Radar-Based Vehicle Alignment for EV Charging Stations
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging systems for electric vehicles face challenges in aligning and pairing vehicles with charging stations, especially in adverse weather conditions such as dust, snow, or ice, which hinders visual alignment and impairs the charging process.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent alignment-and-pairing system utilizing radar sensors and a supervisory-control module to provide three-dimensional orientation, enabling precise positioning and alignment of electric vehicles within a defined working envelope, regardless of weather conditions, through an active-alignment module, robot-assisted alignment, and vehicle-control mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual alignment methods are used for vehicle positioning at charging stations, then the alignment process is simple and intuitive, but adverse weather conditions such as dust, snow, and ice deteriorate visual visibility and hinder alignment accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual alignment methods with radar-based active-alignment modules that use electromagnetic waves to detect and measure vehicle orientation in three dimensions. This substitution eliminates dependency on visual conditions, allowing accurate alignment measurement regardless of dust, snow, or ice conditions while maintaining automated alignment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces radar sensors and active-alignment modules as intermediary detection devices between the vehicle and charging station. These intermediaries actively emit and receive signals to measure vehicle orientation, serving as a reliable mediator that functions independently of adverse weather conditions that block visual lines of sight
2Reliability
If automated alignment systems with radar sensors are implemented, then alignment accuracy is maintained in adverse weather conditions, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs active-alignment modules with supervisory-control capabilities that can serve multiple functions: detecting vehicle presence, measuring three-dimensional orientation, guiding alignment, and verifying proper positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while maintaining high alignment accuracy in adverse weather
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment system automatically detects vehicle orientation and provides real-time guidance without requiring external intervention or complex manual adjustment mechanisms. The system self-corrects and self-verify alignment status, reducing operational complexity despite the advanced radar-based detection technology employed
3Device complexity
If manual visual alignment by drivers is used, then equipment cost is minimized, but time is lost due to difficult alignment in adverse weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual alignment with automated radar-based detection and active-alignment guidance. The system automatically measures vehicle orientation and provides real-time feedback, eliminating the time drivers spend struggling to visually align vehicles in adverse weather while keeping costs manageable through targeted automation of only the alignment function
4Device complexity
If visual alignment is attempted in harsh weather conditions, then no additional equipment is needed, but the ability to see and align the vehicle is detrimentally affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes visual detection with radar-based electromagnetic wave detection that actively penetrates adverse weather conditions. The active-alignment modules emit radar signals that are not blocked by dust, snow, or ice, allowing the system to detect and measure vehicle orientation accurately without requiring additional protective equipment or infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces radar sensors as intermediary detection devices that actively probe the environment to measure vehicle orientation. These intermediaries transmit and receive electromagnetic signals that can penetrate adverse weather conditions, serving as a reliable detection medium when visual methods fail due to blocked line of sight
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
Ensures safe and efficient high-power charging by automatically aligning vehicles, immune to weather conditions, and safeguarding both humans and equipment, while facilitating easy alignment and pairing across various types of vehicles and charging environments.
Implementation Method 1
radar sensors strategically positioned near the charging interface. The active-alignment module is configured to detect and to measure the three-dimensional orientation of a vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are disclosed for strategically positioning and aligning an object, for example, a vehicle at a charging station, parking station, port, depot or dock for orientation, alignment and pairing. The system includes an active-alignment module that measures the three-dimensional orientation of the object within the particular working envelope of the charging station and provides it to a supervisory-control module, which synchronizes the three-dimensional planar data, for example, plane 1 or plane 3 with planar data of the object, for example, plane 2 or plane 4, a robot-assisted-alignment module, and a vehicle-control module. The supervisory-control module acquires and synchronizes the 3D planar data of the active-alignment module (plane 1 or 3) to the planar data of vehicle or object (plane 2 or 4).