For mobile robots, the ability to operate 24 hours a day is crucial.
From the current mainstream charging methods, whether it is manual charging or automatic charging, the charging time generally takes 2 hours, and the device operation time after charging is generally around 8 hours. This traditional charging method can easily affect the working time, rhythm, and efficiency of mobile robots, thereby affecting the production pace of the entire factory.
A new revolution in endurance is approaching. Tesla, known as a wind vane for autonomous driving, has been exposed by the media for acquiring German wireless charging manufacturer Wiferion, whose main business is to provide wireless charging systems for mobile robots such as AGV/AMR.
The founder of Wibotic, an American wireless charging solution development company, recently publicly announced that the main scenario for future wireless charging will no longer be small electronic devices such as smartphones and watches, but will gradually move towards medium-sized or even large mobile electronic devices such as robots and drones.
In China, many companies have expressed to high-tech mobile robots that wireless charging is becoming popular.
What are the advantages of wireless PK wired charging?
According to whether the vehicle body is connected to the charging system for energy transmission, it can be divided into contact charging (wired charging) and non-contact charging (wireless charging).
In the wired charging scheme, the electrical energy between the vehicle body and the charging system is transmitted based on the contact of conductors (cable connectors, conductor electrodes). According to the operation method, it is divided into three categories: "manual plug and unplug charging, battery replacement, and automatic charging".
Manual plugging and charging is the simplest and fastest, but the cost of manual maintenance is high, which is only suitable for scenarios with low automation level.
In contrast, in highly automated scenarios with more cars and fewer people, automatic charging is more efficient and convenient, gradually becoming a more mainstream charging method nowadays. When the AGV needs to replenish power, it only needs to automatically report the request and drive to the designated charging area to automatically connect to charging.
However, whether it is manual plugging or automatic charging, wired charging has its significant drawbacks. For example, long-term exposure of cables and contacts can easily lead to poor contact. And it cannot work normally even under low temperature, humidity, condensation, flammability, and explosiveness. This has also led to the exploration of wireless charging technology in the market.
Compared to traditional wired charging, wireless charging has obvious advantages. Its principle is similar to that of a transformer, where the transmission of electrical energy between the vehicle body and the charging system is achieved through coils on both sides.
The main advantages include:
One is sufficient safety. The wireless charging electrode is not exposed, oxidized or contaminated, and there is no possibility of electrode short circuit, electric shock, or electric spark. Suitable for scenarios that require waterproofing, high cleanliness, and explosion protection. Especially in the manufacturing process of lithium battery raw materials and photovoltaic silicon wafers, the impurity control of copper conductors is very strict, and contact charging cannot meet the requirements at all.
Secondly, the fault tolerance rate is high. Wireless charging allows for a wide range of parking errors and does not require high positioning accuracy for robots. For example, the alignment tolerance of Xineng Technology can reach ± 50mm, while maintaining good transmission efficiency, AGV does not need to spend extra time on precise docking, improving production speed.
Thirdly, it has strong compatibility. The same wireless charging transmitter can be matched with robots of different voltages, types, and functions, achieving compatibility with multiple vehicle models, communication, and batteries.
Fourthly, the maintenance cost is low. Wireless charging has no mechanical moving parts, reducing maintenance costs. He Zhi, Deputy General Manager of Hertz Innovation, gave an example. In the past, when charging outdoors, it was necessary to build a charging house to be waterproof, but wireless charging can be directly waterproof, and the house no longer needs to be built.
Finally, it can help robots improve their work efficiency. Wireless charging is safe, occupies a small area, and does not need to be tightly attached. It allows mobile robots to charge during short dwell times during work, without the need for special round-trip trips, thereby improving the work efficiency of mobile robots. With fewer mobile robots, they can complete work tasks.