Disclosed herein is a compliant joint that is movable in three degrees of freedom (DOF), as well as systems including the compliant joint, and a process for assembling the compliant joint. The compliant joint may comprise an elongate arm, a ball joint, and a carrier. The ball joint is configured to couple to the carrier, and the elongate arm is configured to couple to the ball joint. The ball joint may have a cross section that is ellipsoidal, an outer surface that is convex, and a first hole. The carrier may comprise a second hole that is ellipsoidal, and an inner surface that is concave. The elongate arm, when disposed within the first hole, is movable axially through the first hole, and the ball joint, when disposed within the second hole, is movable with at least one of pitch rotation or yaw rotation.

A method for preventing a robot from colliding with a charging base, including: step 1, during a process of moving in a current working area of the robot, detecting, in real time, a reception condition of a base avoidance signal of the robot within a received signal coverage range thereof; and step 2, establishing a safety area in the current working area according to a direction feature relationship between the base avoidance signal and a preset working path of the robot, and before establishing the safety area, according to an orientation relationship between the base avoidance signal and a direction of a current moving path of the robot, marking and establishing a danger area at a position that satisfies a collision avoidance relationship with a current position of the robot, so that the robot avoids the charging base during the process of moving in the current working area.

A vehicle unit comprising a charging connection for charging a battery of an electric vehicle, where the vehicle unit is provided in the floorpan of the electric vehicle, and the charging connection is designed to be connected to a contacting element on a plane running parallel to the floorpan.

A system and method for charging a plug-in electric vehicle are disclosed. The system includes a plug-in electric vehicle having a frame, a rechargeable battery pack, a vehicle inlet, a positioning module, and a first communication module; and a battery charging station having a plurality of connectors, an actuation mechanism, and a second communication module. The battery charging station is in operative communication with the PEV, can anticipate an arrival of the PEV, and can ready a connector corresponding to the PEV's vehicle inlet type. The method includes monitoring one or more characterising parameters of a PEV, determining that the PEV needs charging, routing the PEV to a battery charging station, transmitting forecasting information and an identity of the PEV to the battery charging station, and charging the PEV at the battery charging station.

A system and method for charging a plug-in electric vehicle are disclosed. The system includes a plug-in electric vehicle having a frame, a rechargeable battery pack, a vehicle inlet, a positioning module, and a first communication module; and a battery charging station having a plurality of connectors, an actuation mechanism, and a second communication module. The battery charging station is in operative communication with the PEV, can anticipate an arrival of the PEV, and can ready a connector corresponding to the PEV's vehicle inlet type. The method includes monitoring one or more characterising parameters of a PEV, determining that the PEV needs charging, routing the PEV to a battery charging station, transmitting forecasting information and an identity of the PEV to the battery charging station, and charging the PEV at the battery charging station.

A method for operating an electric charging device for an electrically drivable motor vehicle. The electric charging device has a ground unit for positioning in the ground and for generating an alternating magnetic field for an electric charging operation. The method includes sensing a motor vehicle within a predefined perimeter surrounding the ground unit; sensing a driving parameter value of at least one driving parameter of the sensed motor vehicle at at least one respective predefinable point in time; storing the at least one driving parameter value if an electric charging operation is carried out for the detected motor vehicle; determining a driving recommendation on the basis of the at least one sensed and stored driving parameter value; and transmitting the driving recommendation if another motor vehicle is sensed within the predefined perimeter surrounding the ground unit.

A method for operating an electric charging device for an electrically drivable motor vehicle. The electric charging device has a ground unit for positioning in the ground and for generating an alternating magnetic field for an electric charging operation. The method includes sensing a motor vehicle within a predefined perimeter surrounding the ground unit; sensing a driving parameter value of at least one driving parameter of the sensed motor vehicle at at least one respective predefinable point in time; storing the at least one driving parameter value if an electric charging operation is carried out for the detected motor vehicle; determining a driving recommendation on the basis of the at least one sensed and stored driving parameter value; and transmitting the driving recommendation if another motor vehicle is sensed within the predefined perimeter surrounding the ground unit.

An example system can comprise autonomous submarines and an auxiliary station including a power supply. Each autonomous submarine can include a respective power supply and a respective marine survey node coupled thereto. The auxiliary station can be configured to dock the autonomous submarines in a body of water and recharge the respective power supply of each of the autonomous submarines via the power supply of the auxiliary station. Each autonomous submarine can be configured to autonomously navigate from and return to the auxiliary station and position the respective marine survey node on an underwater surface.

Techniques are described for aligning a vehicle to a wireless charger. Wireless communication is performed between at least a first wireless device of the vehicle and at least a second wireless device external to the vehicle. The first wireless device has a stationary position relative to the vehicle. The second wireless device has a stationary position relative to the wireless charger. Based on the wireless communication, a distance between the first and second wireless devices is measured and used to determine the relative position of the vehicle. A trajectory is calculated, based on the relative position of the vehicle, to enable the vehicle to be maneuvered into a charging position in which a charge receiving device of the vehicle is aligned with respect to the wireless charger. In some embodiments, multiple wireless devices on the vehicle or external to the vehicle participate in determining the relative position of the vehicle.

Techniques are described for aligning a vehicle to a wireless charger. Wireless communication is performed between at least a first wireless device of the vehicle and at least a second wireless device external to the vehicle. The first wireless device has a stationary position relative to the vehicle. The second wireless device has a stationary position relative to the wireless charger. Based on the wireless communication, a distance between the first and second wireless devices is measured and used to determine the relative position of the vehicle. A trajectory is calculated, based on the relative position of the vehicle, to enable the vehicle to be maneuvered into a charging position in which a charge receiving device of the vehicle is aligned with respect to the wireless charger. In some embodiments, multiple wireless devices on the vehicle or external to the vehicle participate in determining the relative position of the vehicle.