Case study: Autonomous warehouse robot

High efficiency converters help maximize run-time

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Customer’s challenge

Inspection UAVs ensure that infrastructure is sound, safe, and functional. These UAVs must be able to be easily maneuvered and nimbly access hard- to-reach spaces to inspect vast terrains. To succeed in their mission, they must also operate reliably in harsh environments and withstand electrical interference from power lines and other high-energy sources. The key goals were:

Maximize range between charges by reducing conversion losses
Free up space for larger batteries and sensors by reducing size and weight

The Vicor solution

The power for the robot came from a 48V battery stack, which powered the motor drive directly. The power supply was required to convert the battery input to three rails of 6V and one of 12V to power the sensors, navigation interfaces and CPU. The solution was based on four arrays of Vicor PRM and VTM converters, one array for each output. Key benefits were:

Key benefits

Small footprint, low profile (6.7mm)

Lowest losses achieved by high efficiency conversion (>92.7%)

Lightweight

電力供給ネットワーク（PDN）

Four PRM/VTM converter combinations provided the isolation and regulation for each output. The ability to parallel converters accommodated the output powers required (6V at 60W and 12V at 600W). Output rail power sequencing was easily achieved though configuration of the PRMs. To analyze this power chain go to the Vicor Whiteboard online tool.

Learn more about the modular approach power.