Volkswagen Unveils Autonomous Charging Robot for Electric Cars
Volkswagen Group Components (VWGC) has announced the development of an autonomous charging robot for electric cars. The robot, which was first introduced as an idea about a year ago, is designed to drive to electric cars parked in garages and parking lots and charge them autonomously. According to a press release, the company has now completed a prototype of the robot, which resembles the popular Star Wars character R2D2. While only photos and short videos of the robot have been released so far, the company has not yet made a public presentation.
The charging robot is fully autonomous and can be activated by the driver or the electric car through an app or Car-to-X communication. The robot then retrieves a fully charged battery, brings it to the car, connects it, and removes it after the charging process is complete. Meanwhile, the robot can charge other electric cars with additional batteries. The robot is equipped with numerous sensors that allow it to avoid obstacles, pedestrians, and moving cars.
The development of the charging system is driven by the needs of parking garage and lot operators who are looking for an affordable way to electrify their parking spaces. However, before the robot can be released on the market, further development steps are necessary, including improvements to the Car-to-X communication system. Despite these challenges, the charging robot represents a significant step forward in the development of autonomous charging technology for electric cars.
