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Quasi-wireless surface power and control for battery-free robotics

Part of: Chipless RFID

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 October 2015

A. K. Pickering ,
Richard Hull ,
J. E. Hawk ,
Arindam Phani ,
C. W. Van Neste  and
Thomas Thundat
A. K. Pickering
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB T6G 2V4, Canada. Phone: +1 (780) 492-9548
Richard Hull
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB T6G 2V4, Canada. Phone: +1 (780) 492-9548
J. E. Hawk
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB T6G 2V4, Canada. Phone: +1 (780) 492-9548
Arindam Phani
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB T6G 2V4, Canada. Phone: +1 (780) 492-9548
C. W. Van Neste*
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB T6G 2V4, Canada. Phone: +1 (780) 492-9548
Thomas Thundat
Affiliation:
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB T6G 2V4, Canada. Phone: +1 (780) 492-9548
*
Corresponding author: C.W. Van Neste Email: cvannest@ualberta.ca
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Abstract

Current robotic systems have achieved great sophistication in kinematic motion, control, and neural processing. One of the most challenging limitations imposed on modern robotics is the portable power source needed to sustain tether-free operation. Energy storage devices such as batteries and combustion engines may be heavy, require a great deal of space, and invariably have a finite energy capacity. Methods to control such devices may also impose limitations as most robotic systems rely on either tethered or radiative communication. The unavoidable repercussion of these limitations is the ultimate reduction of mobility and operation time to achieve specific tasks. To address these challenges, we apply our quasi-wireless powering methodology to show the operation of two robotic devices over a 1×1 m2 surface. Both power and control signals are transmitted simultaneously, producing seamless storage-free functionality over the entire area with a communication technique that is not line-of-sight or radiation dependent. We demonstrate an average power transfer efficiency of 93% using commercially available toy robots and discuss parameters relating to the power and communication performance.

Keywords

RobotQuasi-wirelessStanding waveControlSurface power
Type
Research Article
Information
Wireless Power Transfer , Volume 2 , Special Issue 2: Chipless Technologies , September 2015 , pp. 134 - 142
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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