Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for determining a blockage of a filter of a clothes dryer and a clothes dryer. The clothes dryer includes a motor. The method includes following steps. An actual rotational speed of the motor is acquired, and an electrical parameter corresponding to a rotational speed range to which the actual rotational speed belongs is determined as a first threshold corresponding to the actual rotational speed; an actual clothes volume in the clothes dryer is acquired, and the first threshold is corrected according to a correction coefficient corresponding to a clothes volume range to which the actual clothes volume belongs so that a second threshold is obtained; and an actual electrical parameter of the motor is acquired, and when it is detected that the actual electrical parameter is less than the second threshold, it is determined that the filter of the clothes dryer is blocked.

Abstract: A position and orientation deviation detection method for a shelf based on a graphic with feature information is provided, wherein an up-looking camera is installed on a robot, an optical axis of the camera faces the shelf and is perpendicular to a side of the shelf facing the robot, and a graphic with feature information is provided on the side; and the method comprises the steps of: the robot moving to a position under the shelf; the robot jacking up the shelf, and then the up-looking camera scanning the graphic; acquiring a position and orientation of the shelf relative to the robot according to the scanned graphic; acquiring a position of the robot within a work space, and acquiring a position of the shelf within the work space according to the position of the robot and the position and orientation of the shelf relative to the robot; and adjusting a position and orientation of the robot according to a deviation between the position of the shelf within the work space and a preset position of the shelf, and

Abstract: The present invention discloses a mobile unit, an inventory management system, and a method for mobile unit localization. Sensors are immovably disposed in the workplace, actively identifying the positions of the mobile units. The individual sensor disposed in the workplace can monitor the positions of a plurality of mobile units simultaneously, and the number of sensors is only related to the size of workspace, which is independent of the number of mobile units. Since no complicated position calculations are needed for the mobile units, it reduces the requirements for on-board processors, which is more advantageous to monitor the preexisting non-automated vehicles or retrofit them into automated vehicles. With the method of the present invention, position calculations are not carried out on the bodies of AGVs, the requirements for the on-board controllers of AGVs are low, and it is easier to retrofit the non-intelligent mobile units, and thereby position monitoring and autonomous operation are implemented.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a safety protection method of dynamic detection for mobile robots. The mobile robot is provided with a sensor. Said sensor obtains the obstacle information in the detection areas in front of a mobile robot, and the mobile robot is caused to progressively slow down and dynamically adjust the detection area when an obstacle appears in the detection area. If no obstacle is detected in the detection area after adjusting, then the mobile robot is caused to keep on moving, and if an obstacle is still detected in the detection area after adjusting, then the mobile robot is caused to keep on decelerating until they are stopped. The sensor sets different detection areas according to the traveling speed and traveling direction of the mobile robot, or presets the detection area according to the path and dynamically adjusts it when the mobile robot is running.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an unmanned transporting robot and the chassis thereof, the chassis includes a floor, a drive unit and a follow unit; the follow unit is used to bear the loads of the chassis and the payload, and includes a plurality of follow components which are arranged on the floor to enable the floor to move smoothly (i. e. without the occurrence of tilting or vibration); the drive unit includes a first drive component and a second drive component which are located symmetrically on both ends of the floor. The present invention also discloses an unmanned transporting robot including the above-described chassis. The chassis of the unmanned transporting robot according to the present invention has the advantages of a compress structure, a small size and a high loading-bearing capacity.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a AP switching method for mobile robots based on path setting, including the following steps: install APs in the application environments of mobile robots; control the mobile robots to move along established routes, record the signal strengths of each of the APs on each of the paths of the mobile robots, and determine the AP with the strongest signal strength on each path; configure the MAC addresses of the APs to be connected on each path whereon the mobile robots will move; the mobile robots monitor continuously whether the AP that is connected at the moment coincides with the AP configured for the current path, if not, then switch to the configured AP directly. The present invention can avoid effectively the problem of switching APs excessively frequently, the method is simple and effective, without the need for setting thresholds for signal strengths, and it can decrease uncertainty effectively, which is valuable in the application environments of mobile robots.

