Zero emission multifunction robot of Italian company Ecothea
An electric power train with a hydrogen fuel cell extender unit, powers the Smilla H₂ autonomous rover, which made its debut at the recent EIMA show in Italy.
The multifunction robot is the product of a partnership between Italian company, Ecothea and the ‘Innovative Vehicles and Systems Design and Testing Research Group’ at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Politecnico di Torino.
Designed as a multifunction platform vehicle, it has a 400kg payload and its modular design makes suitable for a range of tasks such as crop transport, as well as a platform for sprayers, fertiliser spreaders and other implements.
Equipped with a four-differential wheel-drive system, the Smilla H₂ development pays close attention to the vehicle’s requirements in terms of weight, endurance, expected lifetime and peak power requirements.
Key to the design, and increasing its autonomy, is its electrical powertrain with hydrogen fuel cell extender unit. This boosts productivity and increases its operating range without the need for bulky energy storage. Autonomous operation is delivered by RTK GPS technology, with control via an in-house developed logic control and sensor system.
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Hybrid power
A Li-ion cell battery pack, with a 48V rated voltage can store 2kWh of electricity. For safety hydrogen is stored in metal hydride tank and thanks to the fuel cell’s efficiency, the range extender unit produces 1.5kWh at rated power, which increases autonomous operation by 80%.
A Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) generates electricity using hydrogen and oxygen from the air, and was chosen for its low operating temperatures, compactness, durability and high efficiency. It also produces zero emissions, apart from water.
Moreover, Ecothea explains, using hydrogen fuel introduces the concept of circular economy and sustainability for farming activities. Hydrogen can be produced from water, using an electrically powered electrolyser, which is easily connected to a photovoltaic system. This enables farms to produce hydrogen with almost no associated emissions and, after the initial investment, with nearly zero associated costs.
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Autonomous operation
The powertrain employs four independent electric traction motors, connected to each wheel by a mechanical coupling, with their operation controlled via information from sensors sent to on-board logic system.
Autonomous operation is controlled and monitored by a range of location sensors with positioning from RTK GPS. LiDAR and ultrasonic emergency stop sensors are responsible for obstacle avoidance and safety. These systems are all linked on a CANbus network.
An integrated Industry 4.0 system manages data flow around the machine as well as providing the facility for remote monitoring. This also enables operating data to be transmitted to and stored onto the cloud or a dedicated server.
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