Mobile recharge station for autonomous vehicles
Mobile charging stations may be capable of charging multiple autonomous vehicles at more than one operating site, and may further include features whereby certain such implementations of mobile charging stations also act as mobile base stations (MBS) and/or as means of transportation for relocating autonomous vehicles from one site to another while recharging. Certain implementations herein disclosed may be self-propelled, towed, or able to be carried by other conveying means, and may include a variety of other features directly related to recharging or for performing other services.
1 . A mobile recharge station (MRS) for a ground-based autonomous vehicle, the MRS comprising:
a mobile platform capable of self-relocating or being relocated from a first operating site to a second operating site while carrying the autonomous vehicle;
a charging station coupled to the mobile platform and capable of charging the autonomous vehicle both when the MRS is not moving and when the MRS is relocating from a first location to a second location; and
a GPS receiver for determining a satellite-signal-accurate (SSA) location for the MRS, determining offsets based at least in part on the SSA location, said offsets comprising the location difference between the determined SSA location for the MRS and a direct-survey accurate (DSA) location for the MRS, and communicating the offsets to the autonomous vehicle to enable the autonomous vehicle to determine a second DSA location by applying the offsets to a second GPS-determined location.
2 . The MRS of claim 1 , further comprising a second charging station coupled to the mobile platform and capable of charging a second autonomous vehicle while simultaneously charging the autonomous vehicle.
3 . The MRS of claim 1 , further comprising a battery swapping mechanism for removing a first battery from the autonomous vehicle and emplacing a second battery in the autonomous vehicle.
4 . The MRS of claim 1 , wherein the autonomous vehicle is an autonomous mower comprising a mowing blade.
5 . The MRS of claim 1 , wherein the mobile platform is a self-contained mobile platform.
6 . The MRS of claim 1 , further comprising an environmentally controlled compartment for the autonomous vehicle.
7 . The MRS of claim 6 , wherein the environmentally controlled compartment comprises an air-conditioning unit capable of maintaining a compartment temperature at or below a first threshold while the autonomous vehicle is charging.
8 . A mobile recharge station (MRS) for a ground-based autonomous vehicle, the MRS comprising:
a mobile platform capable of self-relocating or being vehicularly-relocated from a first operating site to a second operating site while carrying the autonomous vehicle;
a charging station coupled to the mobile platform and capable of charging the autonomous vehicle both when the MRS is not moving and when the MRS is relocating from a first location to a second location;
a GPS receiver for determining a satellite-signal-accurate (SSA) location for the MRS, determining offsets based at least in part on the SSA location, said offsets comprising the location difference between the determined SSA location for the MRS and a direct-survey accurate (DSA) location for the MRS, and communicating the offsets to the autonomous vehicle to enable the autonomous vehicle to determine a second DSA location by applying the offsets to a second GPS-determined location; and
on-board batteries for storing power for transfer to the autonomous vehicle.
9 . The MRS of claim 8 , further comprising an interface for inbound AC or DC power sources for directly charging the autonomous vehicle and for directly recharging the on-board batteries of the MRS.
10 . The MRS of claim 8 , further comprising:
a combustion power generator capable of generating electrical power; and
a storage for fuel for said combustion power generator.
11 . The MRS of claim 8 , further comprising at least one solar panel for generating electrical power.
12 . The MRS of claim 8 , further comprising a wireless communication system capable of communicating with the autonomous vehicle.
13 . The MRS of claim 8 , further comprising power line modem (PLM) communications interface for communicating with the autonomous vehicle when docked for charging.
14 . The MRS of claim 8 , wherein the mobile platform is a self-contained mobile platform.
15 . A mobile recharge station (MRS) for a ground-based autonomous vehicle, the MRS comprising:
a mobile platform comprising a GPS receiver for determining a satellite-signal-accurate (SSA) location for the MRS, determining offsets based at least in part on the SSA location, said offsets comprising the location difference between the determined SSA location for the MRS and a direct-survey accurate (DSA) location for the MRS, and communicating the offsets to the autonomous vehicle to enable the autonomous vehicle to determine a second DSA location by applying the offsets to a second GPS-determined location;
a charging station coupled to the mobile platform and capable of charging the autonomous vehicle both when the MRS is not moving and when the MRS is relocating from a first location to a second location while carrying the autonomous vehicle; and
stabilizing features for minimizing movement of the autonomous vehicle while relocating.
16 . The MRS of claim 15 , wherein the MRS is towable by a tracked or wheeled vehicle.
17 . The MRS of claim 15 , wherein the MRS is a tracked or wheeled vehicle.
18 . The MRS of claim 15 , wherein the MRS is an autonomous vehicle capable of relocating from a first operation site to a second operating site.
19 . The MRS of claim 15 , wherein the MRS further comprises a base station or a real-time kinematic (RTK) base station.
20 . The MRS of claim 15 , wherein the mobile platform is a self-contained mobile platform.