Charging station
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning robots face challenges in ensuring safe and precise docking with charging stations, as they lack mechanisms to prevent electric shock and ensure correct alignment, which can lead to misalignment and potential hazards.
Innovation Solution
A charging station equipped with alignment devices, including first and second alignment units, a protective piece, and a control device that manages the charging process to ensure safe and precise docking by preventing accidental contact with conductive contacts and aligning the robot correctly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the charging terminal is exposed for normal charging operation, then the charging function can be actuated normally, but staff may contact the charging terminal mistakenly and experience electric shock
Solution Approach 1:
The charging terminal is extracted from the exposed state and placed inside a protective piece that covers it. The protective piece acts as a separate safety component that isolates the hazardous charging terminal from staff while allowing robot access through precise docking
Solution Approach 2:
The protective piece serves as an intermediary element between the charging terminal and potential contactors. It mediates access by allowing the robot (with alignment device) to dock precisely and establish charging connection while blocking access to unauthorized personnel
2Reliability
If the charging terminal is protected to prevent electric shock, then staff safety is improved, but the robot and charging station may fail to dock at the correct position or angle
Solution Approach 1:
The protective piece is segmented with a specific opening structure that separates the safety function from the docking function. The opening is precisely positioned and sized to allow only the robot's charging interface to access the charging terminal while maintaining protective coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The protective piece has different properties in different locations: it is closed and protective in most areas to prevent electric shock, but has a precisely positioned opening with specific dimensions that allows accurate docking. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between protection and precision
3Manufacturing precision
If alignment devices are added to ensure correct docking position, then docking accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment device is merged with the protective piece into a single integrated component. The protective piece itself contains the alignment function through its opening structure, eliminating the need for separate alignment mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The protective piece performs multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the charging terminal from electric shock, provides alignment guidance for the robot, and defines the docking geometry. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed
Data Source
AI summary
A charging station is adapted to charge a robot. The robot has been in communication pairing with the charging station in advance. The charging station includes a body, a charging device, a control device and an alignment device. The charging device is arranged on the body and is adapted to connect to the robot. The control device is in communication connection with the robot and is in electric connection with the charging device and is provided with a sensing unit. The control device is adapted to enable the charging device to charge the robot after the sensing unit senses the robot. The alignment device is connected to the body and is adapted to align the robot with the charging station. Whereby, the robot is charged and position deviation of the robot during charging is prevented or electric shock accidents are prevented.