Automatic EV Charging Robot Locking Doors Near the Charge Port
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic charging systems pose a risk of contact between vehicle occupants and charging robots during charging operations, as occupants may exit the vehicle or extend their hands from windows, leading to potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
An automatic charging system that includes a movable charging robot with a robot arm to manage the charging connector, coupled with a control device that locks vehicle doors and windows closest to the charging port during charging operations, preventing occupants from exiting or extending their hands, and utilizing sensors to monitor for contact and adjust charging operations accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the charging robot autonomously moves to the vehicle and performs charging operations, then charging automation is improved, but the risk of contact between occupants and the charging robot increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device locks the door and window before the charging robot approaches the vehicle. This preliminary action prevents occupants from exiting or extending their hands during the charging operation, thereby eliminating the contact risk while maintaining full automation of the charging process
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies a counter-action (locking the door and window) in advance to offset the potential harmful effect (occupant contact with charging robot). By preventing the occupant from accessing the vehicle exterior before the robot arrives, the system neutralizes the safety hazard without compromising charging automation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the door and window are locked during charging operations, then occupant contact with charging robot is prevented, but occupant accessibility to the vehicle is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The door and window locking state is dynamically adjusted based on the charging operation status. The door and window are locked only during the charging operation when the robot is present, and unlocked before and after charging. This dynamic control prevents contact hazards while maintaining occupant accessibility when the robot is not active
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state parameter of the door and window (from unlocked to locked) based on the charging operation status. This parameter change is temporary and reversible, allowing the system to prevent contact during charging while restoring full accessibility once the charging robot completes its task
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic charging system includes: a vehicle driven by power from a power storage device; a charger equipped with a charging cable having a charging connector; a charging robot equipped with a robot arm, which automatically grasp the charging connector, and insert and remove the charging connector into and from a charging port of the vehicle, so that power is charged to the power storage device; and a control device which causes the vehicle to lock a door and a window, each of which is a closest to the charging port, during at least a charging operation, in which the charging robot receives an instruction to start automatic charging, starts autonomous moving from a predetermined stand-by position, completes charging power to the power storage device, and returns to the predetermined stand-by position.