Charging system, computer-readable storage medium, and security management method

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a charging system, a computer-readable storage medium, and a security management method. In the existing management system, there is a problem that it is difficult to ensure the safety caused by the charging cable. The charging system of the present invention is a charging system provided with an arm mechanism that grabs a charging plug from a charging device connected with a charging cable including the charging plug and automatically performs plugging and unplugging of the charging plug with respect to a charging port of a vehicle located in a charging area, the charging system having: a sensor that detects whether the charging cable becomes a state exceeding a predetermined safety condition when the charging plug is inserted into the charging port; and a control unit that, in the case where it is detected that the state exceeds the safety condition, performs at least one of a process of causing the arm mechanism to act so as to move the charging cable to a state satisfying the safety condition or a process of updating the safety condition based on the state of the charging cable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a charging system, a safety management procedure for the charging system, and a safety management method, for example, to a charging system having an arm mechanism that automatically inserts and removes the charging plug relative to the charging port of a vehicle, a safety management procedure for the charging system, and a safety management method. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, the use of electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, has been expanding. Furthermore, autonomous driving technology for automobiles is improving. Therefore, a valet parking system is proposed, which involves parking the vehicle in a parking lot located at a different location from the passenger lift, and then moving the vehicle between the parking lot and the lift using unmanned autonomous driving. Since charging is required for electric vehicles, a technology for charging within the parking lot is proposed. An example of this technology is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-102220.

[0003] The automated valet parking system described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-102220 includes: a step of initiating automated valet parking; a step of determining whether charging of the electric vehicle is required; a step of setting the wireless charging parking space as a first target location if charging is required; a step of transmitting the first target location and a guide route from the infrastructure to the vehicle; a step of setting the empty parking space as a second target location if charging of the electric vehicle is completed; and a step of transmitting the second target location and the guide route. Summary of the Invention

[0004] When the arm mechanism inserts the charging plug into the vehicle's charging port, the charging cable may interfere with other parking compartments due to the position of the vehicle's charging plug. However, the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-102220 has a problem that the safety assurance caused by the charging cable cannot be adequately achieved.

[0005] This invention was made to solve this problem, and its purpose is to ensure safety caused by charging cables.

[0006] One aspect of the charging system according to the present invention includes an arm mechanism that grasps the charging plug from a charging device connected to a charging cable including a charging plug and automatically inserts or removes the charging plug relative to a charging port of a vehicle located in the charging area. The charging system includes: a sensor that detects whether the charging cable has exceeded a predetermined safety condition when the charging plug is inserted into the charging port; and a control unit that, if the state exceeding the safety condition is detected, performs at least one of the following processes: either actuating the arm mechanism to move the charging cable to a state that meets the safety condition, or updating the safety condition based on the state of the charging cable.

[0007] One embodiment of the computer-readable storage medium storing a safety management program for a charging system, as disclosed in this invention, is executed by a control unit within the charging system. The charging system includes an arm mechanism that grasps a charging plug from a charging device connected to a charging cable containing a charging plug and automatically inserts or removes the charging plug relative to a charging port of a vehicle located in the charging area. The control unit controls the arm mechanism. The safety management program for the charging system performs at least one of the following processes: using information obtained from sensors connected to the charging system, detecting whether the charging cable has exceeded a predetermined safety condition when the charging plug is inserted into the charging port; and, if the state exceeding the safety condition is detected, performing a process that moves the arm mechanism to move the charging cable towards a state satisfying the safety condition, or updating the safety condition based on the state of the charging cable.

[0008] One aspect of the safety management method for the charging system involved in this invention is that the charging system includes an arm mechanism that grasps the charging plug from a charging device connected to a charging cable containing a charging plug and automatically inserts or removes the charging plug relative to the charging port of a vehicle located in the charging area. In the charging schedule generation method, information obtained from sensors connected to the charging system is used to detect whether the charging cable has exceeded a predetermined safety condition when the charging plug is inserted into the charging port. If the state of exceeding the safety condition is detected, at least one of the following processes is implemented: either the arm mechanism is actuated to move the charging cable to a state that meets the safety condition, or the safety condition is updated based on the state of the charging cable.

