The fully autonomous, mobile charging robot finds its way independently to the parked electric vehicle (EV) and supplies it with energy. The prototype developed by TU Graz and the Austrian companies ALVERI and ARTI Robots is intended to contribute to the widespread use of e-mobility.

Figure 1: Autonomous mobile charging robot

Figure 1 shows that The EV reports the need for charging and a mobile robot sets out to supply the parked car with energy – completely independently and without human intervention. The search for a charging station and any worry about the remaining range are thus a thing of the past. The prototype of such a charging robot developed by TU Graz and ALVERI and ARTI Robots. [1]

In the e-charging robot, two components merge into a single unit: a mobile platform that can move autonomously in space and an automated robot arm that plugs the charging cable into the car.

The platform orients itself independently in space and moves toward the vehicle at up to 20 km/h. The robot arm mounted on the torso guides the charging cable to the charging flap and docks there. After the (fast) charging process, the robot unplugs itself again and moves away from the vehicle.

"The process of refueling or charging a vehicle is not a major challenge for humans. But for an automated system, on the other hand, it is a very complex, millimeter-precise matter," reports Bernhard Walzel from the Institute of Automotive Engineering at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz). Walzel and his institute colleague, Helmut Brunner.

The goal of the Upper Austrian start-up ALVERI, which is overall dedicated to sustainable mobility services and has launched and financed this specific project, involves the series production of e-charging robots. Ehsan Zadmard, CEO of ALVERI comments:

"With the ALVERI CHARbO charging robot, we have not only shown what can sensibly be done with existing know-how in Austria, but have also given the starting signal for more cooperation around infrastructure, mobility services, vehicle concepts and much more in this country. Only in this way will we be in a position to help shape the future of mobility in Europe, and worldwide, and Austria can make a significant contribution here." [2]

In the future, with the application of this technology, there could be parking areas allocated to electric vehicles, in which mobile charging robots could travel around supplying energy to the parked vehicle. Of course, safety issues must be taken into account and a safety system would need to be developed.

Konstantin Mautner-Lassnig from ARTI Robots explained: “Several safety mechanisms have been implemented in the whole charging robot. The mobile platform uses laser scanners to permanently scan the surroundings for possible obstacles and detects when an object gets too close. Then the platform immediately stops moving.” [3]

References:

1. https://www.innovations-report.com/power-and-electrical-engineering/the-mobile-robot-that-charges-the-e-car/
2. https://www.tugraz.at/en/tu-graz/services/news-stories/tu-graz-news/singleview/article/der-mobile-roboter-der-das-e-auto-laedt0/
3. https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/groundbreaking-autonomous-mobile-robot-charges-electric-vehicles/13455/

Cite this article:

Sri Vasagi K (2022), Autonomous Mobile Robot Charges Electric Vehicles, Anatechmaz, pp. 307