The present application discloses at least a method, apparatus, and system for automatic refueling of a driverless vehicle. A specific implementation of the method includes: sending refueling request information when a fuel amount is lower than a preset value and a refueling condition is satisfied; receiving preselected gas station information corresponding to the refueling request information; determining, from the preselected gas station information, destination gas station information and driving route information of a destination gas station; sending refueling request information after arriving at the destination gas station based on the driving route information of the destination gas station; turning off an engine and/or an electric motor after receiving refueling permission information corresponding to the refueling request information, opening a fuel tank cap, and sending refueling confirmation information; and closing the fuel tank cap after receiving refueling completion information. This implementation improves the refueling efficiency.

A fuel dispenser including one or more processors in a local or distributed computing system provide techniques for smart fuel dispensing that represent a marriage of vehicle telematics data, a smart fuel dispenser, and a customer device (e.g., a mobile device, tablet, computer, etc.). The techniques disclosed particularly provide a customizable fueling experience to customers and, for example, communicate fuel dispensing configuration information to/from a customer, pair vehicles to a fueling dispenser (e.g., using combinations of vehicle telematics, mobile phone data, fuel dispensing data, etc.), initiate/terminate fueling sessions, recommend fuel grades, establish customer accounts for various payment options, and look forward to potential itineraries (e.g., planned trips) to provide recommendations for vehicle maintenance, fuel grades, additives, etc.).

A system ensures the correct type of fuel is dispensed in an aircraft while removing the introduction of human error in the refueling process. The system includes an RFID tag disposed at one or more aircraft that electronically stores data such as engine type, engine hours, fuel type, tail number, and pilot/subscriber data for the aircraft on which the RFID tag is disposed. An RFID reader is disposed at or near a fuel dispensing mechanism, such as a fuel truck or tank. A signal indicative of fuel type is emitted from the RFID tag to the RFID reader. RFID tags on aircraft that are enrolled in the system's subscription service enable aircraft to be recognized by a module operating the fuel dispensing mechanism. Based on a comparison performed by the module, authorization to begin fueling is either permitted or declined.

A radio frequency identification (RFID) dispenser that includes low cost electronic components that can read and write to the tag of a refill cartridge. In one embodiment, the reader utilizes a multi band pass filter to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. In another embodiment, the controller utilizes an internal comparator to convert the radio frequency identification into a digital signal that is processed by a controller to perform a dispensing function representative to the code of the tag. The dispenser in both embodiments also includes a pair of transistors that write to the RFID tag of the refill cartridge. A dispenser according to the invention also includes the capability to read and/or write to tags upon cartridges employed by the dispenser, and augmenting the operation of the dispenser as a function thereof. Additionally, a dispenser of variable size is presented that is adaptable, through adjustable partitions or a telescoping cup, to receive and maintain cartridges of various sizes.

A product delivery system includes a product transport vehicle having at least a plurality of tank compartments, internal valves, control valves, fluid property sensors, temperature sensors, overfill sensors, pressure sensors, a system controller, and a memory module. The product delivery system may be operable to communicatively connect with the loading system at a loading station, a fleet management system, or a cloud system to obtain information, such as the amount of liquid product to be loaded into a tank compartment. The product delivery system may be operable to compare the volumes of the tank compartments with the amounts of liquid product to be loaded at a loading station and maintain the internal valve or control valve in a locked state or transition the internal valve or control valve to an unlocked state based on the comparison. Other comparisons based on liquid type or distribution tank volume can also be made.

A fuel dispenser includes a fuel nozzle configured to be connected to a vehicle fuel system, fuel piping configured to transfer fuel from at least one fuel storage tank associated with the fuel dispenser through the fuel nozzle into the vehicle fuel system, and a fraud detection valve apparatus. The fraud detection valve apparatus includes a cutoff valve configured to selectively prevent flow of fuel, a flow sensor configured to sense a flow of fuel, and processing circuity. The processing circuitry is configured to receive an indication of flow of fuel through the fuel flow control valve apparatus, determine an authorization status, and in response to a determination of no authorization during flow, cause the cutoff valve apparatus to close.

A system includes a valve (14) configured to operate a filling of a tank (11); and blocking device (15) that blocks access to the valve (14). The blocking device (15) is operated between a closing and an opening position by an actuator (20) governed by a wireless terminal (12). The wireless terminal (12) includes a transceiver (65) for sending a charging signal (WD) that includes a data signal portion (D) and a supply portion (W) carrying energy via electromagnetic induction, in particular a WPC (Wireless Power Consortium) signal. The blocking device (15) is configured for receiving electrical energy from the supply portion (W) to operate the actuator (20). The blocking device (15) also includes a control module (70) enabling operation of the actuator (20) according to the data signal portion (D) exchanged with a corresponding control module (60) of the wireless terminal (12).

A system for confirming that a liquid product is to be dispensed into a storage tank from a tanker compartment before dispensing the liquid product is disclosed. A wand computing device generates a liquid product identification signal that identifies the liquid product contained in the storage tank when positioned within proximity of a storage tank tag associated with the storage tank. A dispense monitoring computing device attempts to match the liquid product identified by the liquid product identification signal to the liquid products identified as contained in tanker compartments. The dispense monitoring computing device generates a signal to notify the operator that an appropriate tanker compartment contains liquid product that is the same as the liquid product contained by the storage tank and can be dispensed into the storage tank when the liquid product contained by the storage tank matches the liquid product contained by the appropriate tanker compartment.

A fluid management system includes an authentication device and a fluid dispensing meter, and the fluid dispensing meter includes a processor and a memory. The authentication device is configured to provide data to the processor. The processor is configured to recall information from the memory, to compare the information to the data received from the authenticator, and to control a trigger control mechanism between the activated state and the deactivated state based on the comparison.

A product delivery vehicle system includes a product delivery vehicle with at least one tank compartment. The system includes an internal valve fluidly coupled to the tank compartment, a control valve, and an air system comprising a main air valve and a solenoid valve fluidly coupled to the main air valve and to the internal valve. The solenoid valve is operable to open and close the internal valve. The system includes an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to the control valve, the main air valve, and the solenoid valve. The system includes a tank tag reader operable to read a tank tag and transmit a tank tag indicator associated with the tank tag, the tank tag indicator indicative of a stored liquid type in a distribution tank. The electronic control unit may maintain the internal valve closed and the control valve locked when a product type mismatch is detected.