[0009] The charging system, safety management procedure, and safety management method involved in this invention implement the following process: determining whether the charging cable meets safety conditions, and implementing vehicle control within the scope of safety conditions.

[0010] According to the present invention, a charging system that ensures safety due to charging cables can be provided.

[0011] The above and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will be more fully understood from the detailed description given below and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and should not be regarded as limitations on this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of the charging system according to Embodiment 1.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the parking area in the charging system according to Embodiment 1.

[0014] Figure 3 This diagram illustrates an example of a state in which a charging cable in the charging area of ​​the charging system according to Embodiment 1 violates safety conditions.

[0015] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the charging system according to Embodiment 1.

[0016] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the safety zone update process of the charging system according to Implementation Method 1.

[0017] Figure 6 This diagram illustrates an example of a state in which a charging cable in the charging area of ​​the charging system according to Embodiment 2 violates safety conditions.

[0018] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the safety zone update process of the charging system according to Embodiment 2.

[0019] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating the safety zone update process of the charging system according to Embodiment 3. Detailed Implementation

[0020] For clarity of explanation, the following descriptions and figures have been appropriately omitted and simplified. Furthermore, the elements described in the figures as functional blocks implementing various processes can be constructed in hardware by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, and other circuitry, and implemented in software by programs loaded into memory. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be implemented in various forms, solely by hardware, solely by software, or by a combination of hardware and software, and are not limited to any arbitrary method. Additionally, in the figures, the same symbols are used to denote the same elements, and repeated descriptions are omitted as necessary.

[0021] Furthermore, the aforementioned programs can be stored and provided to a computer using various types of non-transitory computer-readable media. Non-transitory computer-readable media include various types of physical recording media. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic recording media (e.g., floppy disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), magneto-optical recording media (e.g., magneto-optical disks), CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory), CD-Rs, CD-R / Ws, and semiconductor memories (e.g., mask ROMs, PROMs (Programmable ROMs), EPROMs (Erasable PROMs), flash ROMs, and RAMs (Random Access Memory)). Additionally, programs can also be provided to a computer using various types of temporary computer-readable media. Examples of temporary computer-readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. Temporary computer-readable media can provide programs to a computer via wired communication channels such as wires and optical fibers, or via wireless communication channels.

[0022] Implementation Method 1

[0023] In the charging system described below, charging of vehicles such as electric vehicles is performed by inserting a charging plug located at the end of the charging cable into the vehicle's charging port using an arm mechanism. Here, the vehicle targeted for charging in the charging system includes not only passenger cars but also vehicles capable of autonomous movement without human intervention. Furthermore, the vehicle targeted for charging is positioned to move within the area managed by the charging system, i.e., the parking area, according to the instructions of the charging system.

[0024] exist Figure 1 The diagram shows a block diagram of the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1. Additionally, in... Figure 1The diagram of the parking area, which is set as a managed object by the system, is omitted. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1 includes a management device 10, a vehicle communication unit 11, and a condition monitoring sensor 12. Furthermore, in Figure 1 The diagram shows the vehicle that is the object of management of the charging system 1, and the arm mechanism (e.g., charging port operating arms A1 to Am (m is an integer representing the number of charging port operating arms) that is the object of control of the charging system 1). Furthermore, it is sufficient for at least one vehicle to be the object of management of the charging system 1; multiple vehicles are not necessarily required.

[0025] First, the charging system 1 is a device equipped with an arm mechanism (e.g., charging port operating arms A1 to Am), which grasps the charging plug from a charging device connected to a charging cable containing a charging plug and automatically inserts or removes the charging plug relative to the charging port of the vehicle located within the charging area. Furthermore, the charging system 1 uses a sensor (e.g., a condition monitoring sensor 12) to detect whether the charging cable has exceeded a predetermined safety condition when the charging plug is inserted into the vehicle's charging port. In addition, if the charging system 1 detects, using a control unit (e.g., a management device 10), that the condition detected by the condition monitoring sensor 12 exceeds the safety condition, it performs at least one of the following processes: either actuating at least one of the charging port operating arms A1 to Am to move the charging cable towards a state that meets the safety condition, or updating the safety condition based on the state of the charging cable. Furthermore, the management device 10 of the charging system 1 communicates with the vehicle using a vehicle communication unit 11 and provides the vehicle with movement path instructions and movement instructions.

