Everything in an AMR runs from one battery, and power management is the layer between that battery and every rail in the system. Power management includes converting battery voltages to different subsystem levels, keeping the battery healthy, and disconnect or clamp when faults occur.
While some components serve a specific subsystem, others like LDOs and PMICs supply rails across the whole platform and therefore applicable to virtually any function.
While some components serve a specific subsystem, others like LDOs and PMICs supply rails across the whole platform and therefore applicable to virtually any function.
Main functions
The following table shows the role of power management components in delivering, regulating, and protecting the power required by the robot.
| Component | Role in the AMR |
|---|---|
| Battery management ICs | Monitor, balance, and protect the cells; report state of charge |
| DC-DC converters | Step the battery voltage to logic, gate drive, and sensor rails |
| LDO regulators | Provide clean, low-noise rails for analog and sensitive circuits |
| PMIC | Manage multiple rails from a single device |
| Voltage and current controllers | Regulate the power stages that feed the drives |
| Voltage references | Anchor the accuracy of measurement and threshold circuits |
| eFuses | Disconnect electronically on overcurrent or overvoltage |
| Power supply protection | Guard the input and rails against surge and fault conditions |