Modular, Vision-Based Control of Automated Charging Systems for Electric Vehicles

Contemporary vehicle fleets include a variety of both manually and automated operated vehicles. A significant shift involves the increasing use of electric powertrains. However, the current electric charging infrastructure predominantly relies on manual processes. There is an opportunity to automate the charging process for these cars, with the intent to enhance convenience, aid people with accessibility needs, to support MW charging where EV cables are heavy, and finally to enable autonomous driving. The charging standards are common but the mechanisms to access the charging ports are not i.e., lids and protectives. This could be a challenge in the automation process given the complexity of the manipulation task at hand. With the increasing variety of electric vehicle models, standardizing charging mechanisms becomes imperative to streamline the charging process and enable broader adoption. In summary, this paper presents a holistic approach to addressing the evolving needs of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of automation in enabling efficient, accessible, and future-ready charging solutions.