Wireless Power Transfer for Electric Vehicle Using an Adaptive Robot

Charging time and power transfer efficiency are the main challenges of wireless power transfer for electric vehicles. It is proposed in this paper to resolve both issues using the transformer induction concept as well as adaptive robotic technology. To this end, an autonomous robotic arm equipped with several sensors is mounted to the vehicle's undercarriage that carries a receiving coil. In case that the vehicle is parked in a parking spot equipped with wireless power transmitters, the robot will locate the receiving coil on the right place that is above the transmitting core when the vehicle is parked. When the vehicle is driven on a road equipped with the wireless power transmission system, the proposed mechanism provides the driver with signals that indicate the most efficient driving trajectory. To achieve the maximum efficiency, an advanced mathematical adaptive algorithm based on the extremum seeking method is employed. In addition, silicon carbide metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor is used in power converter to retain the frequency as high as possible to decrease the charging time. Through this method, the above issues and the problem of large non-permeable air gap and accordingly electromagnetic interference are resolved; while, the charging time is decreased dramatically.