wheel.me Launches Certified Power Station & Portable Charger

Every Genius 2 is powered by replaceable lithium-ion batteries, delivering between 5.5 and 11 hours of continuous operation, depending on the payload and mission runtime. While that's already impressive, then in order to run in environments that truly run through several shifts six to seven days a week, we knew we need to ensure the system is set up in a way that don’t rely on battery capacity alone.

If you look at how most AGVs and AMRs charge, the process is fairly rigid – robots run until the battery is low, then park at a charging station until it’s full. It’s a predictable cycle, but it comes with a big trade-off –downtime. While one robot charges, another must pick up the work, which often leads to companies buying larger fleets than they really need. It’s an expensive way to keep things moving.

wheel.me has taken a different approach. Instead of waiting until the battery is nearly empty, Genius 2 robots charge while in operation by relying on opportunity charging. In principle, what it means is that our robots use every opportunity, every spare moment, to get some additional charge to keep going.

Think of it like this: a Genius finishes moving the products to the assembly line and has a short break before its next job. Instead of sitting idle while an operator is picking the products from the cart, it has already docked autonomously at the wheel.me Power Station, and charges while still allowing the operators to work. The robot repeats the same process on the way back to the loading area – it autonomously docks and keeps charging while the cart is being filled with parts.

These small, frequent top-ups mean the robot’s battery stays net positive all day long. The result is robots that spend more time working and less time resting, and fleets that stay active without sacrificing productivity.

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In earlier versions of our charging system, each of the robot’s four drive units had to be charged by docking on charging strips attached to the floor. It was simple to set up, easy to maintain and worked in most environments, but it wasn’t as flexible as it could be, considering the different environments Genius robots run in.

Recognising the need for continuous improvements, a concept study for anew charging system was launched. We gathered feedback from customers running Genius robots in real sites, in real operations. They told us what worked and where we could improve. And we listened.

The new and upgraded wheel.me Power Station works seamlessly and offers maximum flexibility. The charging positions are still placed in strategic locations in operations, but the setup is much simpler – the robot uses a QR code to dock one wheel to a Power Station placed on the floor. From there, power is automatically distributed to all four drive units to charge them simultaneously. It’s fast, simple, and keeps the robots in action throughout the day.

The wheel.me Power Station is designed for quick, hands-free charging in busy industrial environments. It’s built for durability, delivering a 10% to 80% charge in just 1 hour and 20 minutes for a 10Ah battery. As we rely on opportunity charging, even a 10minute charge in individual locations may be sufficient to keep the charge level net positive (no worries, wheel.me can help to make this assessment before deployment).

With safety being one of the core priorities, live power is only supplied when a robot is docked, and the system is protected against overload, overcurrent, and overheating. Certified by Intertek in full compliance to IEC, ISO, and UL standards, it’s ready for even the most demanding workplaces.

To read more about the technical specifications of the new PowerStation, request the product brochure via our Contact Form.

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While the Power Station handles charging while in operations, the wheel.me Portable Charger offers additional flexibility and security in case of any errors. This compact tabletop unit can charge two Genius 2 batteries at the same time, so there’s always a spare ready for hot-swapping.

With Genius 2 built to be modular and enabling battery swaps in a fast flexible way, changing a battery mid-operation takes barely minutes. This means no downtime, no disruptions and having a plan C in place in an environment that requires perfection. Similarly to the Power Station, the Portable Charger is fully certified by TUV SUD for safety and performance.

With up to 11 hours of runtime, opportunity charging throughout the day, and hot-swap capability when needed, Genius 2 robots are built for true continuous operation. They don’t wait for power – they take it whenever they need it.

The launch of the new and improved Power Station and Portable Charger is more than a technical upgrade. It’s a direct result of listening to our customers, studying how our robots perform in the field, and acting on what we learn.

That’s the wheel.me way: constant improvement, driven by real-world experience, to ensure our products remain the most flexible and capable automation solutions on the market.

Because in the end, the smartest robot isn’t just the one that does the job - it’s the one that’s always ready for the next one.