A charging station charges an electrical energy accumulator of a road vehicle. For energy supply from a two-pole overhead line system, the road vehicle has a pantograph with at least one wearing strip, which can be raised and lowered, for each contact pole. For each contact pole, the charging station contains at least two charging contacts which are arranged above a charging position for the road vehicle and are arranged next to each other so that for each contact pole at least two contact points can be established between the wearing strip and the charging contacts. This makes it possible to transmit higher charging currents, which shortens the charging time for the energy accumulator.

A charging station charges an electrical energy accumulator of a road vehicle. For energy supply from a two-pole overhead line system, the road vehicle has a pantograph with at least one wearing strip, which can be raised and lowered, for each contact pole. For each contact pole, the charging station contains at least two charging contacts which are arranged above a charging position for the road vehicle and are arranged next to each other so that for each contact pole at least two contact points can be established between the wearing strip and the charging contacts. This makes it possible to transmit higher charging currents, which shortens the charging time for the energy accumulator.

An unmanned aerial vehicle according to certain embodiments generally includes a chassis, a power supply mounted to the chassis, a control system operable to receive power from the power supply, at least one rotor operable to generate lift under control of the control system, a line having one end coupled to the chassis and an opposite free end, wherein the free end is positioned below the chassis, and a severing mechanism operable to sever the line under control of the control system.

An unmanned aerial vehicle according to certain embodiments generally includes a chassis, a power supply mounted to the chassis, a control system operable to receive power from the power supply, at least one rotor operable to generate lift under control of the control system, a line having one end coupled to the chassis and an opposite free end, wherein the free end is positioned below the chassis, and a severing mechanism operable to sever the line under control of the control system.

A positioning unit for electrically driven vehicles and a method for forming an electrically conductive connection between an electrically driven vehicle and a stationary charging station having a positioning unit configured to be disposed on a vehicle roof. The positioning unit includes a contact device that is moveable relative to a charging contact device of the charging station and is electrically connectable to the charging contact device in a contact position, and an articulated arm device for positioning the contact device and a drive device for driving the articulated arm device. The articulated arm device includes for pivoting the contact device from a storing state to a vertical contact state and vice versa, and a second pivot arm for pivoting the contact device from the retracted position to the contact position and vice versa. The first pivot arm is disposed to be pivotable on a distal end of the second pivot arm.

An operator assistance system associated with a work machine includes an imaging device mounted on the work machine and facing an overhead line and a pantograph of the work machine. The imaging device captures an input image including a first pictorial view that includes the overhead line. The operator assistance system also includes a controller communicably coupled with the imaging device. The controller generates an output image including a second pictorial view and a first indication element overlayed on the second pictorial view. The first indication element defines a reference zone, such that a presence of the overhead line of the second pictorial view within the reference zone indicates that the work machine is in desired alignment with the overhead line. The operator assistance system further includes a display device to display the output image thereon for providing a visual indication to an operator.

An operator assistance system associated with a work machine includes an imaging device mounted on the work machine and facing an overhead line and a pantograph of the work machine. The imaging device captures an input image including a first pictorial view that includes the overhead line. The operator assistance system also includes a controller communicably coupled with the imaging device. The controller generates an output image including a second pictorial view and a first indication element overlayed on the second pictorial view. The first indication element defines a reference zone, such that a presence of the overhead line of the second pictorial view within the reference zone indicates that the work machine is in desired alignment with the overhead line. The operator assistance system further includes a display device to display the output image thereon for providing a visual indication to an operator.

A work machine, such as a hauler at a mining site, includes a conductive linkage connected to a conductor rod for receiving multiple poles of electrical power from a current collector sliding on a surface of a power rail. The conductive linkage includes trailing arms substantially parallel to each other and attached by lower joints to the current collector and by upper joints to the conductor rod. The lower joints and the upper joints have multiple axes of rotation and enable the trailing arms to move laterally and vertically with respect to the surface of the at least one power rail in response to movement of the work machine, while conducting the electrical power from the current collector to the conductor rod.

A work machine, such as a hauler at a mining site, includes a conductor rod housing concentric metal tubes for receiving electrical power from a contactor sliding on a power rail. A connection assembly includes lugs branching orthogonally from respective ones of the concentric metal tubes to an exterior of the conductor rod. The lugs include ball-and-socket joints configured to enable semi-spherical movement of the lugs at the exterior with respect to the joints. When attached to the contactor via conductive arms, the connection assembly provides multiple degrees of freedom for the conductor rod relative to the contactor and avoids detachment of the contactor from the power rail.

The platform comprises supporting legs (12) fastened to the platform (10), and a control unit (13) and provides an electrical charging system including a plurality of coplanar adjacent electroconductive plates (14), with adjacent edges electrically insulated, arranged on an electrically insulated support. Each electroconductive plate (14) is connected by an electroconductive cable (15) to the control unit (13) and to a power source (16), wherein the electroconductive plate (14), electroconductive cable (15) and control unit (13) form an electrical circuit and the control unit (13) is configured to detect a change of an electric potential and/or current of the electrical circuit due to a UAV, landing on said platform and providing at least two points of contact with two different electroconductive plates (14). The platform supply energy, from power source to said two different electroconductive plates (14) using corresponding electroconductive cables (15) in order to charge powering means of said UAV.