Mobile robot having pneumatic charging system

1. A mobile robot, comprising:

an energy source; and

a charging system to charge the energy source, the charging system comprising:

a coupler having a mating end configured to selectively mate with a valve of an external pneumatic supply system to access a pneumatic supply and selectively disengage with the valve; and

a pneumatic actuator disposed downstream of the coupler, the pneumatic actuator configured to convert energy from the pneumatic supply to charge the energy source.

2. The robot of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic actuator is a piezo.

3. The robot of claim 1 , wherein the energy source is a battery or a super/ultra-capacitor.

4. The robot of claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic actuator is an air motor configured to convert the energy from the pneumatic supply to mechanical work.

5. The robot of claim 4 , further comprising an electromagnetic device electrically connected to the energy source, the electromagnetic device having a rotor and configured to convert the mechanical work to electrical energy to charge the energy source.

6. The robot of claim 5 , wherein the air motor is coupled to the rotor of the electromagnetic device by a shaft.

7. The robot of claim 4 , wherein the air motor includes a rotational component configured to convert the energy from the pneumatic supply to the mechanical work via rotational motion.

8. The robot of claim 7 , wherein the rotational component is a turbine.

9. The robot of claim 4 , wherein the air motor comprises a diaphragm or a piston actuator to convert the energy from the pneumatic supply to the mechanical work via linear motion.

10. The robot of claim 1 , further comprising a picking manipulator coupleable to a pneumatically actuated tool.

11. The robot of claim 10 , further comprising at least one valve disposed downstream of the coupler and upstream of the pneumatic actuator and/or downstream of the coupler and upstream of the pneumatically actuated tool.

12. The robot of claim 1 , further comprising an air tank.

13. The robot of claim 12 , further comprising at least one valve disposed downstream of the coupler and upstream of the pneumatic actuator and/or downstream of the coupler and upstream of the air tank.

14. The robot of claim 1 , further comprising a wheel assembly including a plurality of wheels configured to guide movement of the robot along a first profiled track extending in a first direction and a second profiled track extending in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction.

15. The robot of claim 14 , further comprising a first hoist plate extendable in a vertical direction relative to the body to secure and lift a container.

16. The robot of claim 15 , wherein the first hoist plate is arranged to lift the container to a location positioned internally within the body.

17. The robot of claim 15 , wherein first hoist plate is arranged to lift the container to a location positioned laterally outside of the body.

18. The robot of claim 15 , further comprising a second hoist plate extendable in the vertical direction relative to the body to secure and lift a container.

19. A method of charging an energy source of a mobile robot comprising:

selectively engaging a mating end of a coupler of the mobile robot to a valve of an external pneumatic supply system;

accessing a pneumatic supply from the external pneumatic supply system;

converting energy from the pneumatic supply to electrical energy; and

charging the energy source.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the converting step is performed by a piezo.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the converting step comprises:

(a) converting the energy from the pneumatic supply to mechanical work; and

(b) converting the mechanical work to the electrical energy.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the step (a) is performed by an air motor and the step (b) is performed by an electromagnetic device.