Hexapod Charging Station With Compliance for EV Port Misalignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging solutions for electric vehicles require specific, legally approved charging connectors that are not standardized, limiting their use across various vehicles and countries.
Innovation Solution
A charging station with a robot that carries a standardized robot-side charging interface, capable of moving in at least three degrees of freedom using displacement assemblies with actuators and compliance assemblies, allowing for automatic connection with a vehicle-side charging interface while accommodating misalignments and changes in vehicle position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a specific charging connector is used for automated charging, then automation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates because it requires specific infrastructure approval and cannot be used by a wide variety of vehicles or countries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a standardized charging interface that can be universally applied across different vehicle types and countries, eliminating the need for country-specific connectors. The robot system with six-degree-of-freedom movement can adapt to various vehicle positions and orientations, making the charging infrastructure universally compatible while maintaining full automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system uses a dynamic robot with six adjustable degrees of freedom that can move and position the charging interface to match the vehicle's charging port location. This dynamic positioning capability allows the same standardized connector to work with different vehicle types without requiring static, location-fixed infrastructure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid charging connection system is used, then structural stability is improved, but reliability deteriorates when vehicle position changes during charging or when misalignment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces compliance assemblies that change the mechanical parameters of the charging connection by adding flexibility through spring elements. These compliance assemblies allow the rigid charging interface to accommodate position changes and misalignments while maintaining a stable structural connection, preventing damage during vehicle movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The compliance assembly acts as an intermediary element between the rigid charging interface and the vehicle connection point. This intermediary component absorbs mechanical discrepancies through elastic deformation, protecting the main charging structure while ensuring reliable connection maintenance during vehicle position changes.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise alignment is required for charging connection, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because manual alignment is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system employs self-aligning features where the robot automatically detects and positions the charging interface with the vehicle port through its six-degree-of-freedom movement capability. The compliance assemblies also provide self-adjustment by elastically deforming to match position discrepancies, eliminating the need for complex manual alignment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect the position and orientation of the vehicle's charging port, providing feedback to the robot's control system. This feedback enables automatic adjustment of the six actuators to achieve precise alignment, making the high-precision alignment process fully automated and easy to operate.
4Adaptability or versatility
If six displacement assemblies are used to provide six degrees of freedom, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the charging interface into multiple independent displacement assemblies (six actuators), each responsible for a specific degree of freedom. This segmentation allows each actuator to be controlled independently, simplifying the control algorithm while achieving complex six-degree-of-freedom movement capability for adapting to different vehicle positions.
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 a standardized, automated charging connection that is adaptable to different vehicle types and positions, ensuring safe and efficient charging while avoiding the need for specific, legally approved connectors.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one compliance assembly is configured for resiliently absorbing or releasing a displacement between the actuator and the robot-side charging interface over a compliance stroke
Implementation Method 2
The displacement assemblies include an actuator that is configured for imposing a displacement between the base frame and the moveable carrier over a displacement stroke
Data Source
AI summary
A charging infrastructure including a charging station (1) for charging a vehicle (10) having a vehicle-side charging interface (20). The charging station (1) includes a robot (50) that carries a robot-side charging interface (100) for establishing a charging connection with the vehicle-side charging interface (20). The robot (50) includes a base frame (51), a movable carrier (60) carrying the robot-side charging interface (100), and at least three displacement assemblies (71-76) between the base frame (51) and the movable carrier (60) that form a mechanism to move the movable carrier (60) with at least three degrees of freedom with respect to the base frame (51). The displacement assemblies (71-76) include an actuator (80) and a compliance assembly (90) in series with the actuator (80) and the robot-side charging interface for resiliently absorbing or releasing a displacement between the actuator and the robot-side charging interface over a compliance stroke or displacement angle.