To calculate the life of a battery, manufacturers carry out tests by recharging them thousands of times at different temperatures. It is a process that can take months, even years, because you have to wait for the battery to discharge before charging it again. An AI powered by machine learning reduces the process to just 50 rechargessaving 95% electricity, and a lot of time.
A team led by Associate Professor Ziyou Song and Dr. Jiawei Zhang from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Michigan has developed a very peculiar artificial intelligence, since it is actually several AI agents working in a grouplike laboratory equipment.
Each one has a task, and they pass the data to each other, consulting each other to make decisions. Let’s see how they work.
AI agents that analyze batteries
The machine learning process is shown in the image above. According to TechSpot, the model uses three AI agents: an Apprentice, an Interpreter and an Oracle. The Apprentice carries out tests on the battery with about 50 recharges, under varied temperature and current conditions.
The Interpreter uses this data to put it into a simulator, and amplify it. Finally the Oracle combines this data with previous tests, carried out by humans or the AI itself, and makes a battery life prediction.
The circle closes when the learner takes the prediction and adds it to his database. Being machine learning, AI becomes more accurate as it accumulates more evidence.
The results have been more accurate than traditional methods. The key is that this AI is not only based on electrical signals, but also takes into account aspects such as the way in which the electrode materials change depending on temperature, heat, cycles, etc.
The good thing about this approach is that it allows us to predict not only the life cycle, but also how to optimize charging, or identify new materials that increase autonomy.
Unfortunately it is not an AI for users, but for battery manufacturers. But surely it won’t take long to appear a home AI that tells you how much life is left in your mobile phone’s batteryor your electric car.