Wireless Charging Drone for In-Route Delivery Robot Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned delivery robots may become discharged during delivery due to unexpected issues, leading to delivery delays or failures, as they may not be fully charged in response to a high volume of delivery requests.
Innovation Solution
The system includes an unmanned delivery robot equipped with a processor and memory that allows it to receive real-time battery information and location data, enabling it to autonomously request wireless charging from an unmanned charging drone when necessary, using two batteries to manage power distribution during travel and charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the unmanned delivery robot operates continuously without charging during delivery, then delivery efficiency is improved, but the battery will be discharged leading to delivery failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous charging during delivery operations by having the charging drone follow the delivery robot and provide wireless power transfer. This allows the robot to maintain operational status without interruption, eliminating the need to stop for charging while ensuring continuous power supply to prevent battery discharge failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging drone acts as an intermediary between the power source and the delivery robot. It wirelessly transmits power to the robot during its delivery route, enabling the robot to receive power without stopping or making physical contact, thus maintaining continuous delivery operations while preventing battery exhaustion.
2Reliability
If the unmanned delivery robot carries additional battery capacity to handle varying consumption, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the robot's own battery capacity, the patent introduces a charging drone as an external power intermediary. This allows the robot to maintain its original simple battery design while receiving supplemental power from the drone during delivery, avoiding the complexity and weight of larger battery systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging drone serves multiple functions: it follows the robot, monitors battery status, and provides wireless power transfer. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain reliability without requiring the robot itself to carry excessive battery capacity or complex power management systems.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the robot receives wireless power during delivery, then continuous operation is enabled, but power loss occurs during power transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The charging drone dynamically adjusts its position to maintain optimal distance from the delivery robot during power transmission. It follows the robot's route and adjusts the wireless power transfer based on real-time battery status and distance, maximizing transmission efficiency while enabling continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes power transmission parameters based on battery status and distance. The charging drone monitors the robot's power levels and adjusts the wireless power transfer rate accordingly, optimizing energy transmission efficiency while ensuring the robot receives sufficient power to maintain continuous operation.
4Reliability
If the robot maintains full battery charge always, then reliability is improved, but delivery time increases due to frequent charging stops
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless power transfer system enables continuous charging without stopping the delivery robot. The charging drone follows alongside and provides power transfer during the robot's movement, eliminating idle charging time while maintaining reliable battery charge status throughout the delivery route.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures uninterrupted delivery by allowing the robot to receive timely power from a drone, reducing power consumption by cutting off non-essential modules during charging, and preventing efficiency loss from simultaneous charging and discharging.
Implementation Method 1
wirelessly receive, based on the battery information and the location information, power from an unmanned charging drone autonomously flying to a current location of the unmanned delivery robot
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned delivery robot capable of being wirelessly charged during delivery, the unmanned delivery robot includes a wireless power reception module, a processor, and a storage medium recording one or more programs configured to be executable by the processor. The processor includes instructions for controlling a communication module to receive a delivery instruction including a delivery route to a destination, controlling a driving module to autonomously travel to the destination according to the delivery route included in the delivery instruction, and controlling the communication module to transmit battery information and location information in real time. The wireless power reception module charges the battery module by wirelessly receiving power from an unmanned charging drone autonomously flying to a current location of the unmanned delivery robot according to a charge instruction including the location information.