Experimental investigation on mobile robot drive system through resonant induction technique

The docking and recharging system of a mobile robot must guarantee the ability to perform its tasks continuously without human intervention. Since mobile robots are powered by batteries, their energy and operating times are limited. Limited onboard power supplies significantly hamper long term autonomous mobile robot operation, particularly when working with swarm-sized populations. This paper introduces an inexpensive, low complexity power system capable of simultaneously providing wireless power from source to sink of multiple mobile robots. In this paper an efficient wireless power transfer system called resonant induction technique has been used for transmitting power from source to sink of the robot. This system enables continuous operation of a swarm-sized population of battery-less robots. The prototype consists of a power surface that provides power to an initial evaluation test robot consuming 350 mW. An investigation on power transmission between a transmitter and pickup coil has carried out depending upon the distance. The power received is evaluated with by varying thickness of the pickup coil. We found out that power receiving potential various with thickness of the receiver coil with the changing distance and the result obtained is plotted. From the result of received power, the designed test robot has operated wide a distance from 100 cm to a maximum of 160 cm without any fluctuations. A possible application of this method includes powering of swarm robots.