Autonomous Mobile Charger Positioning for Work Machine Recharging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile charging systems for work machines, such as lawn mowers, require the work machine to travel back to a fixed charging station, leading to inefficiencies and battery waste due to long travel times and reduced work efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A mobile charging apparatus equipped with a battery, movement unit, and controller that allows it to autonomously move to a predetermined position near the work machine, reducing the distance the work machine needs to travel for charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the work machine returns to a fixed charging station when battery level is low, then the battery can be recharged, but the traveling time increases and work efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the work machine moving to a fixed charging station, the patent inverts the approach by deploying a mobile charging station to the work machine's location. This reversal eliminates the need for the work machine to travel long distances to charge, thereby maintaining high work efficiency while ensuring reliable battery recharging.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging station transitions from a fixed, static location to a mobile, dynamic unit that can move to where the work machine needs charging. This dynamic capability allows the charging station to adapt to different work locations, reducing travel time for the work machine and improving overall productivity.
2Reliability
If the work machine travels to a fixed charging station, then charging can be performed, but battery power is wasted during travel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reverses the traditional charging approach by bringing the charging station to the work machine rather than having the work machine travel to the station. This inversion eliminates unnecessary travel energy consumption while ensuring the charging function is reliably performed at the work location.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile charging station is deployed to the work machine's location in advance, so that when the work machine needs charging, the charging infrastructure is already in place. This preliminary action prevents energy waste by eliminating the need for the work machine to travel to a distant charging station.
3Device complexity
If a fixed charging station is used, then charging infrastructure is simple, but the work machine must travel long distances reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The charging infrastructure evolves from a fixed, static setup to a mobile, dynamic system. The mobile charging station can relocate to different work areas, maintaining relatively simple infrastructure while dramatically improving work efficiency by eliminating long travel distances for charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile charging station serves multiple work locations universally, replacing the need for multiple fixed charging stations. This multi-functional approach maintains infrastructure simplicity while improving productivity by reducing travel time across different work areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile charging apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a battery for charging a work machine; a movement unit that causes the mobile charging apparatus to autonomously move; and a controller that executes a program to perform control such that the movement unit moves the mobile charging apparatus to a predetermined position to wait for the work machine.