Mobile Robot Guide

  • Home
  • News
  • Systems / Platforms
    • Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
    • Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
    • Autonomous Forklifts
    • Drones / UAVs
    • Other Systems / Platforms
  • Markets / Industries
    • Agriculture
    • Construction & Mining
    • Consumer / Office
    • Defense / Security / Public Safety
    • Education / Research
    • Healthcare / Medical
    • Hospitality / Travel
    • Logistics / Warehouse / Transportation
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail / Wholesale
    • Energy / Utilities
    • Other
  • Applications
    • Move
      • Delivery
      • Intralogistics
    • Perform
      • Disinfecting
      • Telepresence
      • Manipulating
      • Vacuuming
      • Washing
    • Sense
      • Inspection
      • Search
      • Surveillance
      • Surveying
      • Mapping
      • Exploration
    • Other Applications
      • Development
      • Research
  • Resources
    • AMR Glossary
    • FAQ
    • Case Study
    • Find a Vendor
    • What is Robots as a Service
    • Mobile Robot Standards
    • Websites
      • The Robot Report
      • Robotics Business Review
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Webinars and Digital Events
    • Publications
      • Robotic Solutions for COVID-19
    • Newsletter
  • Events
    • 2021 Robotics Weeks
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • RoboBusiness Direct
    • Field Robotics Forum
    • 2022 RBR50 Awards
    • R&D 100
  • Podcast
    • Podcast Archives

WiBotic and Clearpath Robotics Provide Wireless Charging Kits for ‘Jackal’ and ‘Husky’ Unmanned Ground Vehicles

By Newsfeed | May 26, 2021

WiBotic wireless charger and Clearpath Husky robot

Clearpath Husky AMR can now wirelessly recharge with a WiBotic charger. | Image Credit: Clearpath

WiBotic and Clearpath Robotics announced the immediate availability of wireless charging kits for two of Clearpath’s autonomous mobile robots: Jackal UGV and Husky UGV. The kits are available through Clearpath via its online component store, and can either be installed on new robots before they are shipped or retrofitted to existing robots using standard tools and simple instructions.

The kits are designed to provide a turnkey solution for wireless power, allowing Clearpath customers to experience fully autonomous battery charging for the first time. Once a Jackal or Husky robot navigates to within several centimeters of a charging station, power is automatically delivered through the air, providing reliable battery charging even in difficult outdoor environments.

Each kit contains a WiBotic charging station featuring a wireless transmitter, housed in a weatherproof enclosure, and WiBotic receiver components and mounting brackets specially designed by Clearpath for each specific robot model.

The kits offer operators the following core benefits:

  • Operational cost savings. Jackal and Husky robots can now autonomously charge themselves, which is particularly beneficial for customers who use robots in remote environments or where it is expensive or hazardous to employ humans to monitor and charge batteries.
    Reliability. In outdoor environments, robots are often exposed to dust, dirt, debris and moisture. Electrical components subjected to these elements are particularly susceptible to corrosion and mechanical failure, which results in unreliable charging. Fully sealed wireless power kits dramatically increase the reliability of autonomous robots in those environments.
  • Programmability. WiBotic chargers provide complete visibility into a robot’s charging process and can be programmed to deliver the ideal voltage and current for every charge cycle. It may be beneficial, for instance, to charge a particular robot’s battery as quickly as possible during working hours to minimize downtime. Overnight, however, it is typically better for the battery’s long-term health to charge more slowly. Jackal and Husky operators can use these customizable controls to optimize uptime while minimizing battery replacement costs.
  • Flexibility. Contact-based autonomous docking systems require precise alignment to ensure proper contact of both the positive and negative terminals. Misalignment can result in failed charging attempts, or damage to the dock itself – especially on uneven terrain or in wet, humid or muddy environments. The new kits solve this problem by offering up to 5cm of antenna air gap/misalignment while still delivering full power and efficiency.
  • Universality. Different robots use different battery chemistries, voltages and charging rates. This means customers who operate fleets of robots are frequently burdened with a hodgepodge of non-interoperable battery charging stations. The transmitters provided in these kits are universal, so a fleet of highly diverse robots can share the same charging stations as their Jackal and Husky counterparts.
  • Fleet management with WiBotic Commander. Clearpath customers also have the option of using WiBotic Commander to manage networks of charging stations and larger fleets of robots. Commander aggregates historical information on every charge cycle for every robot and provides analytics for optimizing fleet-wide charging processes and battery performance.

