Disclosed herein are an electric vehicle charging coupler having a handle and an electric vehicle charging apparatus including the same. The electric vehicle charging coupler includes a coupler body having one side on which a charging port to be mounted to a charging port of an electric vehicle is formed to perform charging, a cable inlet part which is formed in an upper portion of the coupler body and into which a charging cable is inserted, and a handle formed to extend from the other side of the coupler body to be held by a hand and provided separately from the cable inlet part. Therefore, the electric vehicle can be easily charged by easily handling the thick and heavy charging cable.

Disclosed herein are an electric vehicle charging coupler having a handle and an electric vehicle charging apparatus including the same. The electric vehicle charging coupler includes a coupler body having one side on which a charging port to be mounted to a charging port of an electric vehicle is formed to perform charging, a cable inlet part which is formed in an upper portion of the coupler body and into which a charging cable is inserted, and a handle formed to extend from the other side of the coupler body to be held by a hand and provided separately from the cable inlet part. Therefore, the electric vehicle can be easily charged by easily handling the thick and heavy charging cable.

Devices, methods and software for automated electrical connector positioning for electric vehicle (EV) charging are provided. Using, for example, the disclosed automatic charging device, a method for charging an EV includes determining receipt of an EV-side electrical connector to a charging zone of an EV charging environment. The method includes actuating a charger-side electrical connector from an initial position outside of the charging zone to a final position inside of the charging zone. The final position corresponds to the charger-side electrical connector matingly engaged with the EV-side electrical connector.

Devices, methods and software for automated electrical connector positioning for electric vehicle (EV) charging are provided. Using, for example, the disclosed automatic charging device, a method for charging an EV includes determining receipt of an EV-side electrical connector to a charging zone of an EV charging environment. The method includes actuating a charger-side electrical connector from an initial position outside of the charging zone to a final position inside of the charging zone. The final position corresponds to the charger-side electrical connector matingly engaged with the EV-side electrical connector.

A surveillance drone system is provided herein generally including an UAV, a base power station, and, a tether for connecting the UAV to the base power station to provide electrical power to the UAV when airborne. The base power station may include a cable take-up assembly for releasing and taking up the tether. A plug or power module is provided at the free end of the tether configured to be detachably coupled with the UAV, to transmit electrical power to, and, possibly, data to and from, the UAV. With the plug or power module being detached, the UAV is free to fly unrestricted. This arrangement allows for the UAV to be airborne for prolonged periods to allow for monitoring a region and for release to allow the UAV to investigate anomalies in the monitored region.

A surveillance drone system is provided herein generally including an UAV, a base power station, and, a tether for connecting the UAV to the base power station to provide electrical power to the UAV when airborne. The base power station may include a cable take-up assembly for releasing and taking up the tether. A plug or power module is provided at the free end of the tether configured to be detachably coupled with the UAV, to transmit electrical power to, and, possibly, data to and from, the UAV. With the plug or power module being detached, the UAV is free to fly unrestricted. This arrangement allows for the UAV to be airborne for prolonged periods to allow for monitoring a region and for release to allow the UAV to investigate anomalies in the monitored region.

An evaluation jig comprises a female terminal connectable to a male terminal of a charging connector. The female terminal includes a plurality of contact pieces and a support portion. Each contact piece has a flexible piece, and a contact portion protruding toward the center axis from an inner surface of the flexible piece. The flexible piece forms a portion of a cylinder having the center axis. The flexible piece has a length equal to or larger than twice an outer diameter of the cylinder in a direction parallel to the center axis. The flexible piece is elastically deformable so that the flexible piece has a distal end portion to be displaceable in a radial direction of the cylinder relative to a proximal end portion of the flexible piece. The contact portion has a shape curved so as to protrude inward in the radial direction.

An evaluation jig comprises a female terminal connectable to a male terminal of a charging connector. The female terminal includes a plurality of contact pieces and a support portion. Each contact piece has a flexible piece, and a contact portion protruding toward the center axis from an inner surface of the flexible piece. The flexible piece forms a portion of a cylinder having the center axis. The flexible piece has a length equal to or larger than twice an outer diameter of the cylinder in a direction parallel to the center axis. The flexible piece is elastically deformable so that the flexible piece has a distal end portion to be displaceable in a radial direction of the cylinder relative to a proximal end portion of the flexible piece. The contact portion has a shape curved so as to protrude inward in the radial direction.

The evaluation jig includes a pair of female terminals connectable to a pair of male terminals of a charging connector and an electric wire that connects the paired female terminals to each other. The electric wire has a cross-sectional area of 70 mm.sup.2 or more and 95 mm.sup.2 or less. The electric wire has a length of 2 m or more.

The evaluation jig includes a pair of female terminals connectable to a pair of male terminals of a charging connector and an electric wire that connects the paired female terminals to each other. The electric wire has a cross-sectional area of 70 mm.sup.2 or more and 95 mm.sup.2 or less. The electric wire has a length of 2 m or more.