The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for inductive positioning of a current collector (14; 24) on a vehicle relative to a stationary current conductor (13; 23; 33; 43; 53). The invention involves transmitting a signal having predetermined phase characteristics using a signal transmitter (37; 47; 57) arranged along the longitudinal direction of the current conductor (13; 23; 33; 43; 53); detecting the transmitted signal using a signal receiver on the vehicle, which signal receiver comprises at least one vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b); detecting the phase characteristics of the signal induced in the at least one vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b), indicating the relative location of the vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b) and the signal transmitter (37; 47; 57) in the transverse direction of the vehicle; and controlling the positioning means (25, 26) in dependence of the received signals.

This assembly, which includes a ground level power supply system of the type using conduction, including conductive tracks arranged on a roadway, and an electric vehicle, capturing electric energy from said tracks it moves on the roadway, is characterized in that the power supply system includes a ground level antenna, configured so as to have a constant radiation chart along a longitudinal axis of the roadway and emitting a positioning signal, and in that the electric vehicle includes an on board antenna and an on board module, connected to the on board antenna and capable of determining a lateral position of a center of the on board antenna relative to the longitudinal axis from the positioning signal captured by the on board antenna.

This assembly, which includes a ground level power supply system of the type using conduction, including conductive tracks arranged on a roadway, and an electric vehicle, capturing electric energy from said tracks it moves on the roadway, is characterized in that the power supply system includes a ground level antenna, configured so as to have a constant radiation chart along a longitudinal axis of the roadway and emitting a positioning signal, and in that the electric vehicle includes an on board antenna and an on board module, connected to the on board antenna and capable of determining a lateral position of a center of the on board antenna relative to the longitudinal axis from the positioning signal captured by the on board antenna.

Robots and apparatus, systems and methods for powering robots are disclosed. A disclosed conductive floor to power a robot on the floor includes a plurality of stationary conductors positioned in a pattern and a power delivery circuit to cause adjacent ones of the conductors to have different electrical potentials, the adjacent ones of the conductors to form a circuit to deliver power to the robot via contacts formed in a bottom surface of the robot.

Robots and apparatus, systems and methods for powering robots are disclosed. A disclosed conductive floor to power a robot on the floor includes a plurality of stationary conductors positioned in a pattern and a power delivery circuit to cause adjacent ones of the conductors to have different electrical potentials, the adjacent ones of the conductors to form a circuit to deliver power to the robot via contacts formed in a bottom surface of the robot.

System for autonomously transporting people and/or goods. The system includes at least one wheel, a chassis that supports a payload for transporting at least one of people or goods, and at least one electric motor coupled to the at least one wheel. The at least one electric motor is one of chassis mounted or at least one wheel mounted. The system also includes a battery to power the at least one electric motor.

A current-collector arrangement for a vehicle, said arrangement includes a current collector with a contact shoe for collecting current from a conductor rail, wherein the current collector is connected to the vehicle in sprung fashion where, in order to create advantageous design conditions, the current collector and the vehicle should have arranged between them a carrier, which is connected to the vehicle via a first spring and a second spring and also a joint, and where the first spring and the second spring should each have at least one reserve spring-length region for extraordinary deflections of the current collector, and where absolute values of the extraordinary deflections exceed absolute values of ordinary deflections of the current collector such that a deflection of the current collector achieved in an extraordinary operating state is reversible and need not be restored manually.

A current-collector arrangement for a vehicle, said arrangement includes a current collector with a contact shoe for collecting current from a conductor rail, wherein the current collector is connected to the vehicle in sprung fashion where, in order to create advantageous design conditions, the current collector and the vehicle should have arranged between them a carrier, which is connected to the vehicle via a first spring and a second spring and also a joint, and where the first spring and the second spring should each have at least one reserve spring-length region for extraordinary deflections of the current collector, and where absolute values of the extraordinary deflections exceed absolute values of ordinary deflections of the current collector such that a deflection of the current collector achieved in an extraordinary operating state is reversible and need not be restored manually.

A method is provided for controlling a vehicle safety system in a vehicle provided with a current collector arranged to transmit electric power from a current conductor in the surface of a road. The current collector is controllable for vertical and transverse displacement relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle to contact and track the current conductor. The method involves performing the steps of detecting that an obstacle is located in the path of the current collector; transmitting data from the forward looking data collecting system to the electronic control unit; performing an object classification to determine a damage level for the dynamic charging system; determining an action to be taken by the safety system based on the determined damage level; and initiating the action in dependence of at least the determined damage level.

The invention relates to a shoe (10) on an electrical power supply track for an electric railway vehicle, the shoe (10) comprising: a power supply flange (12) movable between a retracted position and a deployed position; an actuator (11) able to move the flange between the retracted and deployed positions; and a mechanical system (13) connecting the flange to the actuator;
characterized in that the actuator (11): has a movement speed such that it is able to move the flange (12) between its retracted and deployed positions in a time period shorter than or equal to 1 second, and preferably shorter than or equal to 0.5 seconds; and has a number of operating cycles before failure greater than or equal to 2,500,000.