Autonomous Battery Transfer Rail for Unmanned Vehicle Recharging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for battery replacement in unmanned vehicles are inefficient due to reliance on complex robotic systems, high energy consumption, and limited applicability to both aerial and ground vehicles, leading to downtime and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

The development of motorized units that can autonomously move between slots, align, and integrate with unmanned vehicles for charging, reducing the need for external manipulators and enabling horizontal motion to conserve energy, with a modular service station system allowing for flexible and efficient battery management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If complex robotic manipulator systems are used for automated battery replacement, then automation level is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation levelVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery is equipped with an autonomous motorized unit that enables it to self-propel between the unmanned vehicle and the charging station without external manipulators. The battery independently navigates, aligns, and docks with the vehicle slot, eliminating the need for complex robotic arms or manipulator systems while maintaining full automation of the battery replacement process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manipulator system with an electromechanical autonomous battery unit. Instead of using mechanical arms to transfer the battery, the battery itself is equipped with a motorized propulsion system that enables autonomous movement along a route subsystem, substituting complex external mechanical manipulation with self-contained electromechanical navigation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If vertical battery transfer is implemented, then battery replacement is achieved, but energy consumption increases due to work against gravity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery replacement capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements horizontal transfer of the battery between the unmanned vehicle and the charging station, keeping the battery at a constant gravitational potential level throughout the transfer process. The route subsystem and motorized unit are designed to operate on the same horizontal plane, eliminating the need to perform work against gravity and significantly reducing energy consumption compared to vertical lifting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Device complexity

If manual battery replacement is used, then system complexity is reduced, but productivity and downtime efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery is pre-equipped with a motorized unit and navigation capabilities before being installed in the unmanned vehicle. This preliminary integration of autonomous movement functionality allows the battery to independently execute the transfer and replacement process without requiring complex external robotic systems, achieving automation while maintaining relative system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Extent of automation

If complex manipulator systems are deployed, then automated battery transfer is achieved, but operational costs and maintenance expenses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated battery transferVSAvoidoperational cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the propulsion and navigation functionality from the external charging station infrastructure and integrates it directly into the battery itself. By taking out the motorized unit from the station system and embedding it in the battery, the complex manipulator systems and their associated high operational and maintenance costs are eliminated, while automated battery transfer is still achieved through the battery's self-propelled capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3931103B1Method for supplying of energy sources to unmanned vehicles and system for implementing such method

Publication Date: 2023.12.20 ODINOKOV SERGEY

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Figure 3a~3c

AI summary

The invention is designed for the organization of the automated process of providing of unmanned vehicles with the energy sources by controlling the process of autonomous motion of the motorized units (1) with integrated energy sources along a simple rail route (23, 24) subsystem, which is unified for both stationary and mobile service stations and unmanned vehicles. According to the invention it is also possible to provide an automated process of supplying the unmanned vehicles with the payloads (42) both integrated into the autonomously moving motorized units (1) and independent payloads (20) moving along the same route (23, 24) subsystem.