[0026] The vehicle communication unit 11 controls the communication between the management device 10 and the vehicle based on a predetermined communication standard. The condition monitoring sensor 12 can be implemented, for example, by a camera that captures images of the parking area, a weight sensor embedded in the parking area, or a sensor using wireless signals that can detect the status of the vehicle and charging cable in the parking area. Although the following description uses a camera as an example of the condition monitoring sensor 12, its form is not limited to a camera.

[0027] Figure 1 The processing block within the management device 10 shown can also be implemented using dedicated hardware, or it can be implemented by executing a program in the arithmetic unit of a computing device such as a computer. Furthermore, the storage unit within the processing block of the management device 10 is implemented using a computer-accessible storage device.

[0028] The management device 10 includes a vehicle operation management unit 21, a vehicle information storage unit 22, a charging schedule management unit 23, a vehicle location control unit 24, and a charging port operating arm control unit 25. The vehicle operation management unit 21 manages the departure and arrival of vehicles based on requests from users. Furthermore, the vehicle operation management unit 21 communicates with the vehicles using other communication paths (not shown), thereby determining vehicle operation schedules, tracking vehicle travel distances, and monitoring charging rates. The vehicle information storage unit 22 is a database that stores specifications for each managed vehicle, such as the location of the charging port, the specifications of the charging port, and the full charge capacity.

[0029] The charging schedule management unit 23 generates a charging schedule based on the vehicle status, operation schedule and specifications obtained from the vehicle operation management unit 21 and the vehicle information storage unit 22, in a way that can effectively implement charging for the managed vehicles.

[0030] The vehicle position control unit 24, based on the charging schedule generated by the charging schedule management unit 23, assigns parking positions to vehicles entering the parking area, moves the parking positions, and provides movement instructions for the vehicles. The charging port operating arm control unit 25 provides operation instructions to the charging port operating arms A1 to Am to select the charging cable corresponding to the charging schedule generated by the charging schedule management unit 23 and to insert the charging plug into the vehicle's insertion port.

[0031] Furthermore, the vehicle position control unit 24 and the charging port operating arm control unit 25 determine whether the current state meets preset safety conditions based on the state of the parking area obtained from the condition monitoring sensor 12. Then, if the current state does not meet the safety conditions, a process is implemented to ensure the safety conditions. For example, when the safety conditions are ensured by the vehicle position control unit 24, the vehicle position control unit 24 implements a process to update the safety conditions based on the state of the charging cable. Furthermore, when the safety conditions are ensured by the charging port operating arm control unit 25, the charging port operating arm control unit 25 implements a process to move the charging cable to a state where the safety conditions are met by actuating the arm mechanism. In the charging system 1, at least one of the safety condition ensuring processes in the vehicle position control unit 24 and the charging port operating arm control unit 25 is implemented.

[0032] Here, the structure of the parking area of ​​the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. Figure 2 The diagram shows a schematic representation of the parking area in the charging system according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 As shown, a charging device 30 is provided in the parking area. Furthermore, a charging area is provided corresponding to the charging device 30. Additionally, in Figure 2 In the example shown, multiple (in) are set in the charging area. Figure 2 The parking areas are divided into five zones, B1 to B5. Figure 2 The example shown depicts vehicles V11 to V15 parked in each of the charging zones B1 to B5.

[0033] In addition, within the parking area managed by charging system 1, there are designated parking areas for uncharged vehicles waiting to be charged and parking areas for charged vehicles waiting to be charged. Vehicles entering the parking area are parked in the uncharged parking area, while vehicles waiting to leave are parked in the charged vehicle parking area.

[0034] In addition, Figure 2 In the example shown, charging cables corresponding to the specifications of the two charging ports are provided on the charging device 30. Figure 2 In the example shown, charging cables 311, 313, and 315 are charging cables with charging plugs corresponding to charging port specification A. Furthermore, charging cables 312 and 314 are charging cables with charging plugs corresponding to charging port specification B. Additionally, a charging port operating arm A1 is provided attached to the charging device 30. Although in Figure 2 The system uses one charging port operating arm corresponding to the charging area, but multiple charging port operating arms can also be set.

