Autonomous Robot Charging Station SOC Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robot charging systems in warehouse environments lack efficient methods for determining and communicating the state of charge (SOC) of autonomous robots, leading to suboptimal charging practices and potential battery damage.
Innovation Solution
The system periodically determines the SOC of autonomous robots at a charging station and communicates this information back to the robot, allowing it to return for charging when a predetermined level is reached, using coulomb counting and infrared communication for accurate charge monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the robot operates continuously without frequent charging, then productivity is improved, but the battery may become over-discharged causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station determines the SOC of the robot periodically and communicates it back to the robot. The robot uses this feedback to autonomously decide when to return for charging, preventing over-discharge while maximizing continuous operation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot autonomously monitors its own SOC level and independently decides when to return to the charging station without human intervention. The system enables the robot to self-manage its charging needs based on real-time SOC information.
2Reliability
If the robot returns to charging station frequently to maintain high SOC, then battery reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station provides periodic SOC feedback to the robot, enabling it to operate until SOC reaches a predetermined threshold. This feedback mechanism allows the robot to maximize operational time while returning for charging only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system determines SOC periodically during docking and communicates it to the robot in advance, allowing the robot to plan its operations and return for charging before the battery becomes critically low, thus avoiding over-discharge without unnecessary trips.
3Measurement precision
If SOC is determined continuously with high precision, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging station determines the SOC of the robot periodically when the robot is docked, rather than continuously. This periodic measurement approach maintains adequate SOC tracking precision while minimizing energy consumption during the charging process.
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
This approach ensures efficient and timely recharging of robots, preventing battery over-discharge and improving overall warehouse operation by maintaining accurate SOC tracking and automating the recharging process.
Implementation Method 1
The robot includes a re-chargeable battery and a motor drive. The processor is configured to determine the state of charge (SOC) of the battery when the robot is undocked from the charging station by comparing the amount of charge provided to the motor drive by the re-chargeable battery
Implementation Method 2
using coulomb counting and infrared communication for accurate charge monitoring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
An electrical charging system for charging an autonomous robot powered by a re-chargeable battery and having a first charging member. The charging station includes a second charging member configured to receive the first charging member on the autonomous robot when the autonomous robot is docked with the charging station for charging the re-chargeable battery. There is a power supply configured to charge the re-chargeable battery of the robot and a sensor configured to measure an amount of charge transferred from the power supply to the robot. There is a processor configured to determine from the amount of charge transferred from the power supply to the robot measured by the sensor, a state of charge (SOC) of the autonomous robot. There is also a communications device configured to transmit to the robot the SOC of the robot while docked at the charging station.