Docking Stations

About

_images/docking_station.jpg

Docking stations are an optional extra that can enable Kobuki to autonomously recharge as needed (with a little programming).

How it Works

Kobuki’s docking station has 3 IR emitters positioned on the left, right and centre of the docking station. Each emitter beams encoded signals in a manner that will ensure coverage of the area in front of the docking station partitioned in six areas - left, right and centre, further subdivided near and far as illustrated below.

_images/dock_ir_fields.png

Three receivers are also positioned left, right and centre on the docking station and will receive a mix of the signals hitherto sent from the emitters and bounced off any object in range of the docking station (i.e. an incoming Kobuki). If for example, Kobuki was still far from the docking station and in the left region, then both left and centre signals will receive the FAR_LEFT state and the right receiver will record null. This is sufficient to enable a simple docking algorithm to work robustly, even if the solution may not always be elegant due to a lack of resolution on the range axis (merely bifurcates, near and far).

Software

Todo

In need of someone owning a docking station to assist with usage of kobuki_dock_drive library and example demo