Marquardt Creates Foundations for Global Robotic Charging Standard

Last updated Aug 15, 2024

Automated Charging Solutions

Rietheim-Weilheim, Germany, June 2024 – Robotic charging solutions are set to enable the fully automated charging of vehicles using robotic arms in the future. The prerequisite for a smooth process flow are globally valid norms and standards. Marquardt is contributing the foundations for this as part of the ROCIN-ECO research project: Under the leadership of Ionity, Audi and TÜV SÜD, the mechatronics specialist is developing a standardized automated fast charging solution together with the charging robot manufacturer Rocsys. Other associated project partners are BMW, Porsche, Ford, Huber+Suhner and AVL. The consortium will contribute the results to the relevant standardization bodies, such as ISO, IEC and CCC. On June 18, robotic charging will also be shown in practice in a live demonstration at the Ionity test site in Unterschleißheim. For this purpose, an Audi E-Tron and a charging robot from Rocsys were equipped with Marquardt’s communication and localization solution based on Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

Numerous Fields of Application

The trend towards e-mobility and autonomous driving opens up numerous fields of application for robotic charging, even beyond the automotive sector. “In addition to autonomous valet parking and charging, where vehicles park and charge completely independently, we see potential wherever mass charging is in demand for fleet operators, for example in the truck or material handling sector and in port intralogistics,” explains Andreas Becher, Technical Project Manager Innovation at Marquardt. “Globally valid norms and standards are essential for practical implementation, and we are now creating the foundations for this.”

The Marquardt solutions for charging electric vehicles (from left): E-Lock, Illuminated User Interface, Motorized Flap, Smart Access ECU, Digital Key Module / UWB/BLE Node.

Marquardt takes on pioneering role

With the Interactive Charging System (ICS) and the extended Smart Access System PnD3, Marquardt will soon be offering vehicle and charging robot manufacturers around the world central components that enable robotic charging: The ICS with the integrated E-Lock locking module from Marquardt can be combined with the various global inlet standards (CCS, NACS, ChaoJi, CHAdeMO, GB/T). In addition, the ICS is currently the only charging system that offers the option of an automated charging flap and motorized inlet port cover – one of the basic requirements for future automated charging. With the keyless Smart Access System PnD3, Marquardt also has the basis for digital key sharing in exchange with the robot charging station.

Internationally scalable solution

As a member of the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), Marquardt attaches great importance to using the already standardized CCC-compliant localization and communication between vehicle and charging robot as the basis for robotic charging. This ensures the continued use of vehicle components that have already been introduced internationally. In addition, when submitting proposals to the standardization bodies, care was taken to ensure that the process for automated charging is applicable to all existing standards worldwide.

Communication between the charging robot and the vehicle takes place via the interaction between CCC-compliant Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology for the correct positioning of the vehicle in front of the charging station, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for communication between the vehicle and the charging robot, and cloud-based digital key sharing. In order for the vehicle to open its charging flap and inlet port cover and release it for charging, the charging robot needs the digital vehicle key. This is transmitted via a backend cloud solution from Marquardt. Thanks to the secure communication between the vehicle and the charging robot, an overall smooth process flow is ensured.

Communication with the vehicle via UWB / BLE node and the Smart Access ECU.

Robotic Charging Components Live at the Battery Show

“Together with our partners, we want to drive forward the possibilities of robotic charging. In our contribution, we have evaluated system requirements that can be transferred into norms and standards in the next step,” explains Stefan Ruf, Product Manager Innovation at Marquardt. “Possible applications such as autonomous valet parking and charging services would then be possible in just a few years. The goal now must be to bring everyone involved together – from car manufacturers to parking and charging point operators – in order to advance the application together.”

fully automated demonstrator of the Interactive Charging System (ICS) and a 3D video animation of the complete robotic charging process.

Source: Marquardt