I am doing a number of projects now, so this one won't be tackled for awhile. I am still planning it out though.
I have never built a robot capable of docking and recharging and I thought this would be a suitable challenge, and important since I plan on doing a lot of home robotics building.
My idea for a docking station right now is to have two separate metal bands that come out on top of the robot. When it drives to the docking station (maybe use infrared beacons to help the robot hone in) the docking station would envelope the robot. The ceiling of the docking station will have two metal plates which will complete the docking station's circuit and start charging the robot.
I really don't know how to help the robot hone in on the infrared though, or if there is a better way to build a charging circuit. I thought about having contact plates below the robot and have them drop down when in dock, but this becomes a problematic mechanical problem.
What kind of ideas do you guys have?