Removable Energy Module Swapping for Autonomous Farm Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural operations involving autonomous vehicles are often hindered by the need for frequent battery charging or resource replenishment, which can be disruptive and infeasible due to battery size, weight, and inaccessibility, leading to inefficiencies and increased operator oversight.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous agricultural vehicle equipped with a removable energy module and a connection interface that allows for autonomous mechanical and electrical coupling and decoupling, enabling the vehicle to navigate to and replenish energy modules at charging stations without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the battery size is increased to extend operation duration, then the duration of action is improved, but the weight and inaccessibility increase making manual handling infeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into multiple smaller modular units that can be independently handled, stored, and replaced. Each module contains its own battery cells and connection interface, allowing the agricultural vehicle to swap modules rather than handle single large heavy batteries. This segmentation enables extended operation duration through multiple modules while keeping individual module weight manageable for automated handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The agricultural vehicle is equipped with an automated battery module swapping system that performs the replacement operation autonomously without human intervention. The vehicle positions itself at the charging station, the connection interface autonomously couples with the charging station, and the swapped modules are automatically transferred. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual handling of heavy batteries while enabling extended operation through multiple modules.
2Device complexity
If manual battery replacement is performed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to battery inaccessibility and weight
Solution Approach 1:
The battery module swapping operation is fully automated through the vehicle's autonomous systems. The vehicle navigates to the charging station autonomously, the connection interface automatically couples with the station's interface, and the battery modules are swapped without human physical interaction. This eliminates the operational difficulties of manual handling while the system complexity is managed through integrated control software that coordinates the autonomous navigation, positioning, and swapping operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection interface serves as an intermediary mechanism between the battery modules and the charging station. It provides standardized mechanical and electrical coupling that simplifies the swapping operation by ensuring proper alignment and connection without requiring precise manual positioning. The interface acts as a mediator that translates the vehicle's autonomous positioning into reliable battery module attachment and detachment.
3Duration of action of moving object
If frequent battery charging is required, then the duration of action between charges is extended, but the loss of time increases due to navigation and replenishment operations
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into multiple modular units that can be pre-charged independently. While one module is in use, another can be charged at the station, allowing parallel operation. The vehicle carries multiple modules to extend operational duration between station visits, reducing the frequency and total time of replenishment operations while maintaining continuous productivity through module swapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated battery swapping system enables continuous operation by eliminating downtime associated with manual battery replacement. The vehicle can quickly swap modules at the charging station without operator intervention, and the modular design allows for rapid replacement. This continuity minimizes the loss of time during replenishment operations while extending the effective operational duration through multiple pre-charged modules.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural vehicle that includes a removable energy module configured to provide energy to power operations of the agricultural vehicle and a connection interface. The connection interface is configured to autonomous mechanically and electrically couple and decouple the removable energy module to the agricultural vehicle.