Abstract: A self-charging device for mobile robots, which includes a charging cradle and a charging pin, the charging cradle includes a charging contact and a first elastic member connected with the charging contact. The charging pin is used to contact the charging contact for charging. Preferably, the charging cradle also includes a buffering block, a second elastic member and a mounting enclosure. The charging contact is connected with the buffering block through the first elastic member. The buffering block is provided encircling inside the mounting enclosure. One end of the second elastic member is connected with the buffering block, and the other end is connected with the mounting enclosure. The self-charging device for mobile robots is capable of counteracting the deviation angle due to the misalignment when the mobile robot is charging, and buffering the impact force produced when the charging contact docks with the charging pin.

Abstract: A path planning method is provided for mobile robots, including the following steps: Step 1. Searching for available paths according to the destinations of moving of the robots and the nodes properties on the map; Step 2. Determining the optimum path, according to the weights of the segments on all the available paths, with the segments being arbitrary curves made up of Bezier curves or splined curves of a plurality of control points; and Step 3. Driving the robots to move along the optimum path, and to stop at the stop points. The present path planning method for mobile robots increases the ways of connection between the nodes significantly and avoids that there is only a single way of connection between two nodes.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a mobile unit, an inventory management system, and a method for mobile unit localization. Sensors are immovably disposed in the workplace, actively identifying the positions of the mobile units. The individual sensor disposed in the workplace can monitor the positions of a plurality of mobile units simultaneously, and the number of sensors is only related to the size of workspace, which is independent of the number of mobile units. Since no complicated position calculations are needed for the mobile units, it reduces the requirements for on-board processors, which is more advantageous to monitor the preexisting non-automated vehicles or retrofit them into automated vehicles. With the method of the present invention, position calculations are not carried out on the bodies of AGVs, the requirements for the on-board controllers of AGVs are low, and it is easier to retrofit the non-intelligent mobile units, and thereby position monitoring and autonomous operation are implemented.

Abstract: A self-charging device for mobile robots, which includes a charging cradle and a charging pin, the charging cradle includes a charging contact and a first elastic member connected with the charging contact. The charging pin is used to contact the charging contact for charging. Preferably, the charging cradle also includes a buffering block, a second elastic member and a mounting enclosure. The charging contact is connected with the buffering block through the first elastic member. The buffering block is provided encircling inside the mounting enclosure. One end of the second elastic member is connected with the buffering block, and the other end is connected with the mounting enclosure. The self-charging device for mobile robots is capable of counteracting the deviation angle due to the misalignment when the mobile robot is charging, and buffering the impact force produced when the charging contact docks with the charging pin.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a safety protection method of dynamic detection for mobile robots. The mobile robot is provided with a sensor. Said sensor obtains the obstacle information in the detection areas in front of a mobile robot, and the mobile robot is caused to progressively slow down and dynamically adjust the detection area when an obstacle appears in the detection area. If no obstacle is detected in the detection area after adjusting, then the mobile robot is caused to keep on moving, and if an obstacle is still detected in the detection area after adjusting, then the mobile robot is caused to keep on decelerating until they are stopped. The sensor sets different detection areas according to the traveling speed and traveling direction of the mobile robot, or presets the detection area according to the path and dynamically adjusts it when the mobile robot is running.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an inventory item management system, transporting robots and the method for transporting inventory holder, wherein the transporting robot comprises a lifting unit and a horizontal rotation unit, the lifting unit comprises a first power unit, a lifting shaft and a first supporting part, and the first power unit configured to drive the first supporting part to move along the lifting shaft; the horizontal rotation unit comprises a second supporting part and a second power unit which drives the second supporting part, and the second supporting part and the first supporting part are connected rotatably. The lifting unit has a hollow hole which is disposed in vertical direction internal to the lifting unit, and the lifting shaft is located on one side of the hollow hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inventory item management system, a transporting device and the method for docking with the carried object. The method for the transporting device docking with the carried object includes the following steps: acquiring the docking instruction for docking with the carried object within a work space; acquiring the coordinate of the carried object within the work space; acquiring the real time coordinate of the transporting device within the work space; setting the optimized path for the transporting device traveling to the carried object; distributing at least one travel instruction according to the optimized path; driving the transporting device to travel to the position of the carried object according to the travel instruction; and docking with the carried object.

