Autonomous Charging Trailer for Construction Sites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging solutions for construction sites lack mobility and efficiency in charging electrically powered equipment, as they often require manual placement and are not adaptable to varying terrain or sun exposure, limiting their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A charging vehicle, such as a charging trailer, equipped with motors, rechargeable battery packs, sensors (including cameras and radar), robotic arms, and a controller that enables autonomous movement and positioning to efficiently charge equipment while adapting to terrain and sun exposure, allowing it to maneuver around a construction site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a charging trailer is made stationary and manually placed, then it is simple in structure and easy to manufacture, but it lacks mobility and cannot adapt to varying terrain or sun exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The charging trailer is equipped with motors that enable it to move autonomously across construction sites, transforming from a static to a dynamic system. This allows the trailer to adapt to varying terrain and reposition itself based on sun exposure and charging needs, directly resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging trailer incorporates sensors (cameras and radar) and a controller that enable it to autonomously navigate and position itself without manual intervention. The system self-manages its movement and positioning, reducing the need for complex manual control mechanisms while maintaining high adaptability to changing environmental conditions.
2Productivity
If the charging trailer is equipped with autonomous navigation capabilities including sensors and controllers, then it can efficiently position itself and adapt to terrain, but it increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The charging trailer uses autonomous navigation with sensors and controllers to self-position and self-adjust to terrain conditions, eliminating the need for manual operation. This self-service capability significantly improves charging efficiency by reducing setup time and enabling rapid repositioning, while the integrated control system manages complexity internally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated control system that uses sensors (cameras and radar) and electronic controllers to navigate and position the trailer. This substitution of mechanical manual operations with automated systems improves productivity while consolidating control functions into an integrated electronic system.
3Extent of automation
If the charging trailer uses robotic arms to connect charging cables, then it automates the charging connection process, but it increases device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The charging trailer employs robotic arms that autonomously connect and disconnect charging cables without human intervention. This self-service automation extends the trailer's autonomous capabilities to the charging connection process itself, maximizing the extent of automation while integrating the robotic function into the existing control architecture.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the charging trailer maneuvers autonomously about the construction site, then it can serve multiple locations and equipment, but it consumes more energy from the battery pack
Solution Approach 1:
The charging trailer uses motor-driven mobility to dynamically reposition itself across the construction site, enabling it to serve multiple locations and pieces of equipment. This dynamic capability significantly enhances versatility and adaptability, allowing the single trailer to replace multiple stationary charging stations.
Data Source
AI summary
A charging trailer is provided and includes one or more motors to maneuver the charging trailer, a rechargeable battery pack for storing electrical energy, a recharging port for receiving electrical power from a charger to recharge the rechargeable battery pack, and one or more charging ports for charging one or more pieces of electrically powered equipment with the electrical energy stored in the rechargeable battery pack. The charging trailer also includes a controller for controlling movement of the charging trailer to position the charging trailer in a use position to charge the one or more pieces of electrically powered equipment.