Wireless charging system for KILOBOTS using inductive power transfer with management system

• Main Authors: Concepcion, Melchizedek S., Fernando, Ira Oliver C., Mendoza, Gian Lorenzo G., Reyes, Kyle G.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2016
• Subjects: Robots; Battery charging stations (Electric vehicles)
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/9999
• Institution: De La Salle University

One of the emerging platforms for swarm robotics research today is the KILOBOTS robot. Studying swarm behavior usually takes place over extended periods of time. One drawback of using KILOBOTs or any other robot in this case, is the limited on board power supply it can carry through its batteries. This would be compounded by the fact that doing swarm research would typically involve multiple robots meaning that multiple robots could also require charging within a certain time. Using the current charging scheme for KILOBOTs it would be tedious as one has to manually check battery voltage reading, locate the actual KILOBOT that needs charging and actually pick and place the KILOBOT to the charging rack provided for the KILOBOTs. The study aims to lessen the need for human intervention during the charging phase of the KILOBOT. This was done through the design and implementation of a wireless charging platform for nine KILOBOTs to charge. A management system was also implemented for the KILOBOTs which cover the queuing process for the use of the charging platform. There were a total of nine wireless charging transmitters in the study. There were 10 wireless charging receivers created for the study, one for each KILOBOT. The management algorithm was implemented in the KILOBOTs code to allow an orderly charging process as well as mange the limited slots in the charging platform. Actual battery voltage gains were measured for every KILOBOT used in the study to confirm that the platform works. Output voltage and current were measured and platform efficiency was also measured.