SBIR-STTR Award

Battery Cycle Life & Performance Optimization for Small and Medium-Sized Robotic Platforms
Award last edited on: 3/22/21

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : Army
Total Award Amount
$107,989
Award Phase
1
Solicitation Topic Code
A19-090
Principal Investigator
Zachary Edel

Company Information

ThermoAnalytics Inc (AKA: TAI)

23440 Airpark Boulevard PO Box 66
Calumet, MI 49913
   (906) 482-9560
   sales@thermoanalytics.com
   www.thermoanalytics.com
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 01
County: Houghton

Phase I

Contract Number: W56HZV-19-C-0099
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase I year
2019
Phase I Amount
$107,989
When batteries with different capacity, age, and state of health are combined in a single pack, the usable capacity, performance, and cycle life of the batteries are seriously degraded. The Army requires a solution that performs real-time balancing with the goal of improving performance and extending battery lifetime. ThermoAnalytics Inc. and Bloomy Controls Inc. propose a system that applies load-balancing, selective current control to regulate the charge and discharge of each battery based on lifetime estimation from a predictive battery degradation algorithm, running in real-time and integrated into a micro-controller in the battery management system. An optimal power profile will be applied to each battery to cycle the stronger batteries more and the weaker batteries less. Individual battery switching will be used to achieve the maximum possible capacity and to avoid circulating current at low- or no-load conditions. “Smart cradles” will be fabricated to hold each battery and provide the current control into and out of each battery. Each cradle will also monitor and communicate the battery’s current, voltage, state of charge, state of health, and other available internal measurements. Phase I will culminate in a proof-of-concept demonstration of the control system and balancing hardware using BB-2590 batte

Phase II

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Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
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