Mobile Charging Station for Autonomous Work Machine Recharging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driverless work machines, such as lawn mowers, face inefficiencies due to long travel times and battery waste when returning to a fixed charging station, especially in large work areas, leading to decreased work efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A mobile charging apparatus that autonomously moves to a predetermined position near the work machine, allowing for shorter charging distances and improved work efficiency by using a non-contact electromagnetic induction method for charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the work machine returns to a fixed charging station for recharging, then the battery can be charged, but the traveling time increases and work efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the work machine moving to a fixed charging station, the invention inverts the approach by making the charging station mobile and moving it to the work machine. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for the work machine to travel long distances, thereby reducing traveling time while still achieving battery charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging station transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic mobile unit that can autonomously navigate to the work machine's location. This dynamic capability allows the charging station to adapt its position, reducing the travel distance for the work machine and improving overall system efficiency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the work machine returns to a fixed charging station for recharging, then the battery can be charged, but the traveling distance increases and battery power is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional charging approach by making the charging station mobile rather than fixed. This allows the charging station to reach the work machine at its operating location, minimizing the travel distance and reducing the battery power wasted during transit.
3Reliability
If a fixed charging station is used, then charging infrastructure is established, but the work efficiency decreases in large work areas
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station is transformed from a static fixed infrastructure to a mobile unit with autonomous navigation capabilities. This dynamic design maintains the reliability of charging infrastructure while adapting to the work machine's location in large work areas, thereby preserving work efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile charging station serves multiple functions: it can autonomously navigate to different locations, charge various work machines, and adapt to different work area sizes. This multi-functionality maintains charging infrastructure reliability while improving work efficiency across diverse operating conditions.
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
The mobile charging apparatus significantly reduces the time and power spent by work machines traveling for charging, enhancing work efficiency by allowing the work machine to be charged closer to its operating area, thereby minimizing battery consumption and travel time.
Implementation Method 1
using a non-contact electromagnetic induction method for charging
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.