AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
Custom batteries for autonomous vehicles are typically optimized for size and weight.
Mobile Power Solutions (MPS) produces Lithium-ion battery packs for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM’s) in the autonomous vehicle market. The range of equipment that our batteries power include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s), Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV’s), and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV).
Ariel drone applications include unmanned vehicles for crop spraying, surveillance of unknown or hostile territory, photography, surveying, cable/line inspection, and heavy lifting. Terrestrial or ground-based drone applications include Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), traversing/mapping mine tunnels, warehouse automation, and emergency response in contaminated environments. Underwater drone applications include underwater exploration, surveillance and patrol, photography, pipeline/cable inspection and repair, and equipment retrieval.
For these autonomous products, Lithium-ion batteries provide a central power source, which typically powers all functions such as propulsion, communication, navigation, sensing, and cameras. Common features of these batteries developed and tested for autonomous applications include;
Accurate Fuel Gauging
Accurate, real-time data on the State-of-Charge (SoC) of the Lithium-ion battery pack is critical in autonomous applications. SoC Data is converted into remaining run-time data. This information enables operators to project whether their industrial products have enough power to complete their mission or return to base before the battery is depleted.
Light Weight
Minimal weight can be critical factor for many autonomous products. Lithium-ion chemistries such as Lithium Cobalt Oxide (LCO) and Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) provide superior gravimetric density. Additionally, LCO and NMC cell chemistry is available in many metallic cylindrical (18650, 21700,…) and prismatic formats. Therefore, cells can be selected and packaged into the optimal volumetric format based on weight requirements. LCO and NMC Cell chemistry is available in polymer pouch format, which provides even better gravimetric density than cylindrical and prismatic formats.
High Power
High current delivery (i.e. Amps) can be a critical factor for many autonomous products. Lithium-ion chemistries such as Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) provide superior current and power delivery. LFP Cell chemistry is available in many metallic cylindrical (18650, 26650,…) and prismatic formats, so cells can be selected and packaged into the optimal volumetric format based on current requirements. LFP Cell chemistry is also available in polymer pouch format, which provides even better gravimetric density than cylindrical and prismatic formats.
LFP offers a blend of high cycle life, ease of use in lead acid ecosystems, competitive cost per Watt-Hour, “green” credentials (minimal use of any conflict minerals), improved safety margins, and superior rate capability. But because of the lower voltage per LFP cell, the volumetric (and often gravimetric) power density is lower than conventional NMC or LCO cell chemistries.
Environmental Qualification
Many industrial products must operate in abusive or environmentally challenging environments. Common challenges for autonomous products include shock, vibration, immersion, low and high temperatures, low pressure due to high altitude, and explosive atmospheres. MPS offers Environmental Testing to verify and document compliance with a wide range of environmental challenges.
Cell Balancing for High Voltages
For higher voltage battery packs, cell balancing implemented within the battery pack electronics maximizes run time with each cycle and increases duty cycle throughout the life of the pack.
MPS has the Lithium-ion cell technology, battery pack design expertise, and atmospheric test facilities to product battery packs that can perform in these challenging environments.
