Electro-optical system for evaluation of dynamic inductive wireless power transfer to electric vehicles

Abstract

Inductive lanes that can wirelessly transfer power to moving electric vehicles is a research theme of worldwide interest. The goal is to provide on-the-road recharg-ing, thus extending vehicle’s autonomy and reducing battery capacity require-ments. These lanes share, however, a common limitation: the power transfer is af-fected by the lateral displacement of the vehicle, with respect to the center of the lane. In the case of two-wheeled vehicles, such as electric scooters and bicycles, lateral inclination can also be pronounced enough as to interfere with power cou-pling. In order to experimentally evaluate the characteristics of such vehicular dy-namic power transfer schemes, it is then necessary to synchronously log the ve-hicle’s electric data, lateral displacement and attitude. In this paper, the design and implementation of an electro-optical measuring system with these capabilities, based on Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology and inertial sensors, is reported. A testing range with specific reference geometry, consisting of a cor-ridor of parallel walls, is used to simplify the continuous and accurate estimation of lateral displacement. The design was validated by statistical characterization of the measurement errors, using simulated trajectories. A prototype was built and mounted on a non-electric bicycle, with the first tests confirming its positioning measurement qualities.