Adaptive roaming and articulating generating unit for wireless power transfer
A wireless power delivery system includes, in part, a roaming and articulating wireless power transfer device. The roaming and articulating wireless power device includes, in part, a wireless power generation unit, an energy storage unit, a controller, and an electrically driven moving platform. The device further includes, in part, at least one RF transmitter or an array of RF transmitters adapted to radiate RF signals at the same frequency. The controller is adapted to control the phase of each RF transmitter independently. The array of RF transmitters may be foldable and expandable. The moving platform may include an inertia measurement, a GPS, bump sensors and proximity sensors. The device may further include a camera, and a wireless communication link via which the device establishes a two-way communication with a recovery unit being wirelessly powered.
1 . A wireless power delivery system comprises a first roaming and articulating wireless power transfer device, said first roaming and articulating wireless power transfer device comprising:
a wireless power generation unit comprising at least one source of electromagnetic power, wherein the wireless power generation unit further comprises an array of RF transmitters adapted to radiate RF signals at the same frequency;
an energy storage unit;
a controller;
an electrically driven moving platform; and
at least one motor adapted to change an elevation angle of the wireless power generation unit.
2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a scissor lift structure adapted to change the elevation angle in response to the motor.
3 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a telescopic boom lift structure adapted to change the elevation angle in response to the motor.
4 . The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one motor adapted to change an azimuth angle of the wireless power generation unit.
5 . The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one motor adapted to change an elevation height of the wireless power generation unit.
6 . The system of claim 5 further comprising a scissor lift structure adapted to change the elevation height in response to the motor.
7 . The system of claim 5 further comprising a telescopic boom lift structure adapted to change the elevation height in response to the motor.
8 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a lift adapted to lift the system.
9 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a lift adapted to lift at least a portion of the wireless power generation unit.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is adapted to navigate and select an azimuth angle, elevation height and elevation angle of the wireless power generation unit so as to deliver maximum power to a recovery unit.
11 . The system of claim 10 where the system is adapted to navigate and select an azimuth angle and phases of each RF transmitter of the wireless power generation unit so as to deliver maximum power to a recovery unit.
12 . The system of claim 1 where the device is further adapted to locate the docking station via beacons transmitted by the docking station.
13 . The system of claim 1 wherein the energy storage unit is a fuel cell.
14 . The system of claim 1 wherein the power generation unit transmits electromagnetic waves in the visible or infrared spectrum to wirelessly transfer power.
15 . The system of claim 1 wherein the moving platform is adapted to navigate to a location from which the wireless power generation unit delivers maximum power to a recovery unit.
16 . The system of claim 1 where the controller includes a memory to store a list of recovery units to be wirelessly powered.
17 . The system of claim 16 where the list includes a priority associated with each of the recovery units.
18 . The system of claim 17 where the priority for each recovery unit is established in accordance with a charge level of the recovery unit.
19 . The system of claim 17 where the priority for each recovery unit is established based on a distance of the recovery unit from the device.
20 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a second roaming and articulating wireless power transfer device, said second roaming and articulating wireless power transfer device comprising:
a wireless power generation unit comprising a second array of RF transmitters adapted to radiate RF signals;
an energy storage unit;
a controller; and
an electrically driven moving platform, wherein said first and second devices are configured to operate in concert so as to form a combined power generation unit larger than the first or the second power generation units.
21 . The system of claim 20 wherein the first and second devices share a reference clock frequency wirelessly received by the first and second devices.