Graz Engineers Built a Robot-Controlled Fast Charging System for EVs

Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) engineers have built a novel robot-controlled, fast charging system for electric vehicles.

A world’s first, the combined fast charging system is said to load vehicles in different parking positions according to a series.

The researchers claim that the new charging system is designed for use with standard charging plugs (CCS), meaning that no specific vehicle adaptations are necessary.

The other partners involved in this project include BMW AG Munich, MAGNA Steyr Engineering Graz, the Linz automation specialist KEBA, and the Austrian Association for Automotive Technology (ÖVK) in Vienna.

Bernhard Walzel, who is in charge of this research explained that this was the first time they have succeeded in building a robot-based charging station that autonomously charges several vehicles one behind the other, without the vehicles being specially adapted for it to do so.

Walzel points out that the robot recognises the charging socket by means of sophisticated camera technology and can charge several e-cars in sequence after they drive into the charging station.

Problems associated with the vehicle’s parking positioning on the station were solved, so the system still works even when a vehicle is not parked in an exact position, intones Walzel.

Another unique feature of this system is that the robot can operate in various light conditions indoors as well as outdoors.