B60L50/53

Sensing arrangement for determining a displacement of a vehicle with respect to an electrical road system

The invention relates to a sensing arrangement (100) for determining a displacement of a vehicle with respect to an electrical road system, comprising a first sensor (102) configured to detect the electrically energized path and to determine a first signal indicative of the distance between the first sensor and the electrically energized path; a second sensor (104) configured to determine a second signal indicative of the distance between the second sensor and the electrically energized path, the second sensor is separated a distance (106) from the first sensor in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. A control unit (108) is configured to determine an angular displacement of the vehicle with respect to the electrically energized path based on the first signal, the second signal and the distance between the first sensor and the second sensor.

CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION OF A VEHICLE FORMATION
20220388418 · 2022-12-08 · ·

A control system configured to control electrical power distribution of a vehicle formation is provided. The vehicle formation includes a gateway vehicle comprising a gateway prime mover for propelling the gateway vehicle, and a target vehicle comprising a target electric motor for propelling the target vehicle. The gateway vehicle includes a charging component electrically connectable to a charge surface along a road operable by the vehicle formation, the gateway vehicle further comprising a power distribution unit connected to the charging component and the target vehicle. The control system includes control circuitry connected to the gateway vehicle, the target vehicle and the power distribution unit, the control circuitry being configured to receive a signal indicative of a current energy requirement for the gateway vehicle and the target vehicle; and control, based on the current energy requirement, the power distribution unit to distribute electric power within the vehicle formation.

TRACKED ELECTRIC VEHICLE SYSTEMS
20220388428 · 2022-12-08 ·

Electrified roadway systems include a roadway, and vehicles configured to operate on the roadway. The roadway has a base, and two electrically-conductive rails mounted on the base. One of the rails is electrically connected to a source of electric power, and the other rail is electrically connected to an electrical ground. The vehicles include non-electrically-conductive tires, and an electric motor mechanically connected to, and configured to rotate at least one of the tires to propel the vehicle along the roadway. The vehicles draw electric power from the roadway via two electrical pickups that contact the respective rails, and a retracted position at which the pickups are out of contact with the rails. A wear-resistant cover can be positioned on each of the rails. The wear resist covers can have features that maximize the contact area and the contact force between the covers and the rails.

Power line inspection vehicle

An exemplary unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mountable to a conductor of an aerial power transmission line system includes a body having a rotor system, a motivation system attached to the body to motivate the UAV along the conductor, a battery carried by the body and electrically connected to at least one of the rotor system and the motivation system, a monitoring tool mounted with the body and an inductive coil carried by the body and in electric connection with the battery, wherein the inductive coil is configured to harvest electricity from the aerial power transmission line system and charge the battery.

Vehicle power delivery assembly

A vehicle power delivery assembly that includes a mast configured to couple with a vehicle such that the mast projects from the vehicle, and a collection arm configured to be coupled with the mast in a location apart from the vehicle to engage an off-board source of electric current that is off-board the vehicle while the vehicle moves along one or more routes. One or more of the mast or the collection arm is formed from at least one inductive support member that provides an integrated inductor of the one or more of the mast or the collection arm through which at least some of the electric current that is received from the off-board source of the electric current is filtered prior to being conducted to the vehicle.

VEHICLE WITH ELECTRICAL TRACTION INCLUDING AN ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR MANAGING THE ENERGY IN SUCH A VEHICLE WITH ELECTRICAL TRACTION

A vehicle has an electric traction chain to supply a drive torque to the wheels, and an energy management system comprising: a generator set configured to generate a first supply voltage and mechanically disconnected from the wheels in every operating condition; a battery storage assembly configured to generate a second supply voltage; a control unit that implements operative conditions of the vehicle, including: (i) powering the electrical traction chain with the first supply voltage; (ii) powering the electrical traction chain with the second supply voltage; (iii) recharging the storage assembly with a network voltage external to the vehicle and coming from a catenary; (iv) recharging the storage assembly with the first supply voltage; and (v) recharging the storage assembly with a recovered voltage generated by the traction chain operating as an electrical generator.

ABNORMALITY DETERMINATION APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROVIDING APPARATUS
20220363148 · 2022-11-17 ·

The processor of the processing unit of the abnormality determination device is configured to calculate a number ratio between (i) a number of mobile units having the power transmission efficiency less than a predetermined value and (ii) a number of mobile units having the power transmission efficiency greater than or equal to the predetermined value for each power reception location, based on the power reception history information of the plurality of mobile units stored in the storage unit, and determine an abnormality of the power transmitting device or the power receiving device of a mobile unit among the plurality of mobile units, based on the number ratio for each power reception location.

PRECISION CHARGING CONTROL OF AN UNTETHERED VEHICLE WITH A MODULAR VEHICLE CHARGING ROADWAY
20220363149 · 2022-11-17 ·

Methods and systems for precision charging control of an untethered vehicle include at least a wireless charging antenna carried by a vehicle and in electrical communication with a vehicle propulsion system. A plurality of wireless charging antennae is positioned on or within a roadway and are in communication with at least a roadway control system and a power source. An authentication connection is established between the vehicle wireless charging antenna and the roadway control system. A dynamic seek operation is triggered between the first wireless charging antenna and the one of the plurality of second wireless charging antennae to pair the first wireless charging antenna with the one of the plurality of second wireless charging antennae. A quantity of electrical energy is transferred between the first wireless charging antenna and the one of the plurality of second wireless charging antennae.

WIRELESS POWER RECEPTION SYSTEM, MOVING BODY, AND WHEEL

A wireless power reception system 1 includes: a power reception device 5 including a power reception coil 51 that receives power supplied wirelessly from a power transmission coil 41 of a power transmission device 4 installed in a road surface, at least a portion of the power reception coil 51 being housed in a wheel 3 of a moving body 2; and an onboard device 6 which is installed in the moving body 2 and which is electrically connected to the power reception device 5, wherein the power reception device 5 can transmit received power to the onboard device 6, and the power reception coil 51 includes a stacked plurality of spiral coil layers 52a and 52b.

Robots for charging electric vehicles (EVs)

A robot for charging a vehicle is provided. The robot has wheels or configured for a track for the robot to automatically move to the vehicle to provide charge to a battery of the vehicle. A charge storage is associated with the robot. An articulating arm of the robot. The articulating arm is configured for movement that enables the articulating arm to automatically connect to a connector of the vehicle after the robot moves in position beside the vehicle for providing charge to the battery of the vehicle.