Robotic Energy Module Swapping for Underbody EV Batteries
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limitations of electric vehicles, such as battery capacity and range, are not adequately addressed by existing technologies, particularly in competing with combustion-engine vehicles, due to the difficulty and cost of swapping battery modules located under the vehicle's underbody.
Innovation Solution
A system for energy storage and cell-swapping technology using small, standardized energy modules that can be swapped by hand or automated, allowing for flexible deployment in various applications, including electric vehicles, homes, and commercial buildings, utilizing robotics and machine learning for efficient module exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If battery modules are located under the vehicle's underbody, then energy storage capacity is improved, but the difficulty and cost of swapping increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is divided into multiple standardized energy modules that can be independently handled and swapped. Each module contains a portion of the total energy storage capacity, allowing the system to maintain high energy capacity while enabling practical swapping operations through modular units that are manageable in size and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
A robotic arm system serves as an intermediary mechanism between the storage rack and the vehicle underbody. The robotic arm retrieves energy modules from the rack, positions them, and installs them into the vehicle, thereby eliminating the need for manual handling of heavy battery modules and reducing swapping difficulty while preserving energy storage capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If battery modules are located under the vehicle's underbody, then energy storage capacity is improved, but the cost of swapping increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm system operates autonomously to perform the energy module swapping operation. The system self-manages the retrieval, transport, and installation of energy modules without requiring human intervention, thereby reducing labor costs and making the swapping process more economically viable while maintaining high energy storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm acts as an automated intermediary that reduces the complexity and cost of the swapping infrastructure. By using a standardized interface and automated handling, the system minimizes the need for expensive custom installation procedures and reduces overall swapping costs while preserving energy storage capacity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standardized energy modules are used, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy modules are designed with standardized interfaces and dimensions that allow them to be used across different vehicle types and applications. The same module design can serve electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and stationary energy storage applications, thereby improving adaptability while the modular nature actually simplifies the overall system architecture by reducing the variety of components needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An energy module exchange system may include an enclosure with one or more storage racks configured to store and charge energy modules; an opening in the enclosure; and a robotic arm configured to retrieve the energy modules from the storage racks and pass them through an opening in the enclosure for exchange with an electric vehicle.