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If there is one form of robotics where safety is of paramount importance, it would be in the medical or surgical sectors.  Batteries have played a vital role in allowing surgical robots to become accepted by medical professionals and patients alike.  To understand the impact that batteries have had on surgical robots and, perhaps more importantly, the impact they could have in the future, it is useful to go back to the beginning.

When the word “robot” is mentioned, most people think about old sci-fi depictions like droids in Star Wars or Cybermen in Dr Who; where actors hid inside shiny, light covered costumes.  Back then, little more than metallic spray-paint and a ring-modulated audio track was enough to create a robotic superstar, but today’s world is filled with genuine robotic celebrities.

In 2021, over £9 million worth of counterfeit medical devices were seized by UK officers as part of a global operation tackling illegal online sales. For hospitals, this means there is an increasing need to ensure the authenticity of Medtech, as sub-standard products may not have the safety and reliability needed for life critical applications.  For OEMs, ensuring the hospital is only using genuine parts in their Medtech can help to protect against false warranty claims. 

Ultralife has enhanced its URB12400-U1-SMB Lithium Iron Phosphate smart battery to offer a 19% increase in energy (584Wh compared to 492Wh). To reflect the change, the product has a new name - the URB12450-U1-SMB - but is still commonly referred to as the smart U1.

Since 2019, a Formula 1 rule states that the fastest lap winner of each race gains a bonus point, encouraging drivers to get to the finish line sooner every lap.

This means that Fire Protection Groups and Fire Departments must be cautious when it comes to battery selection.  Many factors must be considered, from high performance to longevity.

Films about fictitious shrinking devices - like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Despicable Me - have captured the imagination of audiences for many years.  So imagine the excitement in 2011 when Chinese engineers claimed to have made the world’s first shrinking device.  While it may sound like it came from a film, the device only created the illusion of a smaller object, rather than actually shrinking it. 

It is hard to imagine life without the 9V battery.  It has powered so many household and industrial devices for over six decades that it can easily be taken for granted.  Yet Ultralife Corporation are still manufacturing these power houses after more than a quarter of a century; phenomenal considering the rate of scientific and technological change. 
 

Did you know that the lead acid battery is over 160 years old?  Since its invention there have been many improved variations, including the first sealed, or maintenance-free, lead acid (SLA) that was introduced in the mid-1970s.  However, in 1996, an alternative chemistry – Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) – was introduced that can serve the same applications with significant advantages.

Robots for military, medical, surveillance and logistics purposes are all assisting humans by undertaking dangerous or monotonous tasks but can still have very different power needs, based on the legislations they are subject to and their reliance on battery power.  Here we examine the vital functionalities of bomb disposal robots, drones, surgical robotics and logistics robots that can influence the power solutions they require.