Description
Hydrogen fuel cells are about to achieve technological maturity. Nowadays, the main challenge is to increase its life and reach 8,000 hours for automotive applications and 40,000 hours for power generation. Fuel cells in portable applications are expected to enter the market first. Fuel cells have been widely analyzed by Proytecsa. The conclusion is that the integration of fuel cells into robots is an application with great potential, which will lead the company to accomplish enormous benefits on energy efficiency and environmental care. Therefore, the aim of the project is to develop a power pack based on fuel cells, instead of using batteries, and place it into a robot, in order to increase operating time, decrease charging stage and increase the stability of the robot. The project consists of studying the current energy needs and the characteristics of the product, developing the stack, integrating it then into an actual prototype of the robot, and testing out the operation of the new device. Potential users of the robot developed by Proytecsa will be security and police forces, especially of those countries with frequent terrorist threats.
Summary of project results
ROBOT-H has been a successful project reaching the initial objectives set at the beginning, so it can be summarized that: • It has developed a new robot with energetic support based on hydrogen fuel cell with autonomous working up to 10 hours exceeding 8 initially established. • It has integrated a fuel cell taking into account energy requirements as well as the distribution of the elements necessary for proper operation, ensuring reliable operation in real operating environments. • It has reduced the energy consumption of the vehicle, increasing the efficiency of operation. These developments therefore represent an improvement in the performance of the robot, increasing this line of products, offering a new robot to security forces. This new robot fits with the objectives set under the EEA-Grants in the field of renewable energy, energy efficiency and environmental technologies. Proytecsa has increased its know-how on the supply of energy for for autonomous robotic vehicles
Summary of bilateral results