Automated robotic battery tug
A method of selecting and connecting power subsystems, the method including: locating, by a mobile robot including a processor and a motor, at least one of a first storage subsystem, a first power subsystem, or a first control subsystem; attaching, by the mobile robot, to the at least one of the first storage subsystem, the first power subsystem, or the first control subsystem; moving, by the mobile robot, the at least one of the first storage subsystem, the first power subsystem, or the first control subsystem to another location; and connecting, by the mobile robot, the at least one of the first storage subsystem, the first power subsystem, or the first control subsystem to at least one of a second storage subsystem, a second power subsystem, or a second control subsystem located at the other location.
1. A power storage rack distribution system, comprising:
a plurality of moveable power storage racks, each moveable power storage rack includes:
a storage subsystem including one or more batteries which are removable and chargeable, and a processor that is configured to control charging and discharging of at least one battery among the one or more batteries; and
a mobile robot that includes a second processor, a motor, and a battery, wherein the mobile robot is configured to:
locate a first movable power storage rack having specific power storage characteristics from among the plurality of moveable power storage racks,
attach to the first moveable power storage rack that is located at a first location, and
move the first moveable power storage rack from the first location to a second location.
2. The power storage rack distribution system of claim 1 , wherein at least one second moveable power storage rack is located adjacent to the second location, and the mobile robot is configured to connect the first moveable power storage rack to the at least one second moveable power storage rack.
3. The power storage rack distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile robot is configured to connect a connector of the first moveable power storage rack to a fixed receptacle that receives the connector, and the fixed receptacle is connected to the at least one second moveable power storage rack.
4. The power storage rack distribution system of claim 2 , wherein the mobile robot creates a power storage system with a specific power storage capability that exceeds a predetermined amount of required power storage by connecting the first moveable power storage rack to the at least one second moveable power storage rack.
5. The power storage rack distribution system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of moveable power storage racks further includes:
a power subsystem configured to be connected to a power line, and the power subsystem includes a power converter which converts AC power to DC power when the at least one battery is being charged, and converts DC power to AC power when the at least one battery is being discharged; and
a control subsystem connected to the storage subsystem and connected to the power subsystem, the control subsystem includes a third processor, and the third processor is configured to control transferring of power between the storage subsystem and the power subsystem,
wherein the third processor is configured to send signals which control the charging and discharging of at least one battery of the one or more batteries, and
wherein the third processor is configured to monitor an operational status of the one or more batteries.
6. The power storage rack distribution system of claim 5 , wherein the mobile robot is further configured to check an operating status of a moveable power storage rack by receiving information that is displayed on a front panel of the control subsystem.
7. The power storage rack distribution system of claim 6 , wherein the information that is displayed on the front panel is displayed by a plurality of light emitting diodes, and the mobile robot gathers the information by reading the plurality of light emitting diodes with a visual sensing device.
8. The power storage rack distribution system of claim 6 , wherein when the operation status of the moveable power storage rack indicates an operation error, the mobile robot is configured to automatically replace the moveable power storage rack with another moveable power storage rack.
9. The power storage rack distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile robot is configured to move to different locations by reading barcodes that are located at various positions on a floor.
10. The power storage rack distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile robot is configured to receive instructions from a central command center via wireless communications.