Measurement of power and energy consumption of a competition-mobile-robot

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Graduate Institute of Manufacturing Technology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Institute of Mechatronic Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan.

^a Corresponding author : tttsung@gmail.com
^b Corresponding author : andy2551468@gmail.com

Abstract

Power and energy consumption are the two most important factors for successful operation; they also play important roles in performance identification. The measurement of power and energy consumption is a common test in the development process of a competition mobile robot. If the power of a competition mobile robot is not sufficient, the running time in the competition will be too long and winning the competition will not be possible. Thus, the power and energy consumption are basic and important measurement parameters for a competition mobile robot. In this paper, five types of hand-made competition mobile robots are successfully developed and their performances are measured. From the measurements, their powers and energy consumptions are evaluated and analyzed, respectively. The test results show large differences in the powers and energy consumptions of the five models, even though the same motors were used. The design and construction of the competition mobile robot are the key parameters that cause these huge differences. It is possible to develop the measurement techniques for power and energy consumption, quickly and precisely, to determine how to modify a competition mobile robot rapidly and efficiently to a condition optimal for a mobile robot competition.