A port for electric vehicles includes an off-loading zone for off-loading one or more passengers from an electric vehicle; a loading zone for loading one or more passengers onto the electric vehicle; and a charging zone for charging the electric vehicle while the electric vehicle is moving from the off-loading zone to the loading zone.

A method docks an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot to a docking station. An electrical conductor arrangement runs in the region of the docking station, wherein the conductor arrangement is designed such that a periodic current flows through the conductor arrangement, wherein the current generates a periodic magnetic field. The green area maintenance robot has two magnetic field sensors, wherein the two magnetic field sensors are designed such that the magnetic field respectively causes a periodic sensor signal in the magnetic field sensors. The method has the steps of: determining a phase shift between the two sensor signals or signals based on the sensor signals, and controlling movement of the green area maintenance robot for docking on the basis of the determined phase shift.

A method docks an autonomous mobile green area maintenance robot to a docking station. An electrical conductor arrangement runs in the region of the docking station, wherein the conductor arrangement is designed such that a periodic current flows through the conductor arrangement, wherein the current generates a periodic magnetic field. The green area maintenance robot has two magnetic field sensors, wherein the two magnetic field sensors are designed such that the magnetic field respectively causes a periodic sensor signal in the magnetic field sensors. The method has the steps of: determining a phase shift between the two sensor signals or signals based on the sensor signals, and controlling movement of the green area maintenance robot for docking on the basis of the determined phase shift.

The invention relates to a method for inductive energy transmission from a transmitting coil to a receiving coil spaced apart from the transmitting coil. The receiving coil is arranged in a vehicle which is arranged stationary or is travelling on a supporting surface, wherein the vehicle has at least one sensor. In a first method step (A) a distance between the transmitting coil and/or the supporting surface and the receiving coil is determined, in a second method step (B) a minimum possible air gap between the transmitting coil and/or the supporting surface and the receiving coil is calculated from the distance, and in a third method step (C) the receiving coil is positioned such that the distance corresponds to the minimum possible air gap.

The invention relates to a method for inductive energy transmission from a transmitting coil to a receiving coil spaced apart from the transmitting coil. The receiving coil is arranged in a vehicle which is arranged stationary or is travelling on a supporting surface, wherein the vehicle has at least one sensor. In a first method step (A) a distance between the transmitting coil and/or the supporting surface and the receiving coil is determined, in a second method step (B) a minimum possible air gap between the transmitting coil and/or the supporting surface and the receiving coil is calculated from the distance, and in a third method step (C) the receiving coil is positioned such that the distance corresponds to the minimum possible air gap.

A ground power supply apparatus for transmitting power to a vehicle by noncontact has: a plurality of power transmission apparatuses for transmitting power to the vehicle; at least one detection device for detecting a signal emitted from the vehicle using narrow range wireless communication; and a controller for controlling the power transmission apparatuses. The power transmission apparatuses are arranged in a road aligned in a direction of advance of the vehicle. One first detection device is arranged so as to enable detection of the signal at an upstream side from the most upstream power transmission apparatus. The control device controls transmission of power from power transmission apparatuses other than the first power transmission apparatus positioned the most upstream, based on the signal detected by the first detection device and power transmission result information at the power transmission apparatus positioned upstream of that power transmission apparatus.

An electric vehicle having an electrical storage battery includes an inductive charge receiver configured to inductively couple to a series of charging coils embedded in a roadway over which the vehicle travels in order to transfer charge to the storage battery. A ground penetrating radar transceiver is configured to interrogate the roadway including a region of the roadway toward which the vehicle is heading. The ground penetrating radar transceiver generates reflectance data including reflections from the charging coils and from embedded cabling coupling the charging coils. An object analyzer is responsive to the reflectance data and configured to map the series of charging coils relative to the vehicle. A path controller is configured to determine a steering operation of the vehicle along the roadway for optimizing a charge transfer from the series of charging coils to the inductive charge receiver.

An electric vehicle having an electrical storage battery includes an inductive charge receiver configured to inductively couple to a series of charging coils embedded in a roadway over which the vehicle travels in order to transfer charge to the storage battery. A ground penetrating radar transceiver is configured to interrogate the roadway including a region of the roadway toward which the vehicle is heading. The ground penetrating radar transceiver generates reflectance data including reflections from the charging coils and from embedded cabling coupling the charging coils. An object analyzer is responsive to the reflectance data and configured to map the series of charging coils relative to the vehicle. A path controller is configured to determine a steering operation of the vehicle along the roadway for optimizing a charge transfer from the series of charging coils to the inductive charge receiver.

Technology is disclosed for systems, devices, and methods relating to vehicle positioning. A system for vehicle positioning can comprise a passive resonator configured to be embedded in a roadway, and at least one antenna configured to be attached to a vehicle. The at least one antenna can be configured to transmit a first signal to the passive resonator and receive a second signal from the passive resonator at a harmonic frequency of the first signal. Diodes are used to stimulate a resonant circuit to create the second signal. The passive resonator can be configured to receive the first signal from the at least one antenna and transmit a second signal to the at least one antenna. The system can further comprise a processor configured to: calculate a relative position between the vehicle and the passive resonator based on a phase difference observed between the first signal and a reference signal.

Technology is disclosed for systems, devices, and methods relating to vehicle positioning. A system for vehicle positioning can comprise a passive resonator configured to be embedded in a roadway, and at least one antenna configured to be attached to a vehicle. The at least one antenna can be configured to transmit a first signal to the passive resonator and receive a second signal from the passive resonator at a harmonic frequency of the first signal. Diodes are used to stimulate a resonant circuit to create the second signal. The passive resonator can be configured to receive the first signal from the at least one antenna and transmit a second signal to the at least one antenna. The system can further comprise a processor configured to: calculate a relative position between the vehicle and the passive resonator based on a phase difference observed between the first signal and a reference signal.