Autonomous EV Charger Robotic Arm Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles face limitations due to short driving ranges and long charging intervals, which hinder their adoption, and existing charging systems require manual intervention and suffer from inefficiencies in power transfer and billing processes.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous charging system using a robotic arm with a docking interface and imager for automatic coupling with electric vehicles, enabling wireless communication and power management between the vehicle and the grid, allowing for charging with minimal user intervention and efficient billing through a mesh network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual charging connection is required, then power transfer can be established, but user intervention complicates vehicle ownership and reduces adoption
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system performs self-service by automatically detecting the vehicle's presence, aligning the docking interface with the receptacle, establishing electrical connection, and managing power transfer without requiring user intervention. The system autonomously completes the entire charging process from detection to disconnection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical connection operations with an automated robotic arm system that uses sensors, actuators, and control algorithms to perform the docking and undocking operations, substituting human mechanical actions with an automated electromechanical system.
2Loss of energy
If near field magnetic resonance induction is used, then wireless power transfer is achieved, but electromagnetic interface and lower coupling efficiency reduce power transfer effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a physical docking interface as an intermediary between the power source and the vehicle, using direct electrical contact through aligned connectors to transfer power with high efficiency, avoiding the energy losses associated with wireless magnetic resonance induction.
3Extent of automation
If autonomous charging system is implemented, then user intervention is minimized, but system complexity increases with robotic arm and alignment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm system performs multiple functions including vehicle detection, docking interface alignment, electrical connection establishment, and undocking operations, consolidating what could be separate complex subsystems into a single multi-functional mechanism that reduces overall system complexity.
4Duration of action of moving object
If frequent charging is required due to short driving range, then vehicle operation is maintained, but manual charging intervention increases complexity of vehicle ownership
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous charging system enables frequent charging operations to occur without user intervention, allowing the vehicle to automatically recharge multiple times without increasing the complexity of vehicle ownership, thus maintaining operational continuity while eliminating the burden of frequent manual charging.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric vehicle charger determines the presence of an electric vehicle when the electric vehicle is in proximity to the charger. Validation of account data associated with the electric vehicle occurs over a network. A docking interface on the charger aligns to a receptacle on the electric vehicle. The docking interface and the receptacle are coupled when the docking interface is within a predetermined distance to the receptacle. The charger supplies power to the electric vehicle.