Hyundai unveils automatic charging robot for EVs

By CARSIFU | 23 March 2023


SEOUL: Hyundai Motor has developed an automatic charging robot for electric vehicles (EVs).

The robot for EVs is a one-arm machine capable of plugging a cable into an EV’s charging port and removing it again once charging is complete.

The new video of the real robot in action follows up on a CGI version released by the group in July last year.

The new video begins with a scene in which the Hyundai Ioniq 6 parks autonomously in an EV-charging bay.

Once the vehicle is stationary, the robot communicates with the vehicle to open the charging port, calculating the exact location and angle through a camera mounted inside.

The robot then picks up the charger and fastens it to the vehicle’s charging port, thus starting the charging session.

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Once charging is complete, the robot removes the charger, returns it to its rightful place, and closes the cover of the vehicle’s charging port.

“The robot will help to make EV-charging easier and more convenient, especially in dark environments. It will also improve accessibility, particularly for people with mobility barriers, as charging cables become thicker and heavier to enable high-speed charging,” said Dong Jin Hyun, Head of Robotics Lab, Hyundai Motor Group.

“We will continue developing the robot for increased safety and more convenience, so that all EV customers can soon benefit from using it at charging stations.”

In order for a robot to fasten a charger to the charging port securely, software technology that can simultaneously calculate multiple variables is required.

Hyundai has developed an algorithm that applies 3D camera-based AI technology to robots, and next-generation control technology based on this application allows robots to accurately handle heavy chargers.

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Given that most EV chargers are installed outdoors without cover, Hyundai engineers built a bespoke outdoor electric vehicle charging station at its R&D centre and evaluated performance in various conditions.

As a result, the robot has secured a waterproof and dustproof grade of IP65, and its performance has been greatly improved so that it can be stably operated even in extreme environments.

In addition, engineers have installed a safety pole with a built-in laser sensor around the robot to prevent possible accidents by enabling it to detect stationary and moving obstacles.

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Hyundai expects automatic charging robots to significantly increase convenience of EV charging, and if combined with autonomous parking control systems in the future, can improve utilisation by sequentially charging several parked vehicles.

The newly unveiled robot will be on display at Hyundai Motor’s exhibition booth during the 2023 Seoul Mobility Show from March 31 to April 9.


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