Modular facilities and charging consoles for autonomous ground vehicles

1 . A facility comprising:

a first frame, wherein the first frame comprises:

a first base having a rectangular shape;

a first plurality of posts extending vertically above the first base; and

at least a first foot extending vertically below the first base;

a second frame, wherein the second frame comprises:

a second base having a rectangular shape;

a second plurality of posts extending vertically above the second base; and

at least a second foot extending vertically below the second base;

a first panel fixedly mounted between two of the first plurality of posts of the first frame;

a first door mounted between two of the first plurality of posts of the first frame, wherein the first door is configured to rotate about a vertical axis between an open position and a closed position;

a second panel fixedly mounted between two of the second plurality of posts of the second frame;

a second door mounted between two of the second plurality of posts of the second frame, wherein the second door is configured to rotate about a vertical axis between an open position and a closed position;

a first console provided within a first space defined at least in part by the first frame, the first panel and the first door, wherein the first console is mounted to the first base, wherein the first console comprises a first charging contact and wherein the first console is configured to transfer power via the first charging contact; and

a second console provided within a second space defined at least in part by the second frame, the second panel and the second door, wherein the second console is mounted to the second base, wherein the second console comprises a second charging contact, and wherein the second console is configured to transfer power via the second charging contact,

wherein the first console is configured to receive electrical power from one of an external power source or the second console, and

wherein the second console is configured to receive electrical power from one of the external power source or the first console.

2 . The facility of claim 1 , wherein the facility rests on a ground surface with at least the first foot and the second foot in contact with the ground surface,

wherein the facility further comprises:

a first ramp aligned with the first door, wherein the first ramp extends from the ground surface to a portion of the first base associated with the first door, and wherein the first ramp provides rolling access to the first space; and

a second ramp aligned with the second door, wherein the second ramp extends from the ground surface to a portion of the second base associated with the second door, and wherein the second ramp provides rolling access to the second space.

3 . The facility of claim 1 , wherein a shape and a size of the first base corresponds to a footprint of at least a first ground vehicle, and

wherein a shape and a size of the second base corresponds to a footprint of at least a second ground vehicle.

4 . A facility comprising:

a first frame comprising:

a first base;

a first post extending normal to the first base; and

a first foot extending normal to the first base, wherein the first post and the first foot extend normal to the first base in opposite directions;

a first panel mounted to at least the first post;

a first door rotatably mounted to at least the first post, wherein the first door is adapted to rotate about a vertical axis between a closed position and an open position; and

a first console comprising a housing and a power conversion unit disposed within the housing,

wherein the first frame, the first panel and the first door define a first space,

wherein access to the first space is enabled when the first door is in the open position,

wherein the first console is mounted to the first base within the first space, and

wherein the first console is configured to transfer electrical power into the first space.

5 . The facility of claim 4 , wherein the first frame further comprises a first plurality of posts extending normal to the first base,

wherein the first post is one of the first plurality of posts,

wherein the first panel is mounted between the first post and a second post of the first plurality of posts, and

wherein the first door is rotatably mounted between the first post and a third post of the first plurality of posts.

6 . The facility of claim 5 ,

wherein the first door comprises a first hinge mounted to the first post,

wherein the first door is rotatably mounted to the first post by the first hinge, and

wherein the first door has a height corresponding to a height of the first post.

7 . The facility of claim 5 ,

wherein the first door comprises a first hinge mounted to the first post,

wherein the first door is rotatably mounted to the first post by the first hinge,

wherein the first door has a height corresponding to one-half of a height of the first post, and

wherein the facility further comprises:

a second panel mounted to at least the first post,

wherein the first door is mounted above the second panel, and

wherein a height of the second panel corresponds to one-half of the height of the first post.

8 . A facility comprising:

a first frame comprising:

a first base;

a first plurality of posts extending normal to the first base; and

a first foot extending normal to the first base, wherein a first post of the first plurality of posts and the first foot extend normal to the first base in opposite directions;

a first panel mounted between the first post and a second post of the first plurality of posts;

a first door rotatably mounted between the first post and a third post of the first plurality of posts, wherein the first door is adapted to rotate about a vertical axis between a closed position and an open position; and

a first console mounted to the first base,

wherein the first frame, the first panel and the first door define a first space,

wherein access to the first space is enabled when the first door is in the open position,

wherein the first console is disposed within the first space, and

wherein the first console is configured to transfer electrical power into the first space;

a second frame comprising:

a second base;

a second plurality of posts, wherein each of the second plurality of posts extends normal to the second base; and

a second foot extending normal to the second base, wherein the second plurality of posts and the second foot extend normal to the second base in opposite directions;

a second panel mounted to at least a fourth post of the second plurality of posts;

a second door rotatably mounted to at least a fifth post of the second plurality of posts, wherein the second door is adapted to rotate about a vertical axis between a closed position and an open position; and

a second console mounted to the second base,

wherein the second frame, the second panel and the second door define a second space,

wherein access to the second space is enabled when the second door is in the open position,

wherein the second console is disposed within the second space, and

wherein the second console is configured to transfer electrical power into the second space.

