Overhead Charging Connector Layout for Drive-Through Robot Mowers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional robotic lawnmower charging stations are not suitable for larger, more advanced models as they are prone to wear and tear, require more space, and can block the robotic lawnmower's path, leading to increased lawn damage and alignment difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A robotic lawnmower system with two charging connectors on its upper side and a charging station featuring a supporting structure that allows the lawnmower to drive through for charging, reducing the size of the station and minimizing lawn wear, while enabling easy installation and maintenance, and accommodating variations in height and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If traditional drive-in charging stations are used for larger robotic lawnmowers, then the charging station can provide sufficient charging capacity, but the charging station becomes too heavy and blocks the travel path
Solution Approach 1:
The charging connectors are repositioned from a horizontal arrangement at ground level to a vertical arrangement suspended above the robotic lawnmower. This dimensional change allows the charging station to be more compact and lighter while maintaining adequate charging capacity, as the vertical configuration reduces the structural footprint and material requirements.
2Reliability
If traditional drive-in charging stations are used, then charging can be provided, but the robotic lawnmower causes lawn wear and tear while aligning and docking
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the robotic lawnmower driving into a charging station from the front and aligning horizontally, the system inverts the approach by suspending the charging connectors vertically above the lawnmower's path. This allows the lawnmower to charge while moving forward without lateral alignment movements, eliminating the harmful lateral forces that cause lawn wear and tear.
3Ease of operation
If traditional charging stations are used, then charging functionality is provided, but alignment time and effort are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The charging connectors are pre-positioned in a fixed vertical arrangement above the robotic lawnmower's travel path. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for complex real-time alignment adjustments during charging operations, as the connectors are already in the correct position to receive power transfers, thereby reducing alignment time and effort.
4Strength
If charging connectors are arranged on the upper side of the robotic lawnmower, then the supporting structure can be smaller and more robust, but the system must accommodate variations in height and orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow the vertical arrangement of charging connectors to adapt to variations in the robotic lawnmower's height and orientation. This dynamic capability enables the supporting structure to maintain its compact and robust design while still accommodating the necessary variations in positioning through active or passive adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A robotic work tool system, comprising a charging station and a robotic work tool, said robotic work tool comprising two charging connectors arranged on an upper side of the robotic work tool and said charging station comprising two charging connectors and a supporting structure arranged to carry said charging connectors and to extend over and above said robotic work tool as the robotic work tool enters the charging station for establishing electrical contact between the charging connectors of the robotic work tool and the charging connectors of the charging station from above, wherein said supporting structure is arranged to allow the robotic work tool exit the charging station by driving through the charging station without reversing.