SBIR Phase I: Integration of Custom, Printable Batteries in Robotic Technologies

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将证明打印和集成定制的非常规形状因子电池的可行性，该电池利用锌金属氧化物电池化学和新型离子液体凝胶电解质进入下一代机器人系统。传统的电池已经无法满足机器人固有的具有挑战性的电力系统需求：轻便和移动的，固有的安全性，由廉价和可持续的材料组成，易于集成到非平面格式中，并且能够在极端环境中生存。随着机器人领域的进步，对其电池的要求是其材料、工程和架构的根本性演变。使用基于溶液的印刷制造是因为制造方法是动态的，并且使得能够以各种形状因子以及在平面和非平面基板上制造电池。在机器人设备中，电池可以集成到结构材料中，贴合地涂覆在表面上，或集成在电子电路板中，以实现更高的功率性能，从而增加机器人的运行寿命和功能。该项目的目的是对其电池技术的循环寿命和极端环境稳定性能力进行基准测试，展示定制串联和并联电池系统配置的打印，并展示其独特的灵活性。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是建立一种新的电池技术和制造模式，这可能会对需要新型设备功能和外形的市场造成破坏。电池成本和环境影响的显著降低为机器人等关键领域提供了机会，为印刷业重新利用和振兴制造下一代电池提供了机会。该项目的成功将展示该电池技术的功能集和制造方法，以进一步将其与竞争对手区分开来，提高客户兴趣，确保早期客户开发资金或合作伙伴关系，并满足生产商业产品所需的规格。过去的电池小型化方法遇到了重大障碍，这些障碍限制了市场接受度，并抑制了需要便携式电源的各种新兴领域的发展。一个典型的例子是机器人市场，更具体地说是无线和可穿戴技术领域，该项目中提出的电池技术和制造方法可能会带来革命性的变化。

This Small Business Innovation Research(SBIR) Phase I project will demonstrate the feasibility of printing and integrating custom, unconventional form factor batteries utilizing a zinc-metal oxide battery chemistry with a novel ionic liquid gel electrolyte into next generation robotic systems. Conventional batteries have been unable to address the inherently challenging power system needs of robots: light and mobile, inherently safe, composed of cheap and sustainable materials, easily integrateable into non-planar formats, and able to survive extreme environments. As the field of robotics advances, what is being demanded of its batteries is a fundamental evolution in its materials, engineering, and architecture. Solution-based print manufacturing is used because the fabrication method is dynamic and enables batteries to be manufactured in a variety of form factors and on planar and non-planar substrates. In robotic devices, batteries can be incorporated into structural materials, conformably coated onto surfaces, or integrated within the electronic circuit boards to enable greater power performance that will increase the run-life and functionality of the robot. The aims of this project are to benchmark its battery technology's cycle life and extreme environmental stability capabilities, demonstrate the printing of custom series and parallel battery system configurations, and showcase its unique flexibility properties. The broader impacts/commercial potential of this project are the establishment of a new battery technology and manufacturing paradigm which can be disruptive to markets requiring novel device functionality and form factors. The significant reduction of the cost and environmental impact of batteries offer an opportunity to key segments such as robotics the opportunity to repurpose and revitalize the printing industry to manufacture next generation batteries. Success in this project will showcase this battery technology's feature set and manufacturing methodology to further differentiate itself from its competitors, increase customer interest, secure early customer development funding or partnerships, and meet specifications needed to scale towards producing commercial products. Past approaches to battery miniaturization have been met with significant barriers that have limited market acceptance and restrained development of a variety of burgeoning fields requiring portable power. A prime example is the robotics market and more specifically the wireless and wearable technologies sectors, which could be revolutionized by the battery technology and manufacturing approach presented in this project.