9 . The facility of claim 4 , wherein the facility rests on a ground surface with at least the first foot in contact with the ground surface,

wherein the facility further comprises:

a first ramp aligned with the first door, wherein the first ramp extends from the ground surface to a portion of the first base associated with the first door, and

wherein the first ramp provides rolling access to the first space.

10 . The facility of claim 4 ,

wherein the first frame comprises a plurality of sections,

wherein each of the plurality of sections is formed at least in part from a steel,

wherein the plurality of sections define a shape of a rectangle, and

wherein the first post is mounted to one corner of the rectangle.

11 . The facility of claim 4 , further comprising a hinged lid mounted to at least the first post above the first space,

wherein the hinged lid is adapted to move between a closed position and an open position, and

wherein access to the first space is enabled when the hinged lid is in the open position.

12 . The facility of claim 4 , wherein a shape and a size of the first base corresponds to a footprint of a ground vehicle, and

wherein a width of the first door is greater than a width of the ground vehicle.

13 . The facility of claim 4 ,

wherein the housing is formed at least in part from an aluminum alloy.

14 . The facility of claim 4 , wherein the power conversion unit is configured to receive electrical power at one of a first voltage level or a first current level from one of an external power source or a second console, and

wherein the power conversion unit is configured to transfer electrical power at one of a second voltage level or a second current level into the first space.

15 . The facility of claim 14 , wherein the housing comprises a power connection at a first end of the housing and a pair of tapered edges at a second end of the housing,

wherein the power conversion unit is configured to receive electrical power at the one of the first voltage level or the first current level via the power connection.

16 . The facility of claim 4 , wherein the power conversion unit is configured to transfer power into the first space by one of:

an inductive charging component provided on an upper surface of the housing; or

a conductive charging component provided on the upper surface of the housing.

17 . The facility of claim 4 , wherein the housing has a length corresponding to a length of a ground vehicle, a height not greater than a clearance of the ground vehicle, and a width not greater than an axle track of the ground vehicle.

18 . A system comprising:

a charging console;

a frame;

at least one panel; and

at least one door,

wherein the charging console comprises:

a housing comprising:

a power conversion unit disposed within the housing, wherein the power conversion unit is configured to receive electrical power at one of a first voltage level or a first current level from one of an external power source or another charging console and to transfer electrical power at one of a second voltage level or a second current level to a ground vehicle; and

a transceiver disposed within the housing;

a base, wherein the housing is mounted to the base, and wherein the base is mounted to the frame; and

a power connector provided at a first end of the housing, wherein the power conversion unit is configured to receive the electrical power at the one of the first voltage level or the first current level via the power connector,

wherein the housing comprises a pair of tapered edges at a second end of the housing,

wherein the housing has a length corresponding to a length of the ground vehicle, a height not greater than a clearance of the ground vehicle, and a width not greater than an axle track of the ground vehicle, and

wherein each of the housing and the base is formed from an aluminum alloy; and

wherein the frame comprises:

a plurality of posts extending vertically above the base, wherein the at least one panel is mounted between two of the plurality of posts and the at least one door is mounted between two of the plurality of posts; and

a plurality of feet extending vertically below the base,

wherein the charging console is disposed within a space defined by the frame, the at least one panel and the at least one door.

19 . The system of claim 18 , further comprising at least one of:

an inductive charging component provided on an upper surface of the housing; or

a conductive charging component provided on the upper surface of the housing,

wherein the power conversion unit is configured to transfer electrical power at the one of the second voltage level or the second current level to the ground vehicle within the housing via the at least one of the inductive charging component or the conductive charging component.

20 . The facility of claim 1 , wherein the first console comprises a first housing and a first power conversion unit disposed within the first housing,

wherein the first housing has a first length corresponding to a length of a first ground vehicle, a first height not greater than a clearance of the first ground vehicle, and a first width not greater than an axle track of the first ground vehicle,

wherein the second console comprises a second housing and a second power conversion unit disposed within the second housing, and

wherein the second housing has a second length corresponding to one of the length of the first ground vehicle or a length of a second ground vehicle, a second height not greater than the clearance of the first ground vehicle or a clearance of the second ground vehicle, and a second width not greater than the axle track of the first ground vehicle or an axle track of the second ground vehicle.