Renu Robotics Corporation

Other

John Henry Gold

Tim A Matus

Michael Odell Blanton, Jr

Karl A Senghaas

Peter Senghaas

Jerzy Michalec

Peter T Kolonko, Jr

Disclosed herein is autonomous vehicle charging station featuring self-cleaning contact points, power flow safety features, and electrical connection testing (meeting minimum performance thresholds) for safe and efficient power transfer from the charging station to the autonomous vehicle. After docking, power line modem (PLM) communications are established between the autonomous vehicle and the charging station via an electrical power connection resulting from the docking act as an initial test of connectivity, and then the electrical power connection is determined to be safe with non-lethal power flow before charging the autonomous vehicle.

Autonomous vehicle charging station

Disclosed herein are solar-based semi-mobile recharge skids ('solar skids') for augmenting on-site fixed charging stations and/or mobile recharge stations, as well as for autonomous operation—that is, the solar skids may operate in conjunction with fixed charging stations, mobile recharge stations, both, or neither (i.e., operating independently). These solar skids are able to supply DC power for charging high-power electric-based autonomous vehicles—including providing variable charging power levels if needed—in a relatively short period of time and at relatively low cost. Various implementations are also directed to modular—based solar skids that can be interconnected for even higher levels and greater availability of recharge power.

Solar-based semi-mobile recharge skid

In one embodiment, a relative location detection apparatus including a detection unit having a support board having a plurality of spaced reed switches mounted along a lengthwise axis of the support board. Each of the reed switches has a longitudinal axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the support board. A high intensity magnet is coupled to the support board for movement relative to the support board and in a direction substantially parallel to the support board's lengthwise axis. The magnet has north and south poles that are oppositely positioned to one another and directed toward one another across a width of the support board and into periodic alignment with the longitudinal axes of the reed switches. The magnet has a magnetic force sufficiently focused so that the magnet actuates the reed switches individually thereby indicating the magnet's location.

Relative location detection sensor

Growing community of inventors

San Antonio, TX, United States of America

John Henry Gold