Adjustable Charging Robot with Optical Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charging robots for electric vehicles face challenges in efficiently and economically connecting to charging interfaces with varying alignments, particularly in the domestic sector, where high costs are not acceptable and complex movements are required to accommodate different vehicle configurations.
Innovation Solution
A charging robot with a robot arm movable in three degrees of freedom, equipped with an optical detection device to learn and adjust to the charging interface's alignment, allowing for automatic connection with minimal degrees of freedom, using an adapter plug with a reference mark for detection and manual or motorized adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the robot arm is equipped with more degrees of freedom to accommodate varying charging interface alignments, then the adaptability to different vehicle configurations is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The charging robot performs preliminary detection of the charging interface alignment using an optical detection device before connection. The system learns and stores the alignment parameters (inclination angle and rotation angle) in advance, then uses this pre-acquired information to adjust its movement strategy, eliminating the need for excessive degrees of freedom in the robot arm structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical adaptability (multiple degrees of freedom in robot arm) with an optical detection and information processing system. The optical detection device measures the charging interface alignment, and the control unit processes this information to generate appropriate movement commands, substituting mechanical complexity with sensor-based adaptation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the robot arm uses fewer degrees of freedom to reduce costs, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the ability to accommodate different charging interface alignments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical detection device and control unit as intermediaries between the robot arm and the charging interface. This intermediary system measures the interface alignment and translates it into appropriate movement parameters for the robot arm, enabling a simpler robot arm structure to achieve the same adaptability as a more complex mechanical system would provide.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the robot arm based on detected alignment information. Instead of designing the robot arm to physically accommodate all possible alignments through multiple degrees of freedom, the control unit dynamically adjusts movement parameters (position, orientation, speed) based on the detected charging interface configuration, achieving adaptability through parameter variation rather than structural complexity.
3Reliability
If the charging robot requires precise alignment detection and adjustment capabilities, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging robot performs self-detection and self-adjustment of the charging interface alignment. The optical detection device on the robot measures the interface parameters, and the control unit automatically generates the appropriate movement commands without requiring external intervention or complex external measurement systems, achieving reliable connection through self-service capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and economical automatic charging of vehicles with varying charging interface alignments, reducing costs by minimizing the number of degrees of freedom required for the robot arm, facilitating reliable connections in the domestic sector.
Implementation Method 1
a device for detecting an alignment of the charging interface on the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A charging robot connects a contact-making device of an electric charging apparatus to an electric charging interface of a vehicle. The charging robot has a robot arm, which can be connected to the contact-making device. The robot arm is movable in at least three degrees of freedom in order to connect the contact-making device to the charging interface. The charging robot has a detection device for detecting an alignment of the vehicle charging interface. The robot arm has an adjuster for adjusting the contact-making device on the robot. Also described is a charging system for charging an electric energy store of a vehicle, and a method for adjusting the charging robot. The method includes detecting an alignment of the charging interface on the vehicle, and adjusting the contact-making device on the charging robot on the basis of the detected alignment of the charging interface.