Robot-Guided Vehicle Charging Interface for Collision-Safe Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for robot-assisted refueling and charging of motor vehicles lack efficiency, safety, and comfort, particularly in accurately positioning robots to avoid collisions and optimize refueling or charging processes.

Innovation Solution

A gas station equipped with robots having multiple joints and a central or decentralized controller that uses depth sensors and navigation data to determine the positions and types of motor vehicles, controlling the robots to connect interfaces for safe and precise fueling or charging, while transmitting navigation data to assist vehicle parking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If robots are used for automated refueling and charging, then productivity and comfort are improved, but safety risks increase due to potential collisions between robots and moving vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefueling and charging efficiencyVSAvoidcollision safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by determining the position and type of motor vehicles before the robot approaches, and by transmitting navigation data to guide vehicles into optimal parking positions. This advance preparation enables safe coordination between robot movements and vehicle positions, preventing collisions while maintaining automated refueling and charging operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If robots with multiple joints are used for precise positioning, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobot interface positioning precisionVSAvoidrobot structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The robot system with multiple joints serves multiple functions: it positions interfaces for both refueling and charging operations, adapts to different vehicle types, and coordinates movements based on real-time position determination. This multi-functionality justifies the complexity by enabling a single robot system to handle diverse refueling and charging tasks with high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3445536B1Supplying electric energy and/or fuel to a motor vehicle by means of a robot
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 KUKA DEUT GMBH
  • EP3445536B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for supplying electric energy and/or fuel to at least one motor vehicle (20) by means of at least one robot (10) of a fueling station, having the following steps: ascertaining (S10, S40, S50) the type and/or positions, which follow one another chronologically, of the motor vehicle (20) relative to the robot (10) by means of at least one depth sensor (3); connecting (S60) an interface (11) guided by the robot (10) to the motor vehicle (20); and supplying (S70) electric energy and/or fuel to the motor vehicle (20) via the robot-guided interface (11) connected to the motor vehicle; controlling (S30, S40, S60) the robot (10) on the basis of the ascertained type and/or the ascertained positions, in particular a speed (v) ascertained from the type and/or positions; and/or transmitting (S10, S40, S50) navigation data to the motor vehicle (20) on the basis of the ascertained positions. The entry of the vehicle into the monitoring (U) or working area (A) of the robot is monitored by means of the depth sensor (3).