Abstract: An electrical charging station for charging an autonomous robot having a battery. The charging station includes a first charging member configured to receive a second charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station. There is a communications device configured to receive from the autonomous robot an identifier indicative of a type of battery on the autonomous robot. There is a power supply, electrically connected to the first charging member, configured to charge the autonomous robot according to a charging profile. The charging profile is selected based at least in part on the identifier received from the autonomous robot.

Abstract: An electrical charging system for charging an autonomous robot powered by a re-chargeable battery and having a first charging member. The charging station includes a second charging member configured to receive the first charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station for charging the re-chargeable battery. There is a power supply configured to charge the re-chargeable battery of the robot and a sensor configured to measure an amount of charge transferred from the power supply to the robot. There is a processor configured to determine from the amount of charge transferred from the power supply to the robot measured by the sensor, a state of charge (SOC) of the autonomous robot. There is also a communications device configured to transmit to the robot the SOC of the robot while docked at the charging station.

Abstract: An electrical charging system for charging an autonomous robot powered by a re-chargeable battery and having a first charging member. The charging station includes a second charging member configured to receive the first charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station for charging the re-chargeable battery. There is a power supply configured to charge the re-chargeable battery of the robot and a sensor configured to measure an amount of charge transferred from the power supply to the robot. There is a processor configured to determine from the amount of charge transferred from the power supply to the robot measured by the sensor, a state of charge (SOC) of the autonomous robot. There is also a communications device configured to transmit to the robot the SOC of the robot while docked at the charging station.

Abstract: An electrical charging station for charging an autonomous robot having a battery. The charging station includes a first charging member configured to receive a second charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station. There is a communications device configured to receive from the autonomous robot an identifier indicative of a type of battery on the autonomous robot. There is a power supply, electrically connected to the first charging member, configured to charge the autonomous robot according to a charging profile. The charging profile is selected based at least in part on the identifier received from the autonomous robot.

Abstract: A method for processing waste in a material handling system includes detecting an occurrence of a trigger event associated with a waste holder located at a first location and, in response to detecting the trigger event, moving a mobile drive unit to the first location. The method also includes loading waste material onto the mobile drive unit at the first location and transporting the waste material to a waste station using the mobile drive unit.

Abstract: A method for processing waste in a material handling system includes detecting an occurrence of a trigger event associated with a waste holder located at a first location and, in response to detecting the trigger event, moving a mobile drive unit to the first location. The method also includes loading waste material onto the mobile drive unit at the first location and transporting the waste material to a waste station using the mobile drive unit.

Abstract: A method for processing waste in a material handling system includes detecting an occurrence of a trigger event associated with a waste holder located at a first location and, in response to detecting the trigger event, moving a mobile drive unit to the first location. The method also includes loading waste material onto the mobile drive unit at the first location and transporting the waste material to a waste station using the mobile drive unit.

Abstract: A method for processing waste in a material handling system includes detecting an occurrence of a trigger event associated with a waste holder located at a first location and, in response to detecting the trigger event, moving a mobile drive unit to the first location. The method also includes loading waste material onto the mobile drive unit at the first location and transporting the waste material to a waste station using the mobile drive unit.