“Clearpath has been revolutionizing autonomous robotics for over a decade,” said Ben Waters, CEO at WiBotic. “Their robots operate across a wide array of rugged environments, from construction sites, to oil refineries, to railroad tunnels. With WiBotic technology built into their new wireless charging kits, the Jackal and Husky robots can now operate truly on their own. It’s a huge leap forward for operators who want to operate their robots more autonomously and efficiently while also eliminating the potential risks associated with manual battery charging in these often-harsh environments.”.

“We’re truly excited to partner with WiBotic, a world leader in autonomous charging solutions, to extend the capabilities of our robotic platforms,” said Julian Ware, General Manager at Clearpath Robotics. “We had looked for years to find an affordable, rugged, and fit-for-purpose charging solution for our platforms, and in WiBotic we finally found what we were looking for. The value of a mobile robot in commercial services is proportionate to its uptime. With Wibotic wireless charging, our customers are now able to extend the useful runtime of their autonomous robots over the course of a workday without intervention.”

You may also like:

  • an aerial view of images of Chris Anker Sørensen painted on soccer pitch
    Tour du France tribute to Chris Anker Sørensen painted by…
  • Karl Wente receives new Monarch Tractor
    Monarch Tractor denied autonomous permit by Cal/OSHA
  • Melonee Wise Fetch Zebra robots
    Melonee Wise Joins the TAILOS Board of Directors
  • geekplus resink deal
    Geek+ and Reesink Logistic Solutions announce new partnership
  • The Keenon Booth at Automatica 2022
    KEENON Robotics showcases services AMR lineup at Automatica 2022.
  • proteus AMR
    A decade after acquiring Kiva, Amazon unveils its first AMR

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Related Articles Read More >

an aerial view of images of Chris Anker Sørensen painted on soccer pitch
Tour du France tribute to Chris Anker Sørensen painted by robot
Karl Wente receives new Monarch Tractor
Monarch Tractor denied autonomous permit by Cal/OSHA
Melonee Wise Fetch Zebra robots
Melonee Wise Joins the TAILOS Board of Directors
geekplus resink deal
Geek+ and Reesink Logistic Solutions announce new partnership

RBR50 Innovation Awards

The Robot Report Listing Database

THE ROBOT REPORT PODCAST

July 1, 2022
Brian Gerkey from Open Robotics discusses the development of ROS

Recent Articles

  • Brian Gerkey on the success of Open Robotics and ROS
  • an aerial view of images of Chris Anker Sørensen painted on soccer pitch Tour du France tribute to Chris Anker Sørensen painted by robot
  • Anders Beck introduces the UR20; California bans autonomous tractors
  • Karl Wente receives new Monarch Tractor Monarch Tractor denied autonomous permit by Cal/OSHA
  • Melonee Wise Fetch Zebra robots Melonee Wise Joins the TAILOS Board of Directors

Latest Robotics News

Subscribe to the Mobile Robot Guide newsletter

Check out our COVID-19 resources page

Subscribe to the Mobile Robot Guide newsletter

Tweets by RoboticTips

Mobile Robot Guide
  • The Robot Report
  • Robotic Business Review
  • Collaborative Robotics
  • Field Robotics Forum
  • Healthcare Robotics
  • Robo Business
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search

  • Home
  • News
  • Systems / Platforms
    • Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
    • Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs)
    • Autonomous Forklifts
    • Drones / UAVs
    • Other Systems / Platforms
  • Markets / Industries
    • Agriculture
    • Construction & Mining
    • Consumer / Office
    • Defense / Security / Public Safety
    • Education / Research
    • Healthcare / Medical
    • Hospitality / Travel
    • Logistics / Warehouse / Transportation
    • Manufacturing
    • Retail / Wholesale
    • Energy / Utilities
    • Other
  • Applications
    • Move
      • Delivery
      • Intralogistics
    • Perform
      • Disinfecting
      • Telepresence
      • Manipulating
      • Vacuuming
      • Washing
    • Sense
      • Inspection
      • Search
      • Surveillance
      • Surveying
      • Mapping
      • Exploration
    • Other Applications
      • Development
      • Research
  • Resources
    • AMR Glossary
    • FAQ
    • Case Study
    • Find a Vendor
    • What is Robots as a Service
    • Mobile Robot Standards
    • Websites
      • The Robot Report
      • Robotics Business Review
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
    • Webinars and Digital Events
    • Publications
      • Robotic Solutions for COVID-19
    • Newsletter
  • Events
    • 2021 Robotics Weeks
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • RoboBusiness Direct
    • Field Robotics Forum
    • 2022 RBR50 Awards
    • R&D 100
  • Podcast
    • Podcast Archives