Recharging apparatus and method

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitor power levels at a shopping facility, comprising: central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units, wherein the central control system comprises: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units; a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that cause the control circuit to: identify available stored power levels at each of the plurality of motorized transport units; identify an available recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations distributed throughout the shopping facility, at least relative to a location of the first motorized transport unit intended to be subjected to recharging; and wirelessly communicate one or more instructions to cause the first motorized transport unit to cooperate with an available recharge station.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system that monitors motorized vehicles operating at a shopping facility, comprising:
 a transport unit central control system separate and distinct from a plurality of motorized transport units at a shopping facility, wherein each of the plurality of motorized transport units is self-propelled and wherein the transport unit central control system comprises:   a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications from the plurality of motorized transport units located at the shopping facility;   a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and   a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to:
 identify that a first motorized transport unit, of the plurality of motorized transport units, is unable to effectively move itself; 
 determine, based on the determination that the first motorized transport unit is unable to effectively move itself, a location of the first motorized transport unit within the shopping facility; 
 identify a first recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations at the shopping facility; and 
 cause the transceiver to wirelessly communicate an instruction to cause physical movements of the first recharge station to approach the first motorized transport unit and temporarily couple with the first motorized transport unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit, in causing the communication of the instruction, is configured to cause the wireless communication of the instruction to cause the first recharge station to move the first motorized transport unit to a different location within the shopping facility. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 location tracking units each positioned at a different one of multiple different locations throughout the shopping facility;   wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the location of the first motorized transport unit based on tracking information communicated by one or more of the tracking units.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to wirelessly receive location information from the first motorized transport unit, and determine the location of the first motorized transport unit based on the tracking information communicated by the one or more of the tracking units and the location information communicated from the first motorized transport unit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 location tracking units each positioned at a different one of multiple different locations throughout the shopping facility;   wherein the control circuit is configured to determine a location of the first recharge station based on the tracking information communicated by one or more of the tracking units.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the central control circuit is further configured to wirelessly communicate additional route instructions to other motorized transport units of the plurality of motorized transport units to avoid an obstacle at the location. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
 communicate a dispense command causing a second motorized transport unit to be dispensed from the first recharge station.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit in wirelessly communicating the instruction is configured to wirelessly communicate the instruction to a second motorized transport unit directing the second motorized transport unit to implement the instruction to move the first recharge station to the location of the first motorized transport unit. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
 identify a second motorized transport unit of the plurality of motorized transport units having a power level greater than a first power level threshold; and   wirelessly communicate a replace instruction to cause the second motorized transport unit to move through at least a portion of the shopping facility and to replace the first motorized transport unit in performing a task that was being performed by the first motorized transport unit.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
 determine a location at the shopping facility of the first recharge station; and   determine a route between the location of the first recharge station and the location of the first motorized transport unit;   wherein control circuit in communicating the instruction is configured to wirelessly communicate the instruction to cause the physical movement of the first recharge station consistent with the determined route.   
     
     
         11 . A method of monitoring motorized vehicles at a shopping facility, comprising:
 identifying that a first motorized transport unit, of a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units operating at the shopping facility, is unable to effectively move itself;   determining, based on the determination that the first motorized transport unit is unable to effectively move itself, a location of the first motorized transport unit within the shopping facility;   identifying, through a control circuit, a first recharge station, of a plurality of recharge stations at the shopping facility; and   wirelessly communicating an instruction to cause physical movements of the first recharge station to approach the first motorized transport unit and temporarily couple with the first motorized transport unit.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the wirelessly communicating the instruction further causes the first recharge station to move the first motorized transport unit to a different location within the shopping facility. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving tracking information communicated from one or more of a plurality of tracking units each positioned at a different one of multiple different locations throughout the shopping facility;   determining the location of the first motorized transport unit based on the tracking information communicated by the one or more of the plurality of tracking units.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving location information from the first motorized transport unit; and   determining the location of the first motorized transport unit based on the tracking information communicated by the one or more of the tracking units and the location information communicated from the first motorized transport unit.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving tracking information communicated from one or more of a plurality of tracking units each positioned at a different one of multiple different locations throughout the shopping facility;   determining a location of the first recharge station based on the tracking information communicated by one or more of the plurality of tracking units.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 causing an additional route instructions to be wirelessly communicated to other motorized transport units of the plurality of motorized transport units to avoid an obstacle at the location.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 wirelessly communicating a dispense command causing a second motorized transport unit to be dispensed from the first recharge station.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the wirelessly communicating the instruction comprises wirelessly communicating the instruction to a second motorized transport unit directing the second motorized transport unit to implement the instruction to move the first recharge station to the location of the first motorized transport unit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 identifying a second motorized transport unit of the plurality of motorized transport units having a power level greater than a first power level threshold; and   communicating a replace instruction to cause the second motorized transport unit to move through at least a portion of the shopping facility and to replace the first motorized transport unit in performing a task that was being performed by the first motorized transport.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining a location at the shopping facility of the first recharge station; and   determine a route between the location of the first recharge station and the location of the first motorized transport unit;   wherein the communicating the instruction comprises wirelessly communicating the instruction to cause the physical movement of the first recharge station consistent with the determined route.