Autonomous Charging System Prototype for Robot NAO
Aatheethyaa Dhanasekaran, Vincenzo Bonaiuto, Andrea Zanela · 2025
As the demand for robotics in indoor environments such as healthcare facilities and elderly care residences continues to grow, efficient power management remains a critical challenge. This paper highlights the importance of equipping NAO, one of the most widely used humanoid robots, with autonomous charging capabilities. Despite its versatility and affordability, this robot lacks a builtin autonomous charging solution, and existing charging stations often fall short due to complex docking procedures, safety concerns related to exposed electrical contacts, and high costs. This study proposes a cost-effective and practical solution using readily available commercial components and 3D-printed structures. The system is designed to be easily replicable, providing an accessible option for NAO users. In healthcare and elderly care settings, where this robot has the potential to assist individuals requiring delicate care, autonomous charging enhances operational efficiency by ensuring uninterrupted functionality. Specifically, this paper examines NAO's ability, with its typical 90-minute battery autonomy, to autonomously navigate and dock at a charging station, optimizing its usability in real-world applications. By addressing power management challenges, this solution improves the robot's efficiency, reliability, and adaptability. As robotics continues to advance, autonomous charging will play a crucial role in enabling long-term deployment, expanding the impact of robots in assisting human care and support services.