An autonomous base station for unmanned aerial vehicles (‘UAVs’) is disclosed, which includes a landing surface for a UAV, configured with at least one power transfer bus for supplying power to a power source of a UAV thereon. The base station further includes a networking module and data processing means operably connected to, and configured to control, the power transfer bus and the networking module. The data processing means is operably connected to the UAV through the networking module, and further configured to receive, store and process data from the UAV or another. The base station further includes a power supply operably connected to the or each power transfer bus, the or each networking module and the data processing means. A network of at least two such base stations is also disclosed, for sensing, modelling and monitoring an environment with UAVs.

A battery charging system includes a battery removably mounted on an electric power device using electric power, a charging device configured to charge the battery using renewable power which is electric power generated from renewable energy, and a server configured to communicate with the charging device. The charging device is configured to control charging of the battery accommodated in an accommodation unit on the basis of reception information received from the server. The server is configured to compare receivable power, which is the renewable power capable of being received by the charging device, with a threshold value and configured to transmit transmission information for causing the charging device to control the charging of the battery to the charging device on the basis of a result of comparing the receivable power with the threshold value.

A computer-implemented method for increasing safety during charging of a vehicle battery of a vehicle by a charging station, the method comprising the steps of calculating a forecast value for a maximum safe charging current by the controller of the vehicle based on sensor data generated by sensors of the vehicle and adjusting the charging current provided by the charging station in response to the forecast value of a maximum safe charging current.

A renewable energy charging system for increasing the charging efficiency of an autonomous vehicle includes a computer programed to predict, in a vehicle at a plurality of locations, an amount of power generation associated with each location. The computer selects one of the locations based at least on the predicted amounts of power generation and moves the vehicle to the selected location.

A renewable energy charging system for increasing the charging efficiency of an autonomous vehicle includes a computer programed to predict, in a vehicle at a plurality of locations, an amount of power generation associated with each location. The computer selects one of the locations based at least on the predicted amounts of power generation and moves the vehicle to the selected location.

The application discloses an automatic transfer switch and a power supply system. The automatic transfer switch includes: a first switch unit having a first end connected to a first device through a converter port, and a second end electrically connected to a power grid through a power grid port; a second switch unit having a first end connected to a second device through an electric vehicle port and a charging/discharging circuit unit, and a second end electrically connected to the second end of the first switch unit; a third switch unit, having a first end electrically connected to the power grid through the power grid port, and a second end electrically connected to a load through a load port; a sampling unit; and a control unit connected to the sampling unit.

The application discloses an automatic transfer switch and a power supply system. The automatic transfer switch includes: a first switch unit having a first end connected to a first device through a converter port, and a second end electrically connected to a power grid through a power grid port; a second switch unit having a first end connected to a second device through an electric vehicle port and a charging/discharging circuit unit, and a second end electrically connected to the second end of the first switch unit; a third switch unit, having a first end electrically connected to the power grid through the power grid port, and a second end electrically connected to a load through a load port; a sampling unit; and a control unit connected to the sampling unit.

A method is provided. An airship is maneuvered to a desired location and oriented with the thruster such that ambient wind is traveling in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage. The airflow from the ambient wind is straightened with the flow straightener to generate a substantially laminar flow. The turbine is engaged with the airflow generated by the ambient wind to generate electricity, and the electricity generated by the turbine is rectified with the rectifier and stored in the storage array.

A method is provided. An airship is maneuvered to a desired location and oriented with the thruster such that ambient wind is traveling in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage. The airflow from the ambient wind is straightened with the flow straightener to generate a substantially laminar flow. The turbine is engaged with the airflow generated by the ambient wind to generate electricity, and the electricity generated by the turbine is rectified with the rectifier and stored in the storage array.

A system and method for an electric vehicle (EV) battery resource sharing system is provided. One embodiment has a plurality of battery modules and a plurality of battery exchange facilities. Each different EV contains a battery swap cabinet that is configured to releasably secure at least one of the plurality of battery modules within the EV. A user of an EV, while at the battery exchange facility, exchanges a discharged first battery module for a second battery module that has been recharged. The battery exchange facility releases the recharged second battery module to the user after a payment has been made by the user. The battery exchange facility subsequently recharges the discharged first battery module after the user has placed the discharged first battery module into the battery exchange facility.