A vehicle control apparatus is provided, comprising: a state switching unit that switches a state of a vehicle between a first state in which the vehicle accepts a driving manipulation and a second state in which the vehicle does not accept a driving manipulation; a distance acquiring unit that acquires a distance between the vehicle and an charging facility; and a switching control unit that causes the state switching unit to switch the state of the vehicle to the first state if the vehicle is in the second state and the distance between the vehicle and the charging facility is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

The present invention relates to a system, method and station for docking unmanned vehicles. The system, method and station are particularly relevant, but not limited to dock the unmanned vehicles for autonomous operations. Further the system, method and station are particularly relevant, but not limited to protect the unmanned vehicles from external environments.

A method for establishing an electrical connection of a vehicle contact unit of a vehicle which is at least in part electrically powered, to a ground contact unit of an electric charging infrastructure is provided. The ground contact unit has a plurality of electrical contact surfaces, at least two of which have to be contacted by the vehicle contact unit for charging the vehicle battery. The method includes the step of detecting, with the aid of at least one camera on the vehicle, at least one of the electrical contact surfaces and/or at least one insulation surface surrounding the electrical contact surfaces, for establishing an electrical connection. Further provided are a vehicle connection device for electrically connecting a vehicle contact unit of a vehicle which is at least in part electrically powered, to a ground contact unit of an electric charging infrastructure, and a vehicle having a vehicle connection device.

A method for establishing an electrical connection of a vehicle contact unit of a vehicle which is at least in part electrically powered, to a ground contact unit of an electric charging infrastructure is provided. The ground contact unit has a plurality of electrical contact surfaces, at least two of which have to be contacted by the vehicle contact unit for charging the vehicle battery. The method includes the step of detecting, with the aid of at least one camera on the vehicle, at least one of the electrical contact surfaces and/or at least one insulation surface surrounding the electrical contact surfaces, for establishing an electrical connection. Further provided are a vehicle connection device for electrically connecting a vehicle contact unit of a vehicle which is at least in part electrically powered, to a ground contact unit of an electric charging infrastructure, and a vehicle having a vehicle connection device.

A base unit is provided for a charging station for inductively charging an electrical store of a vehicle. The base unit has a primary coil, which is designed, if there is electromagnetic coupling to a secondary coil of the vehicle, to transmit electrical energy to the secondary coil. The base unit also has an image sensor, which is designed to capture image data of at least a part of the vehicle. In addition, the base unit has a control unit, which is designed to provide or use the image data for positioning the secondary coil in relation to the primary coil.

A method of autonomously charging an electric vehicle having a charge port is provided. The method comprises providing an electric charge system having a first controller and a second controller. The first controller is in communication with an electric charger and a movable charge arm. The movable charge arm is connected to the electric charger extends to an arm end comprising a charge plug and a camera. The movable charge arm has an idle position defining a charging zone and is movable via a predetermined number of degrees of freedom to connect the charge plug with the charge port for electrically charging the electric vehicle. The second controller disposed in the vehicle and in communication with the first controller. The method further comprises aligning the charge port with the charging zone by vehicle movement and aligning the charge plug with the charge port by the charge arm movement. The method further comprises connecting the charge plug to the charge port to electrically charge the electric vehicle.

A charging station can be autonomously coupled to an electric vehicle. Sensors on the vehicle determine a location of the vehicle, and the vehicle is positioned within a connection envelope. A travel path for bringing a charging connector into contact with a charging port on the vehicle can be determined, and then the travel path is autonomously carried out.

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting foreign objects. In one aspect an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object is provided. The apparatus includes a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency. The resonant circuit includes a sense circuit including an electrically conductive structure. The apparatus further includes a coupling circuit coupled to the sense circuit. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit coupled to the sense circuit via the coupling circuit. The detection circuit is configured to detect the presence of the object in response to detecting a difference between a measured characteristic that depends on a frequency at which the resonant circuit is resonating and a corresponding characteristic that depends on the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. The coupling circuit is configured to reduce a variation of the resonant frequency by the detection circuit in the absence of the object.

An electric vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a frame. A battery and a motor may be secured to the frame, such that the battery powers the motor which drives the vehicle. The vehicle may further include at least one axle including a plurality of wheels. A manual steering mechanism including a steering column is operable to pivot the wheels when the steering column is rotated. An overhead frame protrudes vertically from the main frame. A steering drive shaft is supported by the overhead frame and is operable to pivot the wheels when rotated. A head unit is secured to the steering drive shaft and includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode electrically wired to the battery. The head unit is operable to engage an overhead track. The overhead track transfers electrical power to the positive electrode and negative electrode, thereby recharging the battery and driving the motor while steering the electric vehicle.

The present disclosure relates to a charging pile control system which comprises at least one video monitoring device configured to collect images or video data in a monitoring scope, parse the collected images or video data, and transmit the parsed images or video data to a multi-functional charging pile, the monitoring scope covering at least one parking space and its surrounding area; and a multi-functional charging pile configured to receive the images or video data transmitted by the at least one video monitoring device, analyze according to the images or video data to obtain a position of an electric vehicle entering the monitoring scope relative to an idle parking space among the at least one parking space, and controls the electric vehicle to implement automatic parking. The present disclosure further relates to relevant multi-functional charging pile and electric vehicle.