Battery-Aware Land Maintenance Control for Full Working Cycles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing land maintenance systems face challenges in managing battery charge levels, leading to inefficient operations, potential blockages, and increased recharging costs, with a need to optimize working processes and reduce downtime due to battery depletion.

Innovation Solution

A land maintenance system that includes a control unit connected to a mobile device, capable of estimating battery charge levels and determining if they are sufficient to complete maintenance tasks, activating energy-saving modes or returning to a docking station when necessary, and optimizing operational efficiency through parameters like speed and energy consumption monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the mobile device operates continuously without monitoring battery charge levels, then productivity is maintained, but the device may become blocked due to battery depletion and downtime increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoiddevice blockage due to battery depletion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit performs preliminary assessment of battery charge levels before the battery is fully depleted. It calculates remaining operating time based on current charge level and consumption rate, and proactively activates energy-saving modes or schedules recharging tasks before battery depletion occurs, preventing device blockage while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the mobile device returns to the docking station for recharging frequently, then battery charge level is maintained, but productivity decreases due to interruptions in working cycles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery charge level maintenanceVSAvoidworking cycle interruptions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the mobile device's operating parameters based on real-time battery charge level monitoring. The control unit modifies task execution speed, activates energy-saving modes, or prioritizes critical tasks based on available charge, allowing the device to operate efficiently at varying performance levels rather than forcing frequent docking interruptions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the mobile device operates at full power continuously, then productivity is maximized, but energy consumption increases and battery charge depletes faster

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask completion rateVSAvoidbattery charge consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit implements periodic monitoring of battery charge levels and operating parameters. It cycles between full-power operation and energy-saving modes based on charge level thresholds, creating a rhythmic pattern of high-performance tasks followed by lower-consumption operations that maintains productivity while managing energy consumption sustainably

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4098097B9Land maintenance system, in particular configured to determine the charge level of a battery of a mobile device in relation to a working cycle
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 STIGA S P A IN BREVE ANCHE ST SPA
  • EP4098097B9 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4098097B9 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4098097B9 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A land maintenance system comprising a mobile device electrically powered by an on-board battery and comprising at least one payload configured to carry out maintenance operations within a working area, a complete execution of maintenance operations within the working area defining a working cycle of the mobile device. The system further comprises a control unit configured for defining, a reference parameter, determine a work completion parameter representative of a fraction of the working cycle whose corresponding maintenance operations have been completed, estimating a charge level representative of a remaining charge of said on-board battery, and determining, as a function of on the work completion parameter and the estimated charge level, at least one piece of information concerning the charge level in relation to the working cycle, in particular if the estimated charge level is sufficient to complete the working cycle.