Choosing the Right AMR Battery

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are vitally important in warehouse automation. Yet, they are often a source of downtime due to charging issues.

Optimizing battery capacity and charging strategies can minimize downtime and increase payback periods. Nimbus Engineering has developed contact-free charge solutions for AMRs to help lessen on-board battery capacity requirements and reduce downtime during charging events.

Long Lifespan

For remote wireless applications, long life is key. In the field, the battery that powers your AMR device must not only provide high-power pulses for two-way wireless communications, but also operate maintenance-free for decades to support a wide range of demanding product functions.

This means you need a battery with a low potential for electrolyte leakage or short circuits and a low annual self-discharge rate that enables long operating cycles. All batteries are not created equal, and a difference of just a few microamps in a cell’s annual self-discharge rate can add up over a quarter century. This is why you need to select a manufacturer who can provide fully documented test results and in-field performance data under similar conditions from multiple customers.

Another consideration is the chemistry of the lithium cell, which affects both current discharge potential and battery life. Bobbin-type LiSOClg cells are a popular chemistry because they have the highest capacity and energy density of all available lithium battery chemistries. They can operate over a wide temperature range, and have an excellent safety record.

A major challenge is that bobbin-type LiSOClg batteries suffer from the ‘thermo mechanical’ problem, which causes them to have delayed voltage response. Tadiran has developed solutions that eliminate this problem by using a hybrid layer capacitor (HLC).

Bobbin-type LiSOClg chemistry is available in two different versions designed to deliver different current discharge capabilities. One version is designed to provide higher current, but it has a significantly shorter battery life. The other version has much lower self-discharge due to increased passivation.

In addition to a long lifetime, an AMR Battery should not have any memory effect or require a constant high charge rate to retain its energy capacity. This can shorten the lifespan of the battery and impact the overall product performance.

For these reasons, battery suppliers for critical applications should use advanced manufacturing techniques that minimize the chance of electrolyte leakage or short circuits in their products. Additionally, they should incorporate a lifetime prognostic model that extends expensive laboratory battery-aging datasets to real-world applications, including fleet evaluation, ancillary load modeling, and real-time control algorithms.

Reliability

Choosing the right battery is crucial to ensure that your AMR equipment operates effectively and safely. Batteries should last for the long term and be able to withstand repeated charges and discharges.

For high pulse applications Li-SOCl2 lithium phosphate batteries are often the best option as they combine the highest energy density, good temperature characteristics and low self-discharge rates of all the available cell chemistries. They also have the added advantage of a ‘passivation’ layer that prevents rusting and thus the loss of capacity when in storage, which is particularly important in AMR applications where the battery will be used for a long time.

A battery management system can help keep track of the voltage, current and temperature as well as the health of the batteries in an AMR battery pack. This allows useful data to be recorded and communicated to the operator so they can manage their fleets effectively.

Battery failure in an RF meter module can have a major impact on the operation of an AMR system. An AMR operator would have to visit every meter site for battery change-outs, which can add to the cost and inconvenience of field operations.

In the field, utility companies want to ensure their AMR equipment is reliable and doesn’t fail in a way that causes disruption to automated billing systems. They may even want to avoid having to visit each meter site in the future if possible.

To get the most out of their AMR battery, utilities need to work with a supplier that understands the challenges that RF technology brings. A supplier lifepo4 golf battery that can provide a proven chemistry, along with a battery management system that meets or exceeds industry standards for reliability and performance, will be a better partner to build a highly successful product.

In a natural gas utility, for example, a single battery failure in an RF meter module can result in the need to replace the entire system, which can be costly and disruptive. This is why a battery manufacturer with extensive experience in the field can help the utility choose an AMR battery that will meet the needs of their specific application for many years to come.

Flexibility

Flexibility is the ability to stretch and bend your body. It allows your joints to move freely and can also help to reduce injuries. This is especially true for muscles that are stiff, sore or overused.

It is also important for your health and can improve athletic performance by reducing muscle soreness. You can perform exercises that are designed to increase flexibility in all of your muscle groups, but you should make sure to take your time when it comes to these stretching exercises.

You should begin by lifepo4 golf battery establishing a goal for how much you want to get flexible. This will help you to set a realistic goal and will also help you to keep track of how far you have progressed.

Many people find that they need to stretch a few times each day to reach their maximum flexibility. This is due to the fact that muscle tissue can become tight if it is not properly stretched and released.

When a muscle is too tight, it can actually inhibit the movement of neighboring joints, which can cause pain and other problems down the line. This can lead to injuries, so it is important that you make sure to do stretches and exercises regularly in order to maintain your maximum flexibility.

Another factor that can hinder your flexibility is the amount of weight that you have to carry around, which can be an additional limiting factor for those who need to be mobile and flexible. If you are carrying too much weight, it can cause your joints to swell and prevent you from moving as quickly and as easily as they should.

The battery that your AMR runs on is critical to the operation of this automation, so it is important that you choose a battery that will last for as long as possible and that can be charged easily. Lithium-ion batteries are a good option for this purpose, as they provide long lifespans and can be recharged quickly. Choosing the right battery can ensure that your AMR can work at peak efficiency all day, every day.

Efficiency

The efficiency of an AMR Battery is an essential element to consider in order to ensure it delivers the performance necessary for the automated meter reading (AMR) equipment it power. The key is to find a battery that is designed specifically for the requirements of an AMR application and that can operate safely in demanding environments.

Lithium batteries are an ideal choice for a wide range of AMR applications. They offer a long lifespan that can help extend the number of battery replacements required, and they can be easily charged and recharged.

A lithium-ion battery is also a safer option than a lead-acid battery. It has a greater capacity, which helps to reduce the risk of electrolyte leakage and overcharging. It is also more resistant to overheating and has better thermal conductivity than lead-acid batteries.

Another benefit of lithium-ion batteries is that they have lower maintenance costs, making them more environmentally friendly and less costly to keep in operation. This makes them a more attractive investment for automation manufacturers than traditional lead-acid batteries, which can be quite expensive to replace or maintain.

As a result, it is not surprising that many automation OEMs have directly switched from conventional lead-acid batteries to modern lithium-ion batteries. These batteries offer faster charging, low maintenance, higher energy density, and longer-lasting charges, all of which are important to the success of robotics systems in logistics facilities.

While a lithium-ion battery offers a lot of advantages, it is still crucial to select the right one for your AMR application. Various factors need to be taken into account, including operating temperature and the environment in which the AMR will be operated.

For example, a water meter may be fixed in an outdoor area, where temperatures are likely to vary. A lithium-ion battery that is designed specifically for this type of application will provide reliable, consistent performance in this challenging situation.

In addition, the battery must be able to sustain high current pulses for periods of time without developing a passivation layer. This layer can impede the battery’s ability to deliver the high-current pulses needed for AMR equipment.