Collaborative Robot Refuelling Without External Safety Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manual refuelling systems at gas stations require driver involvement, pose risks of bacterial and viral transmission, and are not compatible with the future of mobility, particularly during pandemics, and existing robotic solutions face challenges with external safety systems and environmental factors.
Innovation Solution
A robotic refuelling system using a collaborative robot arm with integrated detection units and an adapter tool, capable of identifying vehicles, engaging with fuel dispensers, and operating without external safety systems, adaptable to various fuel types, and compatible with existing infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual refuelling systems are used, then driver involvement is required, but this increases the risk of bacterial and viral transmission and is not compatible with future mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The refuelling system performs the refuelling operation autonomously without requiring driver involvement. The robot arm automatically positions and connects the fuel nozzle to the vehicle's fuel inlet, and the system automatically monitors and controls the refuelling process, enabling the system to serve itself and eliminating human contact with potentially contaminated surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation of refuelling with an automated robotic system. The robot arm, equipped with sensors and control systems, substitutes human hands and operations, thereby eliminating the transmission of bacteria and viruses that occurs through manual handling of fuel nozzles and dispensers.
2Reliability
If industrial robot arms with external safety systems are used, then safety is improved, but the operation may be aborted due to external factors such as dust, rain or snow
Solution Approach 1:
The robot arm is designed with dynamic safety monitoring that adapts to environmental conditions. The system continuously assesses external factors such as dust, rain, or snow and adjusts its operation accordingly, maintaining safety while avoiding unnecessary abortions of the refuelling process. The safety system responds dynamically to changing conditions rather than using fixed thresholds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through sensors that monitor environmental conditions and robot arm position in real-time. This feedback allows the control system to distinguish between harmless environmental variations and genuine safety hazards, enabling continuous operation under normal weather conditions while aborting only when actual safety risks are detected.
3Reliability
If external safety systems are required for robot arms, then safety monitoring is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the safety monitoring functions directly into the robot arm's control system rather than using separate external safety systems. The same sensors and control units that manage the robot arm's refuelling operations also monitor safety parameters, merging the operational control and safety monitoring into a single integrated system, thereby reducing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot arm's control system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it controls the refuelling operation, monitors environmental conditions, tracks the robot arm position, and assesses safety risks. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated external safety systems, as the existing control infrastructure handles both operational and safety monitoring tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic refuelling system and method for automatically operating a fuel station for refuelling vehicles includes a first detection unit for identifying the vehicle, a collaborative robot arm, and an adapter tool connected to the collaborative robot arm. The system is configured for detecting and identifying the vehicle, and controlling the collaborative robot arm and the adapter tool to engage at least one fuel dispenser unit of the fuel station and refuel the vehicle.