilitate movement of the cart; and a robotic dock, the robotic dock comprising four docking receptacles at ninety degree angles from adjacent docking receptacles; and a robot comprising: a sensor; and a docking module, the docking module comprising retractable docking pins, each retractable docking pin configured, when extended upward, to mate with a corresponding docking receptacle, thereby securing the robot to a bottom shelf of the cart.
1. A system comprising:
a cart comprising:
four legs;
at least one shelf, each shelf attached to each of the legs;
the cart having a generally rectangular shape, a width of the cart being longer than a length of a robot, a length of the cart being longer than a length of the robot;
four wheels, each wheel attached to a different leg at a bottom of the leg, the wheels configured to roll to facilitate movement of the cart; and
a robotic dock, the robotic dock comprising four docking receptacles at ninety degree angles from adjacent docking receptacles; and
a robot comprising:
a sensor; and
a docking module, the docking module comprising retractable docking pins, each retractable docking pin configured, when extended upward, to mate with a corresponding docking receptacle, thereby securing the robot to a bottom shelf of the cart, at least one leg of the cart further comprising a band.
2. A system comprising:
a cart comprising:
four legs;
at least one shelf, each shelf attached to each of the legs;
the cart having a generally rectangular shape, a width of the cart being longer than a length of a robot, a length of the cart being longer than a length of the robot;
four wheels, each wheel attached to a different leg at a bottom of the leg, the wheels configured to roll to facilitate movement of the cart; and
a robotic dock, the robotic dock comprising four docking receptacles at ninety degree angles from adjacent docking receptacles; and
a robot comprising:
a sensor; and
a docking module, the docking module comprising retractable docking pins, each retractable docking pin configured, when extended upward, to mate with a corresponding docking receptacle, thereby securing the robot to a bottom shelf of the cart, wherein a distinguishing band on the cart leg allows a user to designate a preferred orientation for the robot to attach to or drop off the cart.
3. A system comprising:
a cart comprising:
four legs;
at least one shelf, each shelf attached to each of the legs;
the cart having a generally rectangular shape, a width of the cart being longer than a length of a robot, a length of the cart being longer than a length of the robot;
four wheels, each wheel attached to a different leg at a bottom of the leg, the wheels configured to roll to facilitate movement of the cart; and
a robotic dock, the robotic dock comprising four docking receptacles at ninety degree angles from adjacent docking receptacles; and
a robot comprising:
a sensor; and
a docking module, the docking module comprising retractable docking pins, each retractable docking pin configured, when extended upward, to mate with a corresponding docking receptacle, thereby securing the robot to a bottom shelf of the cart, at least one leg of the cart further comprising a band, wherein the band is configured to distinguish the leg from at least one of the other legs.
4. A system comprising:
a cart comprising:
four legs;
at least one shelf, each shelf attached to each of the legs;
the cart having a generally rectangular shape, a width of the cart being longer than a length of a robot, a length of the cart being longer than a length of the robot;
four wheels, each wheel attached to a different leg at a bottom of the leg, the wheels configured to roll to facilitate movement of the cart; and
a robotic dock, the robotic dock comprising four docking receptacles at ninety degree angles from adjacent docking receptacles; and
a robot comprising:
a sensor; and
a docking module, the docking module comprising retractable docking pins, each retractable docking pin configured, when extended upward, to mate with a corresponding docking receptacle, thereby securing the robot to a bottom shelf of the cart, at least one leg of the cart further comprising a band, wherein the band is configured to distinguish the leg from at least one of the other legs, wherein the band has a different property from at least one other band.
5. A system comprising:
a cart comprising:
four legs;
at least one shelf, each shelf attached to each of the legs;
the cart having a generally rectangular shape, a width of the cart being longer than a length of a robot, a length of the cart being longer than a length of the robot;
four wheels, each wheel attached to a different leg at a bottom of the leg, the wheels configured to roll to facilitate movement of the cart; and
a robotic dock, the robotic dock comprising four docking receptacles at ninety degree angles from adjacent docking receptacles; and
a robot comprising:
a sensor; and
a docking module, the docking module comprising retractable docking pins, each retractable docking pin configured, when extended upward, to mate with a corresponding docking receptacle, thereby securing the robot to a bottom shelf of the cart, at least one leg of the cart further comprising a band, wherein the band is configured to distinguish the leg from at least one of the other legs, wherein the band has a different property from at least one other band, wherein the different property comprises a different band signal.
6. A system comprising:
a cart comprising:
four legs;
at least one shelf, each shelf attached to each of the legs;
the cart having a generally rectangular shape, a width of the cart being longer than a length of a robot, a length of the cart being longer than a length of the robot;
four wheels, each wheel attached to a different leg at a bottom of the leg, the wheels configured to roll to facilitate movement of the cart; and
a robotic dock, the robotic dock comprising four docking receptacles at ninety degree angles from adjacent docking receptacles; and
a robot comprising:
a sensor; and
a docking module, the docking module comprising retractable docking pins, each retractable docking pin configured, when extended upward, to mate with a corresponding docking receptacle, thereby securing the robot to a bottom shelf of the cart, at least one leg of the cart further comprising a band, wherein the band is configured to distinguish the leg from at least one of the other legs, wherein the band has a different property from at least one other band, wherein the different property comprises a different band signal, wherein the different band signal comprises a different infrared (IR) signal.
7. A system comprising:
a cart comprising:
four legs;
at least one shelf, each shelf attached to each of the legs;
the cart having a generally rectangular shape, a width of the cart being longer than a length of a robot, a length of the cart being longer than a length of the robot;
four wheels, each wheel attached to a different leg at a bottom of the leg, the wheels configured to roll to facilitate movement of the cart; and
a robotic dock, the robotic dock comprising four docking receptacles at ninety degree angles from adjacent docking receptacles; and
a robot comprising:
a sensor; and
a docking module, the docking module comprising retractable docking pins, each retractable docking pin configured, when extended upward, to mate with a corresponding docking receptacle, thereby securing the robot to a bottom shelf of the cart, at least one leg of the cart further comprising a band, wherein the band is configured to distinguish the leg from at least one of the other legs, wherein the band has a different property from at least one other band, wherein the different property comprises a different band signal, wherein the different band signal comprises a different infrared (IR) signal, wherein the IR signal is detected by the robotic sensor, wherein the band is usable to detect an orientation of the cart.