Powermat unveils 300W wireless charging system for robots
Powermat Technologies has unveiled a wireless charging solution designed for fleets of various types of service robots used for commercial cleaning, delivery, warehouse operations, medical operations and much more.
The company develops wireless power technology based on magnetic induction, also known as inductive charging. Powermat's wireless charging technology for commercial robots supports power transfer over distances of up to 150 millimeters between the receiver and the transmitter.
Powermat said the system offers power of up to 300 W. The solution completely eliminates the need for direct contact with pogo pins (spring-loaded contacts), giving operators charging efficiency of 90%.
Powermat also offers turnkey reference designs for wireless charging and battery management. This enables communication between every robot in the fleet and the docking stations, which is necessary for identification and authentication, software updates and much more.
“So that organizations can get the maximum return on their investments in autonomous solutions, service robots should always be able to perform their tasks autonomously and recharge quickly without human intervention”
In mid-December 2021, Powermat Technologies raised $25 million in funding to scale its wireless charging technology. The funding round was led by Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) and Hudson Sustainable Group, which is a founding shareholder of Powermat.
There are several other companies developing wireless chargers for robots, such as In2Power, Vicor, WiBotic and Wiferion.
Powermat said its charging solutions can also be found in more than 800 million smartphones, 40 million built-in accessories and 8 million automobiles worldwide. Global market leaders, including FIT, Flex, General Motors, Harman International, Kyocera and Samsung, already use Powermat technology.
Why robots need wireless charging
Whether they are designed to mop floors or manage logistics in a large facility, robots often have to return to their docking station and recharge when their battery runs low. Some robots can connect to their station autonomously, while others are charged manually.
Some modern household robots, security warehouse robots, and most self-charging AMRs and AGVs have trouble docking correctly or require expensive alignment mechanisms, which leads to inefficiency, as they can sit unused even mid-task due to lack of charge.
Ideal service robots should always be able to complete their task on their own and recharge quickly. This is where wireless charging comes in.
Wireless power transfer for robotics eliminates the need for direct contact between robots and their dock or charging station. Instead, it allows robots to charge near their charging station without precise alignment or direct contact.
Powermat's Smartinductive hybrid technology bridges the gap between classic inductive charging and resonance, combining the best of both worlds. After implementing Powermat's advanced wireless charging technology for robots, autonomous robotic platforms can support wireless charging and eliminate the need for battery replacement, pogo pins or any manual human intervention.
Wireless charging for autonomous robots means no wires, higher reliability, safer connections, durability and no overheating.
Powermat's wireless charging platform delivers efficient wireless power and offers reference wireless charging designs, as well as flexible custom solutions tailored to specific design and power requirements.
Powermat offers a holistic power solution for robots, including power management solutions and system interface integration.
"Wireless charging technology allows robotics manufacturers to eliminate cables, wires and connectors from their systems. Implementing Powermat's wireless charging technology for robotics allows robots to be sealed and electrical cavities and contacts to be fully removed, and enables maintenance-free operation even in harsh weather conditions. Powermat wireless charging is suitable for highly unstable environments such as water, dust, dirt, chemicals and open air," the company said.
Powermat wireless charging solutions are suitable for industrial robots such as warehouse robots, factory robots, delivery robots, medical robots, service robots, photovoltaic module cleaning robots, commercial cleaning robots, humanoid robots, floor cleaning robots, assistive robots and autonomous lawn mowers.
After determining the power requirements for a specific robotic system, magnets can be selected based on the mechanical dimensions of the end product and the alignment of the coils. Electrical interfaces, power management functions and other features are then selected according to the requirements of the target system.
Powermat's robotics technology includes support for angular charging with high offset flexibility. This spatial freedom ensures a 100% success rate when initiating charging.
