Tokyo Women's Medical University Introduces Wireless Charging in In-Hospital Transport Project

B&PLUS Inc. (Headquarters: Ogawa-machi, Saitama Prefecture, Representative Director: Atsushi Kameda) has introduced wireless charging into an in-hospital transport project at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital as part of its automation solutions utilizing wireless power transfer technology. 1. In-Hospital Transport Project Aiming for Automated Operation An in-hospital transport project combining automated operation of electric wheelchairs and wireless charging is underway at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital. This initiative aims to reduce the burden of patient transportation within the hospital's corridors (approximately 150m) and to achieve labor savings. In this project, the configuration involves automated transport based on the electric wheelchair "WHILL CR2." External companies participating in this project are responsible for the automated driving control, while B&PLUS is responsible for hardware development, primarily focused on wireless charging, and vehicle modifications. Automating charging is crucial for establishing an automated mobility service. In this case, by building a system that does not rely on manual labor for charging, continuous operation is made possible. 2. Power System Design and Vehicle Development Centered on Wireless Charging This system adopts a configuration where an additional battery is mounted on the WHILL unit, which is then charged wirelessly and non-contactly via 600W wireless charging. Automated charging during standby periods allows for repeated operations. Furthermore, by connecting the additional battery to an inverter and then using the WHILL genuine charger to supply power to the main unit's battery, a charging mechanism is realized that maintains existing specifications. Additionally, the charging station employs a spring mechanism, allowing it to absorb positional deviations of approximately ±10cm to the left and right. Keywords: Wireless Charging, Wireless Power Transfer, Robot, AMR, In-Hospital Transport, Automation, Labor Saving, Electric Wheelchair, WHILL, Non-contact Charging