Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: wesg on May 12, 2014, 07:01:19 PM

Title: "Programming" power management
Post by: wesg on May 12, 2014, 07:01:19 PM
Earlier this year I interviewed at a robotics company and one of their questions was about my experience in power management control. From the sounds of it, they mean some kind of programming and control handling power through the system. I've heard of power management as a concept of dividing and conditioning the different voltages a complex robotics system requires, but having an active system that uses a controller is completely new to me, both in hardware and software. Is this a real process and what is involved?
Title: Re: "Programming" power management
Post by: Kohanbash on May 16, 2014, 06:32:17 AM
Hi
I am guessing this is for turning devices (and there power bus) on and off. This can be turning robot sub-systems on and off or as low level as doing battery cell level balancing and active cell control.
Title: Re: "Programming" power management
Post by: Fr0stAngel on May 26, 2014, 02:28:41 AM
When the power source (battery) is required to last long, the microcontrollers can be put into 'sleep mode'. They would consume very low power during sleep mode, but will on using interrupt (can be coming from a sensor or an input device). The processor would start running again and execute the required routines and then goes to sleep mode again until the next interrupt.

Another thing is about cutting out the power of subsystems (most sensors and even servos drain power in idle condition) when they are not in use. This allows for the systems to run longer on the same source. Imagine something like a MARS rover running all the functions, all the time. It probably won't have sunlight/ light source all the time to recharge the batteries, and power management is essential. here's an interesting read
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1262350 (http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1262350)

also look for 'power aware computation and communication'. have fun