Automated EV Charging Robot Using Vision-Based Port Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle owners face the inconvenience of manually charging their vehicles, especially during inclement weather, as they need to handle high-voltage cables and connectors, and existing charging systems lack automation for precise vehicle identification and charging port location determination.
Innovation Solution
An automated electric vehicle charging system using a camera and robotic arm that identifies the vehicle through electronic images or RFID tags, retrieves the charging port location from a database, and robotically connects the charging connector, enabling autonomous charging without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual charging operation is used, then the operator can control the charging process, but the operator must handle high-voltage cables which is dangerous especially during inclement weather
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system performs self-service by automatically identifying the vehicle, locating the charging port, and connecting the charging connector without human intervention. The robotic arm autonomously navigates to the vehicle, uses vision systems to identify the charging port location, and executes the connection, thereby eliminating the need for operators to handle high-voltage cables manually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation of handling cables with an automated robotic system. The robotic arm, controlled by computer vision and positioning systems, substitutes human hands and operations, providing safer and more precise cable management while maintaining the charging function.
2Extent of automation
If automated charging system is implemented, then safety and convenience are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm and vision system are designed as multi-functional components that can identify different vehicle types, locate various charging port positions, and connect different connector types through a unified automated platform. This universal design reduces overall system complexity by avoiding the need for separate specialized systems for each vehicle model.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary database that stores vehicle information and charging port location data. This database acts as a mediator between the vision system and the robotic arm, simplifying the control architecture by providing pre-processed information rather than requiring direct complex image-to-action mapping.
3Measurement precision
If precise vehicle identification and charging port location determination are required, then charging accuracy is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-storing vehicle information and charging port location data in a database before the actual charging process. When a vehicle arrives, the system retrieves pre-prepared information rather than determining everything in real-time, significantly reducing the measurement and detection difficulty while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The vision system continuously captures images of the vehicle and charging port, providing real-time feedback to the control system. This feedback loop allows the robotic arm to adjust its positioning and the charging connector alignment based on actual visual information, ensuring precise connection while managing the complexity of real-time detection.
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
The system allows for safe, efficient, and automated charging of electric vehicles, reducing the risk of manual errors and enhancing user convenience by eliminating the need for precise alignment and specialized equipment, while supporting various charging voltages and connector types.
Implementation Method 1
identifying vehicle information corresponding to the electric vehicle using a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag mounted on the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for charging an electric vehicle includes identifying vehicle information corresponding to the electric vehicle based on an electronic image of the electric vehicle, retrieving from an electronically stored database a location of a charging port on the electric vehicle based on the vehicle information, and robotically moving a charging connector according to the retrieved location to engage the charging port of the electric vehicle to charge a battery.