CHARbO is a mobile robot created by ARTI that can autonomously charge e-cars. The CHARbO Robot is made in collaboration with Graz ALVERI GmbH and the University of Technology (Institute of Automotive Engineering). The CHARbO Robot aims to create environmentally friendly electromobility.
Through the CHARbO Robot, vehicles can be charged autonomously in parking garages or Park & Ride lots without the driver having to deal with charging cords. At the Graz University of Technology, the first charging robot prototype was demonstrated last week.
The CEO of ALVERI, Ehsan Zadmard, explains that with ALVERI CHARbO Robot, they have not only shown what can be done sensibly with existing know-how in Austria. But have also given a starting signal for further cooperation in the areas of mobility services, vehicle concepts, infrastructure, and more in the country. This way, they will shape the future of mobility in Europe and the entire world with a significant contribution from Austria.
As part of this project, ARTI provided their mobile robot platform CHASI with the necessary software to enable autonomous mobility at a speed of nearly 20 kilometers per hour. Moreover, it contains the required safety procedures for operation in locations where people who are not trained to deal with robots are also present. An industrial robot arm and loading robot expertise from the Institute of Automotive Engineering were combined to create the platform. ALVERI was responsible for the development of the general idea and the experience in usability and application aspects.
CHASI is a plug-and-play R&D platform for ROS with all the essential interfaces. Research and development for autonomous mobile robots is a challenge in itself. Building from scratch is even more ambitious, but it is not the ultimate goal. The CHASI R&D robotic platform helps you take that step. Easily expandable with sensors and devices to handle diverse jobs. Designed for indoor and outdoor locations, it is tiny in size but can hold a lot of weight.
The flawless implementation of the demonstration illustrates the versatility of the robotic platform and the remarkable capabilities of ARTI control software. The study also indicated that the safety procedures of the ARTI software are suited for “mixed” human-machine scenarios.
The CEO of ARTI, Konstantin Mautner-Lassnig, said that multiple safety mechanisms are taken through the loading robot regarding safety concerns. The mobile platform scans the surrounding for obstacle possibilities with laser scanners, and it also detects when an object comes too close. When this situation occurs, the platform stops instantly. Even in a hypothetical case of someone holding their hand between the charging plug and the charging opening, a safety stop is provided.
Living in a fast-paced world where the demands for logistics providers, merchants, and producers continue to expand without considering the needs of workers. Only efficient logistics and 24/7 productivity can enable enterprises to meet the global pressure imposed on them by the global economy. An increasingly competitive business environment makes it increasingly crucial for all types of industries to benefit from the newest Artificial Intelligence technology for autonomous robots.
The CHARbO Robot is a convenient idea. Autonomously and without human interaction, electric vehicles (EVs) announce the need for charging, and a mobile robot sets out to provide the vehicle with the energy it needs. It eliminates the need to find a charging station and worries about the remaining range. The prototype of such a charging robot formed by ALVERI, TU Graz, and ARTI Robots is the first demonstration worldwide for charging robots.