Abstract: The present invention provides a traffic management method for a mobile robotics system, including: step 1, defining the physical size of a mobile robot and the position of a point on a traveling path; step 2, for each point on the traveling path, obtaining profile information of the mobile robot on this point in combination with the physical size of the mobile robot, so as to further obtain the profile information of the mobile robots over the whole traveling path; step 3, with respect to a first path, calculating whether the profiles of the mobile robots on the first path and on a second path intersect, and if the profiles thereof intersect, then the first path and the second path are disjoint; step 4, calculating whether the profiles of the mobile robots on the first path and all other paths intersect, so as to further obtain the disjoint sets of all paths.

Abstract: A path planning method is provided for mobile robots, including the following steps: Step 1. Searching for available paths according to the destinations of moving of the robots and the nodes properties on the map; Step 2. Determining the optimum path, according to the weights of the segments on all the available paths, with the segments being arbitrary curves made up of Bezier curves or splined curves of a plurality of control points; and Step 3. Driving the robots to move along the optimum path, and to stop at the stop points. The present path planning method for mobile robots increases the ways of connection between the nodes significantly and avoids that there is only a single way of connection between two nodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for detecting position deviation of inventory holder based on feature information graphs. Step 1. Mount upward-looking cameras on robots; Step 2. Calibrate the mapping relationship between the pixel coordinate system of the cameras and robot coordinate system; Step 3. Dispose graphs having feature information on the bottom of the inventory holders, and measure coordinates of the feature points of the graphs under the coordinate system of inventory holders; Step 4. After the robots lift the inventory holders, the upward-looking cameras scan the graphs, and obtain the pixel coordinates of the feature points of the graphs; Step 5. Via the mapping relationship in Step 2, calculate and find out the coordinates mapped into the robot coordinate system by the pixel coordinates of the feature points of the graphs; Step 6. Calculate the position deviations of the inventory holders relative to the robots.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an unmanned transporting robot and the chassis thereof, the chassis includes a floor, a drive unit and a follow unit; the follow unit is used to bear the loads of the chassis and the payload, and includes a plurality of follow components which are arranged on the floor to enable the floor to move smoothly (i. e. without the occurrence of tilting or vibration); the drive unit includes a first drive component and a second drive component which are located symmetrically on both ends of the floor. The present invention also discloses an unmanned transporting robot including the above-described chassis. The chassis of the unmanned transporting robot according to the present invention has the advantages of a compress structure, a small size and a high loading-bearing capacity.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a AP switching method for mobile robots based on path setting, including the following steps: install APs in the application environments of mobile robots; control the mobile robots to move along established routes, record the signal strengths of each of the APs on each of the paths of the mobile robots, and determine the AP with the strongest signal strength on each path; configure the MAC addresses of the APs to be connected on each path whereon the mobile robots will move; the mobile robots monitor continuously whether the AP that is connected at the moment coincides with the AP configured for the current path, if not, then switch to the configured AP directly. The present invention can avoid effectively the problem of switching APs excessively frequently, the method is simple and effective, without the need for setting thresholds for signal strengths, and it can decrease uncertainty effectively, which is valuable in the application environments of mobile robots.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an inventory item management system, transporting robots and the method for transporting inventory holder, wherein the transporting robot comprises a lifting unit and a horizontal rotation unit, the lifting unit comprises a first power unit, a lifting shaft and a first supporting part, and the first power unit configured to drive the first supporting part to move along the lifting shaft; the horizontal rotation unit comprises a second supporting part and a second power unit which drives the second supporting part, and the second supporting part and the first supporting part are connected rotatably. The lifting unit has a hollow hole which is disposed in vertical direction internal to the lifting unit, and the lifting shaft is located on one side of the hollow hole.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a robot for transporting inventory holders, comprising a chassis, a drive unit, a follow unit and a lift unit. The lift unit comprises a fixing frame, a pallet, a lower connecting plate, a sliding module, a guided screw, a guided screw nut, a motor, an actuating mechanism, a position-limit module, and a positioning module. The fixing frame, the pallet and the lower connecting plate are each provided with an opening, and the three openings are coaxial and mutually communicated. The positioning module is removably disposed inside the through holes, and the guided screw is disposed on the side edge of the fixing frame, avoiding the positioning module. The robot for transporting inventory holders according to the present invention has the advantages of simple structures and lower costs.