At a time of rapid technological development, robots are widely used in many fields. Batteries, as the “energy source” of robots, have a significant impact on robot performance, range, efficiency and safety. So, how to pick the right battery? We will explore it in depth.
1. Basic requirements of robots for batteries
1.1 High energy density
Energy density refers to the energy stored per unit volume or mass of the battery. For robots, high energy density batteries can store more energy in the same volume or weight, extend runtime, reduce overall weight, and improve flexibility and efficiency, which is especially important for outdoor inspection and logistics and distribution robots.
1.2 Long life
Robots need to run stably for long periods of time. Frequent battery replacement increases costs and affects work continuity. Robot battery life is measured by the number of cycles, and long-life batteries can withstand more cycles and maintain stable performance over time, reducing maintenance and replacement costs.
1.3 Strong safety
Battery safety is critical in the complex environment in which robots operate. Batteries with good safety performance have over-charging, over-discharging, short-circuit protection, and are less likely to explode or catch fire under extreme conditions, thus ensuring the safety of the operator and the environment. In the field of medical and special operation robots, safety is the primary consideration.
1.4 Able to support rapid charging
Robot working time is tight, charging time is too long to affect the efficiency. Batteries that support rapid charging can significantly shorten the charging time to meet the needs of emergency use and improve overall work efficiency.
2. Common battery types and their characteristics
2.1 Lithium-ion battery
Lithium-ion batteries are the first choice for modern robots because of their high energy density and light weight. Its energy density is higher than that of traditional lead-acid and nickel-metal hydride batteries, it supports fast charging and discharging, and its safety is constantly improving. However, the cost is relatively high and the performance decreases at low temperatures, but as the technology matures and scale production, the cost decreases, and there are also improvements to cope with low temperatures.
2.2 Nickel-metal hydride batteries
Nickel-metal hydride batteries have good temperature resistance, long cycle life, and can maintain stable performance over a wide temperature range, which is suitable for environments with large temperature changes. However, its energy density is low, the volume and weight under the same capacity is large, there is memory effect, improper charging will lead to capacity decline.
2.3 Lead-acid battery
Lead-acid batteries have low cost, mature technology and relatively high safety, and are still used in heavy robots that are cost-sensitive, infrequently moving or weight-insensitive. However, it has low energy density, large volume and weight, short cycle life, and lead and acidic electrolyte will pollute the environment, so the application is limited.
3. Key points for selecting robot batteries
3.1 Select the battery capacity according to the work requirements of the robot
Different robots have different needs for battery capacity, which need to be determined based on working time and power demand. Long time continuous work or power demand of the robot, such as industrial production lines, handling heavy robots, need to ensure the operation of large-capacity battery.
3.2 Consider the safety and reliability of the battery
Robot work may encounter accidents, to choose high security, long life, stable performance of the battery, pay attention to the quality of the battery production and brand reputation, to avoid failures or accidents caused by the quality of the battery.
3.3 Focus on the battery’s charging speed and endurance
Fast charging and long battery life are important indicators, choose to support fast charging, battery life, can improve the efficiency of the robot and work continuity, the new lithium-ion battery using fast charging technology and optimize the structure to enhance these properties.
3.4 Consider the cost and environmental protection of the battery
The cost of different batteries varies greatly, so it is important to combine the use of the scene and budget to choose a cost-effective product. At the same time, with the increased awareness of environmental protection, priority should be given to choosing batteries with good environmental performance to reduce the impact on the environment.
Selection of robot battery need to consider a variety of factors, only the right battery to ensure efficient, stable and safe operation of the robot, for the production of life to bring more convenience and value.