[0035] The charging system 1 moves vehicles parked in the non-charging vehicle parking area to a designated parking area section, and moves vehicles that have completed charging in the charging area to the charged vehicle parking area via either channel A or channel B located to the left or right of the charging area. Furthermore, in the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1, safety conditions are assessed during vehicle movement, and only areas where safety conditions are sufficiently met are designated as vehicle passageways or parking areas.

[0036] Next, the operation of the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. In Embodiment 1, the process of moving the charging cable to a state that satisfies the safety conditions implemented by the charging system 1 during the safety condition assurance process will be described.

[0037] First, the states that do not meet the safety conditions set as objects in Implementation Method 1 will be explained. Therefore, in Figure 3 The diagram illustrates an example of a charging cable violating safety conditions in the charging area of ​​the charging system according to Embodiment 1.

[0038] exist Figure 3 The example shown is in the following state: vehicle V12, parked in charging zone B2, has completed charging, and vehicle V12 has moved from charging zone B2, making charging zone B2 an empty charging zone. Figure 3 In the example shown, in this state, a portion of the charging cable 311 becomes embedded in the charging compartment B2 and is thus left there. Furthermore, in Figure 3 In the example shown, the charging cable 312 is connected to the vehicle V11 with a portion of it encroaching into the charging compartment B2. If a new vehicle is parked in the charging compartment B2 in this state, the charging cable may become entangled in or run over by the new vehicle. Therefore, in the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1, a condition monitoring sensor 12 and a charging port operating arm control unit 25 are used to detect states that do not meet such safety conditions, and the charging port operating arm A1 is operated by the charging port operating arm control unit 25 to eliminate the state in which a portion of the charging cable encroaches into the charging compartment B2.

[0039] exist Figure 4 The diagram shows a flowchart illustrating the operation of the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 4 As shown, in the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1, the charging port operating arm control unit 25 uses the status monitoring sensor 12 to confirm the safety conditions around the charging area (step S1). More specifically, the safety condition determination in step S1 includes determining the safety conditions within the charging area. Furthermore, the safety conditions in step S1 are, for example, conditions such as... Figure 3 The intrusion of the charging cable into the charging zones B1 to B5 of the charging area is considered to be in a state where the safety conditions are not sufficiently met.

[0040] Next, the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1 determines whether the safety conditions confirmed in step S1 are sufficiently met by the charging port operating arm control unit 25 (step S2). If the safety conditions are determined to be sufficiently met in step S2, the vehicle movement in step S4 is performed; if the safety conditions are not sufficiently met, a safety area update process is implemented (step S3). The details of the safety area update process in step S3 will be described later.

[0041] Furthermore, in step S4, the vehicle position control unit 24 moves the vehicle from the uncharged vehicle parking area to the charging area in a manner that passes through an area that meets safety conditions. Then, after charging is completed (the "Yes" branch of step S5), the charging system 1 performs the same safety condition assurance process as steps S1 to S3 using steps S6 to S8. Afterward, the charging system 1 moves the vehicle in the charging area to the charged vehicle parking area in a manner that passes through an area that meets safety conditions (step S9). The charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1 performs these steps S1 to S9 for each vehicle.

[0042] Here, the security area update process involved in Implementation 1, implemented in steps S3 and S8, will be described in detail. Figure 5 The diagram shows a flowchart illustrating the safety zone update process of the charging system according to Embodiment 1. In the safety zone update process according to Embodiment 1, the charging port operating arm control unit 25 determines whether there is any intrusion of a charging cable in the charging zone designated as a safety zone or in the passage around the charging zone based on information obtained by the usage status monitoring sensor 12 (step S11).

[0043] If step S11 determines that a charging cable has intruded into the safe area, the charging port operating arm control unit 25 moves the charging cable by actuating the charging port operating arm A1, thereby setting the state that the charging cable has not intruded into the vehicle passage and parking area designated as safe areas (step S12).

[0044] According to the above description, in the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1, the management device 10 uses charging port operating arms A1 to Am to move the charging cable in a manner that prevents the charging cable from entering the vehicle passage or parking area designated as a safe area. This avoids situations where the safety of the charging cable entering the safe area is not adequately ensured, such as it being run over or entangled by the vehicle.

