Project background
Autonomous robots are only as available as their charging stations. The client needed a dock that handled imperfect approach angles, different weather conditions, and long-term mechanical reliability.
Challenge
Guiding the robot onto a precise electrical connection despite GNSS drift and approach variability, handling contact wear, and preventing charging faults from propagating across the fleet.
Approach & solution
We combined visual fiducials for final-approach alignment with a compliant contact interface that tolerated small misalignments. Charging electronics monitor current, voltage, and temperature continuously and cut off on anomalies. The dock reports its own health to the fleet system.
Results & benefits
Robots consistently self-dock without operator help across pilot deployments, including in rain and uneven lighting. Contact wear was within expected bounds across extended testing, and faults were caught well before causing damage.
