ROBOTICALLY OPERATED VEHICLE CHARGING STATION

• US 20130076902A1
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company), Universite Laval
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company), Universite Laval
• Inventors: Gao, Dalong, Mc Kay, Neil David, Foucault, Simon, Laliberte, Thierry, Mayer-St-Onge, Boris, Lecours, Alexandre, Gosselin, Clement, Milburn, David E., Harkenrider, Linda Y., Reiland, Matthew J., Lacasse, Marc-Antoine
• Granted Patent: US 9,266,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/085 Force or torque sensors B25J13/082, B25J13/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 17/0208 Compliance devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/042 comprising an articulated arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6315 allowing relative movement between coupling parts, e.g. floating connection for coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, H01R12/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/635 by mechanical pressure, e.g. spring force
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A robotic charging station for charging a battery of an electric vehicle includes a base plate, a riser coupled with the base plate and extending substantially transverse to the base plate, and a robotic arm. The robotic arm extends from the riser and supports an end effector. The end effector includes a plurality of electrical contacts configured to couple with a receptacle disposed on the electric vehicle. The robotic arm is configured to move the end effector in three degrees of motion.

Claims

1. A robotic charging station for charging a battery of an electric vehicle, the charging station comprising:

a base plate;

a riser coupled with the base plate and extending substantially transverse to the base plate;

a robotic arm extending from the riser and supporting an end effector, the robotic arm configured to move the end effector in three degrees of motion;

wherein the end effector includes a plurality of electrical contacts configured to couple with a receptacle disposed on the electric vehicle.

2. The robotic charging station of claim 1, wherein the base plate includes a first end and a second end, the riser being coupled with the base plate proximate to the first end, and a tire trap being disposed proximate to the second end.

3. The robotic charging station of claim 1, further comprising a presence sensor configured to detect the presence of the electric vehicle.

4. The robotic charging station of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to selectively control the motion of the robotic arm.

5. The robotic charging station of claim 4, wherein the robotic arm further includes a target tracking camera configured to provide visual feedback to the controller, the controller configured to use the visual feedback to guide the movement of the robotic arm.

6. The robotic charging station of claim 1, wherein the three degrees of motion include a motion substantially oriented across the vehicle, a motion substantially along the vehicle, and a rotation about a substantially vertical axis.

7. The robotic charging station of claim 6, wherein the robotic arm is configured to move the end effector in a fourth degree of motion, the fourth degree of motion including a motion substantially along the vertical axis.

8. The robotic charging station of claim 1, wherein the end effector includes a base plate configured to attach with the robotic arm, and a retractable guide surrounding the plurality of electrical contacts and configured to transition between an extended state and a collapsed state, the retractable guide configured to align the end effector with the receptacle when in an extended state.

9. The robotic charging station of claim 8, wherein the end effector further includes a plurality of support legs extending between the retractable guide and the base plate, the plurality of support legs being pivotable between a first position and a second position, the support legs configured to maintain the retractable guide in the extended state when in the first position, and configured to allow the retractable guide to transition to the collapsed state when pivoted to the second position.

10. The robotic charging station of claim 9, wherein the end effector further includes a force sensor disposed on the base plate and configured to be contacted by at least one of the plurality of support legs when the at least one of the plurality of support legs is in the first position;

and

wherein the force sensor is configured to provide an indication of contact made between the retractable guide and the receptacle disposed on the vehicle.

11. The robotic charging station of claim 8, wherein the retractable guide includes an inward facing surface adjacent the plurality of electrical contacts;

and

wherein the retractable guide further includes a chamfer disposed on the inward facing surface and configured to align the end effector with the receptacle disposed on the vehicle.

12. The robotic charging station of claim 8, wherein the end effector further includes a mechanical guide extending from the base plate and surrounding the plurality of electrical contacts;

and

wherein the retractable guide extends further outward from the base plate than the mechanical guide when the retractable guide is in an extended state.

13. The robotic charging station of claim 12, wherein the retractable guide extends a substantially similar distance outward from the base plate as the mechanical guide when the retractable guide is in a collapsed state.

14. The robotic charging station of claim 12, wherein the mechanical guide includes a locating feature configured to mate with a similar locating feature disposed on the charging receptacle.

15. The robotic charging station of claim 8, further comprising a compliant mounting adaptor coupled with the base plate of the end effector, the compliant mounting adaptor configured to allow the base plate to move about an axis.

16. A method of automatically charging a battery of an electric vehicle comprising:

detecting the presence of an electric vehicle;

transitioning a robotic arm from a stowed position to an operational position, the robotic arm supporting an end effector configured to electrically couple with a receptacle disposed on the electric vehicle;

guiding the end effector into a coupled engagement with the receptacle on the vehicle; and

energizing the end effector to charge the battery.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising detecting a state of charge of the battery of the electric vehicle;

comparing the state of charge to a threshold; and

de-energizing the end effector and transitioning the robotic arm to a stowed position if the state of charge exceeds threshold.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein guiding the end effector into a coupled engagement with the receptacle includes capturing an image of a portion of the vehicle using an target tracking camera located proximate to the end effector;

and

controlling the motion of the robotic arm using the captured image as position feedback.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein guiding the end effector into a coupled engagement with the receptacle includes monitoring a contact force applied to the end effector;

and

controlling the motion of the robotic arm using the monitored contact force as feedback.

20. A charging connector for coupling with a charging receptacle of an electric device, the charging connector comprising:

a base;

a plurality of electrical contacts extending from the base and configured to electrically couple with the charging receptacle of the electric device; and

a retractable guide surrounding the plurality of electrical contacts and configured to transition between an extended state and a collapsed state, the retractable guide configured to align the charging connector with the charging receptacle when in an extended state.