[0045] Furthermore, in the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1, the charging cable, which is the object of operation, is grasped by a charging port operating arm, and the charging plug provided at one end of the charging cable is inserted into the vehicle's charging port. By configuring it in this way, the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1 can improve the degree of freedom in handling the charging cable. More specifically, even if a part of the charging cable intrudes into an area that should be ensured to be safe as a safety area, the charging system 1 according to Embodiment 1 can move that part of the charging cable in a relatively short time.

[0046] Implementation Method 2

[0047] In Embodiment 2, another method of the safety zone update process will be described. Specifically, in the safety zone update process according to Embodiment 2, the control unit (e.g., management device 10) changes the area that does not meet the safety conditions for restricting other vehicles from entering, based on the range where the charging cable exists. More specifically, in the safety zone update process according to Embodiment 2, the vehicle position control unit 24 uses the condition monitoring sensor 12 to perform the process.

[0048] First, examples of states that do not meet the security conditions set as objects in Implementation Method 2 will be explained. Therefore, in Figure 6 The diagram illustrates an example of a safety condition violation in the parking area of ​​the charging system according to Embodiment 2. Figure 6 In the example shown, the charging cable 311 is connected to the vehicle V11 parked in the charging zone B1 by extending into a channel A set around the charging area. In this situation, the safety zone update process described in Embodiment 2 is more efficient. This is because, for example, moving the charging cable 311 is more difficult when charging the vehicle V11 is considered, and the temporary closure of channel A as a whole process can shorten the overall charging time.

[0049] Therefore, the security area update process involved in Implementation Method 2 will be described in detail. Figure 7 The diagram shows a flowchart illustrating the security area update process of the charging system according to Embodiment 2. Figure 7 In the flowchart shown, steps S21 and S22, which are security area update processes according to Embodiment 2, are added to steps S11 and S12, which are security area update processes according to Embodiment 1. However, step S22 can also be omitted.

[0050] In the safety zone update process described in Embodiment 2, the vehicle position control unit 24 determines whether there is any intrusion of a charging cable in the charging zone or the passage around the charging zone that is designated as a safety zone, based on information obtained from the usage status monitoring sensor 12 (step S11).

[0051] Then, if it is determined in step S11 that a charging cable has intruded into the safe area, the vehicle position control unit 24 and the charging port operating arm control unit 25 determine whether the charging cable can be moved (step S21). If it is determined in step S21 that the charging cable can be moved, the charging port operating arm control unit 25 moves the charging cable by actuating the charging port operating arm A1, thereby setting the state that the charging cable has not intruded into the vehicle passage and parking area designated as safe areas (step S12).

[0052] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S21 that the charging cable cannot be moved, the vehicle position control unit 24 implements the movement of the area where the charging cable exists (e.g., Figure 6 The process of excluding channel A from the safe zone (step S22).

[0053] In the safety zone update process described in Implementation 2, even when the movement of the charging cable is difficult, the safety zone that ensures the safety of vehicle passage can be properly managed, thereby improving the overall safety of the system.

[0054] Implementation Method 3

[0055] In Embodiment 3, another method of safety zone update processing will be described. Specifically, in the safety zone update processing according to Embodiment 3, if the control unit (e.g., management device 10) determines that a range that does not meet the updated safety conditions overlaps with other parking zones, it restricts other vehicles from parking in the parking zones that are within the range that do not meet the safety conditions. More specifically, in the safety zone update processing according to Embodiment 3, the vehicle position control unit 24 uses the condition monitoring sensor 12 to perform the processing.

[0056] In other words, in the security area update process involved in Implementation Method 3, in Figure 3 Under the conditions shown, other vehicles are restricted from parking in charging zone B2.

[0057] Here, the security area update process involved in Implementation Method 3 will be described. Figure 8 The diagram shows a flowchart illustrating the security area update process of the charging system according to Embodiment 3. Figure 8 As shown, the safety zone update process according to Embodiment 3 is implemented by executing steps S31 and S32 after step S22 of the safety zone update process according to Embodiment 2. Steps S31 and S32 are processes performed by the vehicle position control unit 24.

