ELECTRIC VEHICLE AERIAL VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE

1 . A system for charging an electric vehicle, the system comprising:

an electrical storage unit disposed on the electric vehicle;

a charging panel in electrical communication with the electrical storage unit;

a vehicle controller that determines if the electrical storage unit requires charging and configured to determine if an aerial external power source is available to charge the electrical storage unit;

wherein the charging panel receives the charge from the aerial external power source and charges the electrical storage unit.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the charging panel is configured to operate in a plurality of states comprising a retracted state and a deployed state

3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising an actuator interconnected to the charging panel and to the electric vehicle, wherein the actuator is configured to move the charging panel to receive the charge.

4 . The system of claim 3 , further comprising at least one range sensor configured to measure a first measured distance between a first point on the charging panel and a second point on a charging plate interconnected to the aerial external power source.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the first point of the charging panel is positioned at a selectable desired separation distance from the second point on the charging plate, wherein the selectable desired separation distance is selected from a vehicle database.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the positioning of the first point of the charging panel to the selectable desired separation distance is performed automatically by actuation of the actuator.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the vehicle controller receives the first measured distance and automatically actuates the actuator to adjust the position of the charging panel to the desired separation distance.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the emergency external power source is disposed on an unmanned aerial vehicle.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the charging plate is configured to extend from the roadway vehicle to a position above the electric vehicle, wherein charging is provided from the aerial external power source to the charging panel of the electric vehicle.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein a charging level of the charging is selectable from a vehicle database.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the charging plate is in physical contact with the charging panel.

12 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the actuator is configured to move the charging panel in both a vertical and a lateral direction.

13 . A method for charging an electric vehicle, the method comprising:

determining, by a microprocessor, a charge value of an electrical storage unit disposed on the electric vehicle;

determining, by the microprocessor, if the charge value is below a selectable threshold value wherein charging of the electrical storage unit is required;

identifying, by the microprocessor, if an aerial external power source is available for charging of the electrical storage unit; and

positioning, by the microprocessor, a charging panel of the electric vehicle, the charging panel positioned to receive charging from a charging plate interconnected to the aerial external power source;

wherein the charging plate receives charging from the aerial external power source and charges the electrical storage unit.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

measuring, by a sensor, an alignment measurement between the charging panel and the charging plate;

transmitting, by the microprocessor, the alignment measurement to an alignment controller;

receiving, by the alignment controller, the alignment measurement;

determining, by the microprocessor, a required alignment adjustment; and

adjusting, by the microprocessor, the position of the charging panel by the required alignment adjustment.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the charging panel is configured to operate in a plurality of states comprising a retracted state and a deployed state.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising an actuator interconnected to the charging panel and to the electric vehicle, wherein the actuator is configured to move the charging panel to receive the charge.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the aerial external power source is disposed on an unmanned aerial vehicle.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the charging plate is configured to extend from the roadway vehicle to a position above the electric vehicle, wherein charging is provided from the aerial external power source to the charging panel of the electric vehicle.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the charging plate is in physical contact with the charging panel.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the actuator is configured to move the charging panel in both a vertical and a lateral direction.