Flat Contact Charging Elements for Angular Docking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lawn mower robots face challenges in flexible charging docking due to limited angular range of flat contact charging elements, which restricts their ability to adapt to different approaching directions and can lead to frequent contact misalignment, potentially damaging the work surface.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of at least two flat contact charging elements that allow for a charging docking process within an angular range of more than 15°, enabling the service robot to dock from various directions and compensating for angular or parallel offsets between the charging elements and the base station, thus ensuring a flexible and precise charging process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single flat contact charging element is used, then the structure is simple, but the angular range for charging docking is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system is divided into multiple flat contact charging elements (at least two) arranged at different angular positions on the base station. Each element can independently make contact with the service robot's charging interface, allowing the system to accommodate docking from various angles without requiring a single complex universal contact structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple flat contact charging elements are positioned to serve multiple docking scenarios. The same set of charging elements can handle robots approaching from different angular directions, making the charging system universal for various docking orientations without requiring direction-specific charging mechanisms.
2Reliability
If precise alignment is required for charging contact, then energy transmission is reliable, but the work surface may be damaged due to frequent misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides beforehand cushioning by offering multiple pre-positioned flat contact charging elements that anticipate possible docking angle variations. Instead of requiring perfect single-point alignment, the robot can successfully dock within an angular range as multiple contact elements are available at different positions, preventing repeated failed docking attempts that could damage the work surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of angular misalignment into a benefit by using the misalignment itself as a selection mechanism. When the robot approaches at an angle, the system naturally engages the appropriate flat contact element that matches the docking angle, transforming what would be a harmful error into a functional feature that enables flexible docking.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the charging elements are arranged for precise alignment, then energy transmission efficiency is high, but the system cannot adapt to different approaching directions
Solution Approach 1:
The charging elements are arranged in a two-dimensional angular distribution pattern on the base station rather than a single linear arrangement. This spatial dimensionality allows the system to cover a range of docking angles while maintaining adequate contact reliability, as elements are positioned both angularly and radially to optimize both adaptability and efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a service robot system, in particular a lawn mower system, with at least one service robot, in particular an autonomous lawn mower, comprising at least one energy storage unit (14a; 14c; 14e), and with at least one base station for supplying energy to the energy storage unit (14a; 14c; 14e) in at least one state, wherein the service robot or the base station has at least two flat contact charging elements (18a, 20a; 18b, 20b; 18c, 20c; 18d, 20d; 18e, 20e; 18f, 20f; 18g, 20g; 18h, 20h). It is proposed that the at least two flat contact charging elements (18a, 20a; 18b, 20b; 18c, 20c; 18d, 20d; 18e, 20e; 18f, 20f; 18g, 20g; 18h, 20h) are intended to enable a charging docking process of the service robot at the base station at least in an angular range of at least more than 15°.