Wireless Power System for Electric Motors

• US 20160197571A1
• Filed: 01/05/2015
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Olson, Kerri L., Tillotson, Brian Jay, Zeng, Peng
• Application Number:
  US14/589,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20160197571A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/0045 Contactless power transmission, e.g. by magnetic induction
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33203 Wireless transmission of power and data, inductively, rotary transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/00 Arrangements or methods for the control of AC motors characterised by the kind of supply voltage of two or more motors H02P5/00; of synchronous motors with electronic commutators H02P6/00; of DC motors H02P7/00; of stepping motors H02P8/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supplying power to a group of wireless motors. A request for the power is received for the group of wireless motors associated with a robot. An amount of power available is identified from a power source for wireless transmission to the group of wireless motors. Operation of the group of wireless motors is controlled based on the amount of power available.

Claims

1. A robot power system comprising:

a controller that receives a request for power for a group of wireless motors associated with a robot;

identifies an amount of power available from a power source for wireless transmission to the group of wireless motors; and

controls operation of the robot based on the amount of power available.

2. The robot power system of claim 1 further comprising:

a transmitter system that sends the power in wireless signals to the group of wireless motors during the operation of the transmitter system.

3. The robot power system of claim 1 further comprising:

the power source and the robot.

4. The robot power system of claim 1, wherein in controlling the operation of the robot, the controller controls the operation of a transmitter system to send the power in wireless signals to the group of wireless motors based on the amount of power available from the power source.

5. The robot power system of claim 1, wherein the controller receives feedback from the robot indicating the power being sent to the group of wireless motors is insufficient and increases the power sent to the group of wireless motors when the amount of power available from the power source is sufficient to increase the power being sent to the group of wireless motors.

6. The robot power system of claim 1, wherein in controlling the operation of the robot, the controller sends a power schedule to the robot.

7. The robot power system of claim 1, wherein in controlling the operation of the robot, the controller changes a task performed by the robot.

8. The robot power system of claim 1, wherein the request for the power is selected from at least one of an identification of a task to be performed by the group of wireless motors or a desired amount of power for a selected period of time.

9. The robot power system of claim 1, wherein a task is selected from one of drilling a hole, applying sealant, applying paint, installing fasteners, performing an inspection, moving the robot, and moving an arm for the robot.

10. The robot power system of claim 1, wherein the controller is located at a location selected from at least one of a power source, the robot, or a remote location.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a transmitter system that sends power in wireless signals to a group of wireless motors during operation of the transmitter system; and

a controller that receives a request for the power for the group of wireless motors;

identifies an amount of power available from a power source for wireless transmission to the group of wireless motors; and

controls the operation of the transmitter system to send the power in the wireless signals to the group of wireless motors based on the amount of power available from the power source.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller controls the operation of the group of wireless motors based on the sending of the power to the wireless signals and performing at least one of sending a power schedule or modifying a task performed by the group of wireless motors.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller receives feedback indicating the power being sent to the group of wireless motors is insufficient and increases the power sent to the group of wireless motors when the amount of power available from the power source is sufficient to increase the power being sent.

14. A method for supplying power to a group of wireless motors, the method comprising:

receiving a request for the power for the group of wireless motors associated with a robot;

identifying an amount of power available from a power source for wireless transmission to the group of wireless motors; and

controlling operation of the group of wireless motors based on the amount of power available.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein controlling the operation of the group of wireless motors based on the amount of power available comprises:

sending the power in wireless signals to the group of wireless motors based on the amount of power available from the power source.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving feedback from the robot indicating the power being sent to the group of wireless motors is insufficient; and

increasing the power sent to the group of wireless motors when the amount of power available from the power source is sufficient to increase the power being sent to the group of wireless motors.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the controlling step comprises:

sending a power schedule to the robot.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the request for the power is selected from at least one of an identification of a task to be performed by the group of wireless motors or a desired amount of power for a selected period of time.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the task is selected from one of drilling a hole, applying sealant, moving an item, installing fasteners, performing an inspection, moving the robot, and moving an arm for the robot.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the receiving, identifying, and controlling steps are performed by a controller located at a location selected from at least one of a power source, the robot, or a remote location.