Autonomous Robot Energy Distribution for Solar Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind and solar light installations face challenges in reliability due to low energy yields in low-wind areas or outside the sun belt, leading to high cabling costs and maintenance issues, especially with fluctuating energy demands over time.
Innovation Solution
A self-sufficient illumination installation with a network of wind and/or solar modules, buffer batteries, and a robot that travels along a route network to charge the batteries from a central charging station, optimizing energy distribution and reducing infrastructure costs by compensating for reduced energy yields and adapting to individual device needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional wired street lights are replaced with self-sufficient wind or solar lights, then installation costs are reduced, but reliability deteriorates in low-wind or low-solar-radiation areas
Solution Approach 1:
A mobile robot acts as an intermediary energy distribution system, traveling between a central charging station and individual illumination devices. The robot carries energy in its accumulator and transfers it to devices with insufficient buffer battery charge, mediating the energy supply between centralized generation and distributed consumption points.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination installation serves itself through the autonomous mobile robot that automatically navigates to devices needing recharging, connects to their charging inputs, and transfers energy without human intervention. The system monitors its own energy status and requests service when needed.
2Reliability
If buffer battery capacity is increased to ensure multi-day autonomy, then reliability is improved, but initial installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing full multi-day autonomy through large buffer batteries, the system provides partial autonomy (one-day or few-hours) and compensates with periodic external recharging by the mobile robot. This partial action approach achieves sufficient reliability while dramatically reducing battery capacity requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile robot performs preliminary recharging actions during daytime when energy is abundant, ensuring illumination devices have sufficient charge before nighttime operation. This advance energy transfer prevents energy deficits rather than relying on large storage capacity.
3Reliability
If a central charging infrastructure is implemented with multiple lights, then reliability is improved, but maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple illumination devices and a single mobile robot are merged into an integrated energy management system. The robot consolidates the function of multiple individual buffer batteries by serving as a mobile energy reservoir that dynamically allocates energy to multiple devices, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile robot performs multiple functions: it travels autonomously, monitors energy status of multiple devices, navigates to target devices, connects for charging, and transfers energy. This single multi-functional unit replaces what would otherwise require separate systems at each illumination point.
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 solution enables reliable and cost-effective illumination in areas with limited wind or solar resources, distributing maintenance costs and allowing for smaller buffer batteries, thus reducing initial installation costs and ensuring consistent lighting without the need for more powerful modules.
Implementation Method 1
a wind and/or solar module for respective generation of wind or solar electricity feeding the light
Implementation Method 2
a wind and/or solar module for respective generation of wind or solar electricity feeding the light
Implementation Method 3
a buffer battery for respectively buffering the wind or solar electricity
Implementation Method 4
has an accumulator and shuttles between a first position, in which it connects to the charging output of the charging station and buffers the charging electricity thereof in the accumulator
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosed subject matter relates to an installation for illuminating an environment. The installation comprises a multiplicity of illumination devices which are distributed in the environment and approachable via a route network, wherein each illumination device has a light, a wind and/or solar module for respective generation of wind or solar electricity feeding the light, a buffer battery for respectively buffering the wind or solar electricity, and a charging input for charging the buffer battery; a common charging station for the illumination devices, which is approachable via the route network and has a charging output for outputting charging electricity; and a robot which travels self-sufficiently on the route network, has an accumulator and shuttles between a first position, in which it connects to the charging output of the charging station and buffers the charging electricity thereof in the accumulator, and multiple second positions, in each of which it connects to the charging input of an illumination device and charges the buffer battery thereof from the accumulator.