A system comprising a battery exchange station and a battery pack, the battery pack comprising: a battery configured to provide power to a mobile robotic device; and a local data storage component configured to store data acquired during robotic operation, the battery exchange station comprising: a data storage system; a plurality of ports (402... 416) for receiving battery packs from mobile robotic devices, wherein a port comprises: a battery charger to charge a battery of a battery pack that is coupled to the port; and a communication interface to transfer data from a local data storage component of the battery pack to the data storage system; and a control system configured to: cause the communication interface of a given port of the plurality of ports to establish a data channel with a given battery pack that is coupled to the given port; and use the data channel to transfer stored data from a local data storage component of the given battery pack to the data storage system while a battery of the given battery pack is charged by the battery charger of the given port, wherein the data is data which has been acquired by the mobile robotic device during operation. a battery configured to provide power to a mobile robotic device; and a local data storage component configured to store data acquired during robotic operation, the battery exchange station comprising: a data storage system; a plurality of ports (402... 416) for receiving battery packs from mobile robotic devices, wherein a port comprises: a battery charger to charge a battery of a battery pack that is coupled to the port; and a communication interface to transfer data from a local data storage component of the battery pack to the data storage system; and a control system configured to: cause the communication interface of a given port of the plurality of ports to establish a data channel with a given battery pack that is coupled to the given port; and use the data channel to transfer stored data from a local data storage component of the given battery pack to the data storage system while a battery of the given battery pack is charged by the battery charger of the given port, wherein the data is data which has been acquired by the mobile robotic device during operation. a data storage system; a plurality of ports (402... 416) for receiving battery packs from mobile robotic devices, wherein a port comprises: a battery charger to charge a battery of a battery pack that is coupled to the port; and a communication interface to transfer data from a local data storage component of the battery pack to the data storage system; and a control system configured to: cause the communication interface of a given port of the plurality of ports to establish a data channel with a given battery pack that is coupled to the given port; and use the data channel to transfer stored data from a local data storage component of the given battery pack to the data storage system while a battery of the given battery pack is charged by the battery charger of the given port, wherein the data is data which has been acquired by the mobile robotic device during operation. a battery charger to charge a battery of a battery pack that is coupled to the port; and a communication interface to transfer data from a local data storage component of the battery pack to the data storage system; and a control system configured to: cause the communication interface of a given port of the plurality of ports to establish a data channel with a given battery pack that is coupled to the given port; and use the data channel to transfer stored data from a local data storage component of the given battery pack to the data storage system while a battery of the given battery pack is charged by the battery charger of the given port, wherein the data is data which has been acquired by the mobile robotic device during operation. cause the communication interface of a given port of the plurality of ports to establish a data channel with a given battery pack that is coupled to the given port; and use the data channel to transfer stored data from a local data storage component of the given battery pack to the data storage system while a battery of the given battery pack is charged by the battery charger of the given port, wherein the data is data which has been acquired by the mobile robotic device during operation.