Robotic EV Charging Interface Control Using Compliance Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging infrastructure for electric vehicles faces challenges in safely handling irregularities and deviations in the position of vehicle-side charging interfaces due to the need for highly accurate and expensive robots, which may not be suitable for public areas with potential collisions and damage.
Innovation Solution
A charging infrastructure with a robot having a displacement mechanism and compliance assembly that allows for three degrees of freedom, using actuators and compliance assemblies to absorb or release displacements, enabling safe handling of collisions and ensuring proper connection by monitoring compliance values and adjusting actuator instructions based on intervention values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a highly accurate robot is used to establish charging connection, then connection precision is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system is divided into separate functional modules: a displacement mechanism for positioning and a compliance assembly for absorption. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function with simpler design, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining connection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
A compliance assembly is introduced between the robot and charging interface to beforehand cushion against position deviations and collisions. This pre-built protective mechanism absorbs irregularities before they reach the charging interface, maintaining connection precision without requiring the entire robot to be highly accurate.
2Manufacturing precision
If a highly accurate robot is used to establish charging connection, then connection precision is improved, but reliability in public areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The compliance assembly serves as a beforehand cushioning mechanism that absorbs collisions and position deviations in public areas. By having this protective element in place before operational issues occur, the system maintains reliability despite the harsh environment, while the robot can still achieve precise connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The compliance assembly converts harmful collisions and position deviations into beneficial compliance movements. Instead of allowing these irregularities to cause failures, the system uses them to activate the compliance mechanism, which then protects the charging interface and maintains operational reliability.
3Reliability
If compliance assembly is added to absorb displacements, then operational safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional units: the displacement mechanism for positioning and the compliance assembly for safety. This segmentation allows the compliance assembly to be a modular addition rather than a complex integration throughout the entire system, improving operational safety with minimal increase in overall complexity.
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 solution enables the robot to safely operate in public areas by absorbing collisions and compensating for inaccuracies, preventing damage while establishing a reliable charging connection.
Implementation Method 1
the compliance assembly is configured for providing a compliance by resiliently absorbing or releasing a displacement between the base frame and the robot-side charging interface over a compliance stroke
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a charging infrastructure comprising a charging station for charging a vehicle having a vehicle-side charging interface, wherein the charging station comprises a robot that carries a robot-side charging interface for establishing a charging connection with the vehicle-side charging interface, wherein the robot comprises a main base and a compliance assembly that is arranged kinematically between the main base and the robot-side charging interface for providing a compliance, wherein the method comprises in series a positioning phase in which the robot-side charging interface is moved to an initial connecting position, and a connecting phase in which the robot-side charging interface establishes a charging connection with the vehicle-side charging interface, wherein in the positioning phase a compliance value is compared with a positioning intervention value and a positioning instruction is changed when the compliance value exceeds a positioning intervention value, and in the connecting phase the compliance value is compared with a connecting intervention value and a connecting instruction is changed when the compliance value exceeds the connecting intervention value, wherein the positioning intervention value differs from the connecting intervention value.