Electro-Optical System for Evaluation of Dynamic Inductive Wireless Power Transfer to Electric Vehicles

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 recharging, thus extending vehicle’s autonomy and reducing battery capacity requirements. These lanes share, however, a common limitation: the power transfer is affected 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 coupling. In order to experimentally evaluate the characteristics of such vehicular dynamic power transfer schemes, it is then necessary to synchronously log the vehicle’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 corridor 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.