AGV Auto-Charging Arms With Magnetic Contact Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery-operated vehicles, particularly automated guided vehicles (AGVs), require efficient and automated charging systems that can operate without human intervention, especially in dynamic warehouse environments where goods are frequently moved and stored.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle charging system with a charging interface and controller that includes magnets and compressible charger contacts, allowing autonomous coupling and decoupling, along with articulated arms for positioning, and a control system that monitors battery levels and orchestrates charging based on vehicle presence, availability, and workload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual charging operations are used for battery-operated AGVs, then human intervention is required which increases operational time and labor costs, but implementing automated charging systems increases device complexity and initial investment
Solution Approach 1:
The AGV autonomously navigates to charging stations and performs self-charging without human intervention. The vehicle's controller automatically manages battery level monitoring, charging initiation, and charging station selection, enabling the system to service itself and eliminate manual charging operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-positions charging stations at optimal locations within the warehouse environment and pre-coordinates charging schedules based on predicted battery consumption patterns. This preliminary preparation enables seamless automated charging operations without disrupting AGV productivity.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple AGVs are charged simultaneously at centralized charging stations, then charging capacity is increased, but it creates bottlenecks and increases loss of time for vehicle availability
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized charging infrastructure is segmented into multiple distributed charging stations positioned throughout the warehouse. This segmentation allows multiple AGVs to charge simultaneously at different locations, eliminating bottlenecks and reducing vehicle downtime while maintaining high charging capacity across the fleet.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system transitions from a single centralized location to a multi-dimensional distributed network of charging stations. By spreading charging capacity across multiple spatial dimensions and locations, the system increases overall charging throughput without creating temporal bottlenecks that would reduce vehicle availability.
3Loss of time
If charging stations are distributed throughout the warehouse environment, then vehicle downtime is reduced, but it increases the area occupied and device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The charging stations are designed as multi-functional units that can serve multiple AGV types and models. Each charging station incorporates universal charging interfaces and adaptive control capabilities, allowing a single station to handle various vehicle configurations. This universality reduces the total number of stations needed, thereby minimizing the area occupied while maintaining distributed charging benefits.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and automated charging of multiple AGVs by minimizing human intervention, optimizing charging schedules, and ensuring seamless integration with warehouse operations, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and reducing downtime.
Implementation Method 1
The charging interface can include at least one magnet
Implementation Method 2
in response to compression of the charger contact, deliver a current to the coupled charging interface to initiate a charge cycle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle charging system comprises at least one controller and at least one arm, each arm having a first end coupled to an actuator and a second end comprising a charging interface. The actuator is configured to articulate the arm into a charging position. The charging interface comprises at least one charging contact coupled to a power source and configured to engage and deliver power to a vehicle charging interface to charge at least one battery of a vehicle. The charging system can include a plurality of arms, each configured to charge a different vehicle. A method of charging one or more vehicles using the charging system is also provided.