[0058] In step S31, it is determined whether the area excluded from the safety zone in step S22 is a charging zone. Then, if it is determined in step S31 that the area excluded from the safety zone is a charging zone, the vehicle position control unit 24 sets the charging zone excluded from the safety zone as unusable (step S32), and moves the vehicle to charge in a zone other than the one excluded from the safety zone. Preferably, the charging zone is also notified to the charging schedule management unit 23 when it is deemed unusable, and the charging schedule is updated accordingly.

[0059] According to the above description, in the security area update process involved in Implementation 3, charging can be performed smoothly as a whole while ensuring the safety of the charging zone.

[0060] As will be clearly understood from this disclosure, the disclosed embodiments can be modified in various ways. Obviously, such modifications should not be considered as departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications should be included in the appended claims by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A charging system comprising an arm mechanism that grips a charging plug from a charging device connected to a charging cable including a charging plug and automatically inserts or removes the charging plug relative to a charging port of a vehicle located in a charging area, wherein, The charging system has the following features: A sensor that detects whether the charging cable has exceeded a predetermined safety condition when the charging plug is inserted into the charging port; The control unit, upon detecting a state exceeding the safety conditions, performs at least one of the following processes: moving the charging cable by actuating the arm mechanism to prevent it from encroaching into the vehicle passage and parking area designated as a safe zone; and changing the area restricting other vehicles' access based on the extent of the charging cable's presence, thus addressing the safety conditions that are not met. The conditions for satisfying the safety conditions include at least the condition that the charging cable does not intrude into an empty parking space where the vehicle is not parked within the parking area set within the charging area, and the condition that the charging cable does not extend into the area outside the charging area.

2. The charging system as described in claim 1, wherein, The control unit instructs the arm mechanism to perform a predetermined recovery action to bring the charging cable into a state that meets safety conditions.

3. The charging system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, If the control unit determines that the area where the safety conditions are not met overlaps with other parking zones after the change, it restricts other vehicles from parking in the parking zones that are within the area where the safety conditions are not met.

4. The charging system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein, The sensor is a camera that captures images of the area, including the charging area.

5. A computer-readable storage medium storing a safety management program for a charging system, wherein, The safety management procedure is executed by a control unit in the charging system, which includes an arm mechanism. This arm mechanism grasps the charging plug from a charging device connected to a charging cable containing the charging plug and automatically inserts or removes the charging plug relative to the charging port of the vehicle located in the charging area. The control unit controls the arm mechanism. The safety management procedure of the charging system implements the following processing: Using information obtained from sensors connected to the charging system, the system detects whether the charging cable has exceeded predetermined safety conditions when the charging plug is inserted into the charging port. If a state is detected that exceeds the aforementioned safety conditions, at least one of the following processes is implemented: moving the charging cable by actuating the arm mechanism to prevent the charging cable from encroaching into the vehicle passage and parking area designated as a safe zone; and changing the area restricting the entry of other vehicles from meeting the safety conditions based on the extent of the charging cable's presence. The conditions for satisfying the safety conditions include at least the condition that the charging cable does not intrude into an empty parking space where the vehicle is not parked within the parking areas set within the charging area, and the condition that the charging cable does not extend into the area outside the charging area.

6. A safety management method for a charging system, the charging system comprising an arm mechanism that grasps a charging plug from a charging device connected to a charging cable including a charging plug, and automatically inserts or removes the charging plug relative to a charging port of a vehicle located in the charging area. In the aforementioned security management method, Using information obtained from sensors connected to the charging system, the system detects whether the charging cable has exceeded a predetermined safety condition when the charging plug is inserted into the charging port. If a state is detected that exceeds the aforementioned safety conditions, at least one of the following processes is implemented: moving the charging cable by actuating the arm mechanism to prevent the charging cable from encroaching into the vehicle passage and parking area designated as a safe zone; and changing the area restricting the entry of other vehicles from meeting the safety conditions based on the extent of the charging cable's presence. The conditions for satisfying the safety conditions include at least the condition that the charging cable does not intrude into an empty parking space where the vehicle is not parked within the parking areas set within the charging area, and the condition that the charging cable does not extend into the area outside the charging area.

Images