In one embodiment, an exemplary method of autonomously charging an autonomous driving vehicle includes receiving, from a sensor in an autonomous driving vehicle (ADV), indication that a batter level of the ADV falls below a threshold; and selecting a charging pile from a plurality of charging piles on a high definition map based on information received from a cloud server. The method further includes generating a first trajectory based on a current location of the ADV and a location of the selected charging pile, the first trajectory connecting a first point representing the current location of the ADV to a second point at the selected charging pile, and including a first segment and a second segment. The method further includes driving forward along the first segment of the first trajectory, and driving backward along the second segment of the first trajectory when the ADV drives towards the selected charging pile along the first trajectory.

The invention relates to a charging contact unit (100, 1100) for a vehicle, for integrating beneath a road surface, with a charging contact element carrier head (113, 1113) designed to interact with a contact device on the lower side of a vehicle, the contact making and the contact separation being carried out by a relative movement of the charging contact element carrier head and the contact device in a contacting direction (6), the charging contact element carrier head (113, 1113) being movable inside the charging contact unit and/or rotatable or pivotable about the contacting direction (6) in order to compare incorrect positioning in either one or a plurality of directions extending transversely to the contacting direction (6). The invention also relates to a contact system and a road covering.

The invention relates to a charging contact unit (100, 1100) for a vehicle, for integrating beneath a road surface, with a charging contact element carrier head (113, 1113) designed to interact with a contact device on the lower side of a vehicle, the contact making and the contact separation being carried out by a relative movement of the charging contact element carrier head and the contact device in a contacting direction (6), the charging contact element carrier head (113, 1113) being movable inside the charging contact unit and/or rotatable or pivotable about the contacting direction (6) in order to compare incorrect positioning in either one or a plurality of directions extending transversely to the contacting direction (6). The invention also relates to a contact system and a road covering.

A control system and apparatus for managing charging of electric vehicles in a transportation infrastructure and controlling at least the flight paths for drone-assisted vehicles requiring periodic charge comprises a transportation system control node connected in a first wide area network (WAN), a plurality of vehicle charging facilities distributed within the geographic region covered by the first wide area network and a charge controller connected to each of the plurality of charging facilities for brokering electric power from a power source to at least one structurally supported charge transfer apparatus maintained at each of the charging facilities.

A control system and apparatus for managing charging of electric vehicles in a transportation infrastructure and controlling at least the flight paths for drone-assisted vehicles requiring periodic charge comprises a transportation system control node connected in a first wide area network (WAN), a plurality of vehicle charging facilities distributed within the geographic region covered by the first wide area network and a charge controller connected to each of the plurality of charging facilities for brokering electric power from a power source to at least one structurally supported charge transfer apparatus maintained at each of the charging facilities.

A method for positioning a vehicle, having an inductive charging coil, at a stationary inductive charging station. The method includes: recognizing an operating state of the vehicle, and/or a state of the environment of the vehicle, based on an acquired first camera image; ascertaining a suitable illumination signal for at least one illumination device of a reference element of the inductive charging station based on the recognized operating state or environmental state; emitting a control signal to the inductive charging station based on the ascertained suitable illumination signal; recognizing the reference element based on an acquired second camera image and of the ascertained suitable illumination signal; determining a relative position and/or an orientation of the vehicle based on the recognized reference element in the second camera image; and controlling the vehicle based on the determined relative position and/or of the orientation.

A method for positioning a vehicle, having an inductive charging coil, at a stationary inductive charging station. The method includes: recognizing an operating state of the vehicle, and/or a state of the environment of the vehicle, based on an acquired first camera image; ascertaining a suitable illumination signal for at least one illumination device of a reference element of the inductive charging station based on the recognized operating state or environmental state; emitting a control signal to the inductive charging station based on the ascertained suitable illumination signal; recognizing the reference element based on an acquired second camera image and of the ascertained suitable illumination signal; determining a relative position and/or an orientation of the vehicle based on the recognized reference element in the second camera image; and controlling the vehicle based on the determined relative position and/or of the orientation.

Methods and systems for autonomous vehicle recharging or refueling are disclosed. Autonomous vehicles may be automatically refueled by routing the vehicles to available fueling stations when not in operation, according to methods described herein. A fuel level within a tank of an autonomous vehicle may be monitored until it reaches a refueling threshold, at which point an on-board computer may generate a predicted use profile for the vehicle. Based upon the predicted use profile, a time and location for the vehicle to refuel the vehicle may be determined. In some embodiments, the vehicle may be controlled to automatically travel to a fueling station, refill a fuel tank, and return to its starting location in order to refuel when not in use.

A robotic lawnmower system comprising a charging station (210) and a robotic work tool (100), the charging station comprising a signal generator (240) to which a boundary cable (250) is to be connected, the signal generator (240) being configured to transmit a signal (245) through the boundary cable (250), and the robotic working tool (100) comprising a sensor (170) configured to pick up magnetic fields generated by the signal (245) in the boundary cable (250) thereby receiving the signal (245) being transmitted and a controller (110) configured to analyse the picked up signal, wherein the signal generator (240) is further configured to: prefilter the signal through an filter model; and transmit the prefiltered signal to through the boundary cable (250) by means of a current generator.

A robotic lawnmower system comprising a charging station (210) and a robotic work tool (100), the charging station comprising a signal generator (240) to which a boundary cable (250) is to be connected, the signal generator (240) being configured to transmit a signal (245) through the boundary cable (250), and the robotic working tool (100) comprising a sensor (170) configured to pick up magnetic fields generated by the signal (245) in the boundary cable (250) thereby receiving the signal (245) being transmitted and a controller (110) configured to analyse the picked up signal, wherein the signal generator (240) is further configured to: prefilter the signal through an filter model; and transmit the prefiltered signal to through the boundary cable (250) by means of a current generator.