Self-Powered Remote Control for Safe Material Handling Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional remote control devices for material handling vehicles rely on fixed power sources like batteries, which need recharging or replacing, leading to potential power loss during operation.
Innovation Solution
A remote control system with an energy generating switch, energy storage system, and a controller that uses stored energy to transmit commands to the vehicle, ceasing transmission when energy is depleted, allowing the vehicle to automatically stop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a fixed power source (battery) is used to power the remote control device, then the device can operate continuously, but the power source needs to be recharged or replaced, leading to potential power loss during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The remote control device generates its own electrical energy through a piezoelectric switch mechanism. When the operator presses the switch, mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy, which is then stored in a capacitor bank. This self-powered approach eliminates dependence on external batteries, ensuring continuous operation without recharging or replacement, and maintaining reliable power supply throughout the device's operational life.
2Duration of action of moving object
If an energy generating switch is used to eliminate external power sources, then continuous operation is ensured, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into integrated components. The piezoelectric switch serves both as the user interface for controlling the material handling vehicle and as the power generation mechanism. The capacitor bank integrates energy storage with the control circuitry, and the transceiver combines transmission and reception functions. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving continuous operation.
3Reliability
If energy is stored from switch actuation to power the controller, then external batteries are eliminated, but energy management complexity increases with regulators and storage systems
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor bank acts as an intermediary energy storage element between the piezoelectric switch and the controller. It accumulates electrical energy from switch actuation and releases it at predetermined intervals to power the controller and transceiver. The regulator manages the energy flow from the capacitor to these components, ensuring stable operation. This intermediary approach provides reliable power supply while keeping the energy management system relatively simple through straightforward charge-discharge cycles.
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
The system eliminates the need for external power sources, ensuring continuous operation and safe stopping of the vehicle without battery-related interruptions.
Implementation Method 1
an energy generating switch configured to generate electrical energy in response to actuation of the switch
Implementation Method 2
an energy storage system to store the energy generated by actuation of the switch
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4A
Figure 4B
AI summary
A remote control system (200) for a material handling vehicle (220) includes a remote control device (100) having a housing with an energy generating switch (120) configured to generate electrical energy in response to actuation of the switch (120). The system (200) includes an energy storage system to store the energy generated by actuation of the switch (120), a controller (205) powered by the stored electrical energy and configured to generate commands for the material handling vehicle (220), a regulator (310) configured to release a predetermined amount of energy from the energy storage system to power the controller (205), and a transceiver (210) to transmit travel commands to the material handling vehicle (220) while the electrical energy generated by actuation of the switch (120) powers the controller (205). The transceiver (210) ceases transmitting travel commands to the material handling vehicle (220) when the electrical energy generated by actuation of the switch (120) is depleted.