Mobile charging apparatus and charging system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional charging methods for electrically-powered travel robots require the robots to interrupt their primary operations and return to a charging station, resulting in wasted time and reduced work efficiency due to the need for returning, charging, and resuming operations.
Innovation Solution
A mobile charging apparatus that autonomously travels to locate and charge the robot while it is in operation, using a power-feeding battery to supply power to the robot's battery without interrupting its travel, equipped with control units for tracking and maintaining a feeding position for stable charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the travel robot returns to a charging station to charge its battery, then the battery can be recharged, but the robot must interrupt its primary operation and waste time traveling back and forth
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the travel robot returning to a stationary charging station, the invention inverts the approach by deploying a mobile charging apparatus that travels to the robot's current position to provide charging services, thereby eliminating the need for the robot to interrupt its work
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile charging apparatus acts as an intermediary between the power source and the travel robot, enabling power transfer without requiring the robot to move to a fixed charging location. This mediator approach resolves the conflict between charging needs and operational continuity
2Reliability
If the travel robot returns to the charging station, then power feeding is possible, but time is lost for returning, charging, and resuming operations
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile charging apparatus proactively approaches and positions itself at the travel robot's location before the robot's battery is completely depleted, enabling charging to begin without interrupting the robot's primary operation. This preliminary action eliminates the time loss associated with returning to a charging station
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous operation of the travel robot by providing uninterrupted power supply through the mobile charging apparatus. The robot can maintain its cleaning or delivery operations while simultaneously receiving charge, eliminating downtime and ensuring continuous useful action
Data Source
AI summary
A charge support vehicle according to one or more embodiments may be capable of charging a battery of a travel robot without interrupting traveling, and a charging system. A charge support vehicle according to one or more embodiments may track a cleaning robot based on positional information of the cleaning robot, and may be docked to the cleaning robot in a state of traveling, thereby charging a battery of the cleaning robot while traveling.