Robot Battery Hot-Swap Locking for Continuous Operation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile robots face inefficiencies in battery replacement due to the time required for charging, which renders them unusable during the charging process.
Innovation Solution
A robot equipped with a withdrawable main battery, a sub-battery, and a locking mechanism, controlled by a controller, allows for efficient battery swapping by aligning with charging stations and switching power sources, enabling continuous operation through a hot swap process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the battery is charged by an external charging station, then the battery state of charge is restored, but a large amount of time is required and the robot cannot be used during charging
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into a main battery and a sub-battery. The main battery can be quickly swapped out when depleted, while the sub-battery provides immediate power continuity. This segmentation eliminates the need for lengthy charging cycles by enabling rapid battery replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
A sub-battery is pre-installed in the robot as a backup power source. When the main battery is depleted, the sub-battery immediately takes over to provide power, allowing the robot to remain operational during the battery swap process without interruption.
2Reliability
If a locking part is added to prevent unauthorized battery removal, then battery security is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The locking part automatically engages when the robot is not docked with a charging station, and automatically disengages when docked. This self-service locking mechanism eliminates the need for complex manual locking systems while maintaining battery security through automated controller management.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism transitions between locked and unlocked states dynamically based on the robot's docking status. The locking part moves between a locked position (preventing removal) and an unlocked position (allowing removal), with state changes automatically controlled by the controller according to docking detection.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot can be configured to receive electric power from a main battery provided replaceably. The robot can include a body having an accommodation space in which the main battery is accommodated in a withdrawable manner, a movement part configured to move the body, and a locking part configured to move relative to the body between a withdrawal-allowed state in which the main battery accommodated in the accommodation space is allowed to be withdrawn from the accommodation space and a withdrawal-inhibited state in which the main battery accommodated in the accommodation space is inhibited from being withdrawn from the accommodation space.