APPARATUS FOR RETURNING OF ROBOT AND RETURNING METHOD THEREOF

摘要

Disclosed are an apparatus for returning and charging a robot capable of returning a robot with a charge battery to a charging station to charge the robot, and a returning method thereof. The disclosed apparatus for returning and charging a robot comprises: a signal transmission unit installed in a charging station and transmitting a plurality of distance signals including first, second, and third distance signals with a gradually increased single front signal and a transmission distance; a signal receiving unit installed in the robot and including a plurality of receiving sensors receiving one of the distance signals and the single front signal; and a control unit which calculates an angle to the charging station using one of the received distance signals and the single front signal and controls travelling so that the robot is returned to the charging station using the calculated angle to the charging station. The control unit controls a driving unit so that the robot is driven in an inverse direction of the charging station when the first distance signal is received from any one of the receiving sensors included in the robot or the robot is driven in a charging station direction when a third distance signal is received. The control unit controls the driving unit to search the front signal by making the robot rotate in a direction corresponding to a predetermined angle with respect to the charging station direction when the second distance signal is received from any one of the receiving sensors. The control unit controls the driving unit so that the robot comes in contact with the charging station by making the robot run in the charging station direction when the front signal is received from at least one of the receiving sensors.