Comparing batteries to generators as power sources for use with mobile robotics

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• 作者：Drew G. Logan^a ; Jesse Pentzer^a ; Sean N. Brennan^a ; ^{sbrennan@psu.edu} ; Karl Reichard^b
• 关键词：Robot ; Allometry ; Generator ; Battery
• 刊名：Journal of Power Sources
• 出版年：2012
• 期刊代码：58_03787753
• 类别：ce
• 出版时间：15 August, 2012
• 卷：212
• 期：Complete
• 页码：130-138
• 文件大小：677 K

摘要

This paper considers the scaling principles associated with the power and energy density of batteries and generators as applied to mobile robots and similarly-sized vehicles. We seek to identify, based on present technology, the size range at which a generator inclusive of a direct current electric motor, gearbox, and internal combustion engine can be effectively used to replace modern batteries. Models were derived to scale each component of the generator as a function of power, mass, efficiency, and speed. For a given power, energy, or mass requirement, these models illustrate that generators based on conventional technology are ill-suited for smaller robots. The results indicate that there is an intermediate robot size above which a hybrid generator/battery architecture is desirable. Using these scaling principles with modest extensions of existing battery technologies, it is also possible to infer the near-future performance of robot power technology and thus illustrate whether the generator-versus-battery tradeoff will shift toward or away from a hybrid robot topology for smaller vehicle systems.