Autonomous Work Machine Charging Coordination to Prevent Wait States
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Solution Overview
Problem
When multiple autonomous work machines operate in a single area and share a single charging station, their charging timings can overlap, leading to a charging wait state and reduced work efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes a charging station, autonomous work machines, and a control apparatus capable of obtaining power information, estimating charging timings, and adjusting power consumption by changing the blade height or rotation speed of the machines to ensure non-overlapping charging times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple autonomous work machines share one charging station, then device complexity is reduced, but charging wait states occur and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus estimates the charging timing of each autonomous work machine in advance based on power consumption rates and remaining battery levels. By predicting when each machine will need charging before that time arrives, the system can proactively adjust power consumption to prevent simultaneous charging requests, thereby avoiding wait states and maintaining productivity while sharing a single charging station.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the power consumption of autonomous work machines by changing blade height or rotation speed based on real-time battery status and predicted charging timing. This dynamic adjustment allows machines to modify their operational characteristics to achieve staggered charging times, resolving the conflict between using a single charging station and maintaining continuous productivity.
2Productivity
If charging timings are coordinated to avoid overlap, then productivity is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each autonomous work machine's control unit independently calculates its own power consumption rate, estimates its remaining operational time based on current battery level, and autonomously determines adjustments to blade height or rotation speed. This self-service approach allows each machine to self-regulate its charging timing without requiring complex centralized control, thereby improving productivity while minimizing control system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A control system including a charging station, a plurality of autonomous work machines, and a control apparatus configured to control the plurality of autonomous work machines, wherein the control apparatus comprises: obtaining means for obtaining power information of each autonomous work machine; and control means for controlling each autonomous work machine based on the power information such that charging timings of the autonomous work machines at the charging station do not match each other.