An information processing device includes a processor having hardware. The processor is configured to create, upon acquiring a charging signal indicating that an electric moving vehicle autonomously moving by power stored in a battery requires charging of the battery, or determining that the charging is required, based on a predetermined task additionally set to the electric moving vehicle, schedule information including a travel schedule that enables the electric moving vehicle to travel to a charging station where the battery is to be charged and to perform the task, and output the schedule information to the electric moving vehicle.

An aircraft that includes a fuselage, an electric motor driven propulsion system, and a fuel cell system configured to provide electricity to the electric motor. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, a hydrogen tank, an oxygen tank, an air channel, and a cathode switch. The cathode switch being configured to convert between an air mode, wherein the fuel cell operates utilizing air from the air channel, and an oxygen mode, wherein the fuel cell operates utilizing oxygen from the oxygen tank.

An autonomous vehicle includes an autonomously driven vehicle frame with a retractable pivot mechanism disposed on a platform surface of the vehicle frame. Changeable utility pods are configured to attach to and be removed from the vehicle frame by way of the retractable pivot mechanism onboard the frame, and autonomously change the vehicle from a passenger transport to a logistics transport by changing utility pods. A processor provides autonomous vehicle operations that include extending the retractable pivot mechanism from a retracted position recessed in the platform surface of the vehicle frame to an extended position that engages a utility pod conveyor channel. The retractable pivot mechanism engages a conveyor channel disposed on a mating surface of a utility pod, and conveys the utility pod along the conveyor channel to a centered and laterally-aligned position on the vehicle frame by rotating the pod into position once centered over the pivot mechanism.

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling wireless transfer of power to a vehicle. A method of wirelessly transferring power to a vehicle includes monitoring a power output of a plurality of receiver coils installed on the vehicle, storing power readouts for each coil of the plurality of receiver coils, selecting, based on the power readouts, a first set of receiver coils of the plurality of receiver coils, and forming a connection, via a switch network configured to deliver power to one or more electrical components of the vehicle, between the first set of receiver coils and an electrical component of the vehicle to power the electrical component.

An autonomous machine may be returned to a base station for charging based on remaining battery energy and an estimated travel energy threshold. The estimated travel energy threshold may be determined based on a direct and obstacle-free route from the machine's current position to the base station and an estimated energy consumed per unit distance, which may be updated. The remaining battery energy may be calculated using a battery management system.

Disclosed is a vehicle performing autonomous driving. The vehicle includes: a display, a driver to drive the vehicle, an inputter configured to receive destination information related to a destination of the vehicle, a power supply including a battery for supplying electric power to the vehicle, a first sensor module to detect a capacity of the battery, and a controller to determine an expected driving route of the vehicle based on the destination information. The controller calculates an expected power consumption of the vehicle based on the expected driving route, and changes an autonomous driving state of the vehicle in the expected driving route based on the expected power consumption and the detected capacity of the battery.

Example embodiments described herein involve a system including a high throughput signal transmitter adjacent to a charging port of an autonomous vehicle configured to transmit information to a high throughput signal receiver. The high throughput signal receiver may be positioned on an electrical charging apparatus. Further, the high throughput signal transmitter and the high throughput signal receiver may be in point to point communication. Finally, the high throughput signal transmitter and the high throughput signal receiver may be separated by a distance up to and including 1.5 meters.

An electrified vehicle charging station according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a charger assembly including a plug connected to a terminal via a charger cable, and a transceiver configured to communicate information to an electrified vehicle which is useable to guide the electrified vehicle to an acceptable parking position. The acceptable parking position is a position in which the plug will reach a charging port of the electrified vehicle. A method is also disclosed.

An automatic battery replacement apparatus, a moving platform, and a rechargeable battery are provided. The moving platform includes a movable carrier and the rechargeable battery assembled in the movable carrier. The movable carrier includes a carrying body and a moving component that is assembled to the carrying body. The carrying body has a power supply slot recessed in an outer surface thereof, and an inner lateral wall of the power supply slot is in a shape of an arc having a central angle that is less than or equal to 180 degrees. The moving component is configured to move on a working surface. The rechargeable battery has a matching structure configured to be engaged with a driving gear. The rechargeable battery is configured to be rotated along the inner lateral wall of the power supply slot by having the matching structure engaged with the driving gear.

An embodiment of an antenna configured to form a high-power beam, such as a battery-charging beam, includes a transmission structure, signal couplers, amplifiers, and antenna elements. The transmission structure (e.g., a waveguide) is configured to carry a reference signal (e.g., a traveling reference wave), and each of the signal couplers is configured to generate a respective intermediate signal in response to the reference signal at a respective location along the transmission structure. Each of the amplifiers is configured to amplify, selectively, an intermediate signal from a respective one of the couplers, and each of the antenna elements (e.g., conductive patches) is configured to radiate a respective elemental signal in response to an amplified intermediate signal from a respective one of the amplifiers. In operation, the elemental signals interfere with one another to form a transmission beam, such as a battery-charging, or other high-power, transmission beam.