Mobile Robot Battery Management to Avoid Mid-Operation Recharging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Soil cultivation devices often require immediate recharging of batteries during operations, which delays task completion and negatively affects the battery's service life, as the energy stored may not always match the energy required for the task.

Innovation Solution

A control device adjusts operating parameters, such as switching to eco mode or varying the speed of motors, to reduce energy consumption, allowing tasks to be completed with available battery charge without immediate recharging, and prioritizes energy-saving modes in less soiled or obstacle-free areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the accumulator is recharged immediately when energy is insufficient, then the device can continue operation, but the operating activity must be terminated which delays task completion and reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operation capabilityVSAvoidtask completion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device calculates the required battery capacity before starting the cleaning activity and compares it with the available charging capacity. This preliminary assessment allows the system to determine in advance whether recharging is necessary, enabling better operational planning and avoiding unnecessary interruptions to task completion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the cleaning activity based on battery status. When the required battery capacity exceeds available charging capacity, the control device modifies operational parameters or terminates the activity only when necessary, rather than always interrupting operation. This dynamic approach optimizes the balance between continuous operation and productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the accumulator is recharged frequently to ensure sufficient energy, then the device can maintain operational readiness, but the service life of the accumulator is negatively affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational readinessVSAvoidaccumulator service life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The control device continuously monitors the battery's state of charge and compares the required battery capacity with the available charging capacity. This feedback mechanism allows the system to make informed decisions about when recharging is truly necessary, avoiding unnecessary charging cycles that would reduce accumulator service life while maintaining adequate operational readiness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters based on battery status. When energy is sufficient, the device operates normally; when the required battery capacity approaches or exceeds available charging capacity, the system adjusts its behavior to avoid unnecessary recharging, thereby extending accumulator service life while maintaining operational readiness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3440977B1Mobile robot cleaning device with energy storage management system.
Publication Date: 2022.09.28 VORWERK & CO INTERHOLDING GMBH
  • EP3440977B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a soil cultivation device (1) with at least one electrical consumer (2), a battery (3) for supplying energy to the electrical consumer (2), and a control unit (4) for controlling the soil cultivation device (1). To avoid recharging the battery (3) during operation, it is proposed that the control unit (4) be configured to determine the anticipated energy demand of one or more consumers (2) for carrying out and completing a predefined operation, to compare the anticipated energy demand with the amount of energy stored in the battery (3), and, if the stored energy is less than the energy demand, to reduce the energy demand by adjusting one or more operating parameters of the operation in order to successfully execute the operation.