Looks a bit like a elephant trunk robotic arm[1], really neat I wonder if that's not a little bit over engineered, though.
Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
71–80 of 209 posts
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#72Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#73Are there any engineering advantages from choosing this design vs. a more traditional arm, or plug that just moves on two rails up or down and then extends out? In theory, there is minimal height distance from where such a charging station would be in relation to the car and the charging port height, even when accounting for different Tesla models. As such, I'm not clear why they went with something that on the surfa…
The snake arm is quite simple. The "snake" part is a set of dumb hinged segments; it's all cable-driven from the base. The application does not require much rigidity or repeatability. The load is low; it's just carrying a power cable. There's probably a camera at the end of the tentacle to guide the connector to the car's power socket. The car opens the connector cover, so there's no need for a mechanism on the robot…
> The marketing value of this is enormous. People won't have to get out of their cars and get their hands dirty handling a gas hose. This is going to go over big with women.
I think you're underestimating the benefit here. From my talks with Tesla owners, some of the Supercharger stations are pretty far out in the middle of nowhere (for coverage, they have to be).
Late night charging in a rural area without a lot of people around driving an expensive car?
On the plus side, I'm sure the creepy prospect of Terminator-esque robotic snakes dancing idly (maybe Stravinsky's "Infernal Dance" over speakers?) would in and of itself help to deter any would-be muggers from loitering.
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#74Are there any engineering advantages from choosing this design vs. a more traditional arm, or plug that just moves on two rails up or down and then extends out? In theory, there is minimal height distance from where such a charging station would be in relation to the car and the charging port height, even when accounting for different Tesla models. As such, I'm not clear why they went with something that on the surfa…
Beyond being able to handle almost arbitrary orientations and alignment between the car and charger, Elon is probably planning on reusing this tech at SpaceX for docking or other purposes (just like they share battery tech). He's a pro at coming up with "synergies" between his companies.
TBF, for space technology it seems far too complicated; you'll want less components, not more. Less components means there's less chance of failure and less weight. I mean I'm pretty sure each segment is motorized or has cables running to it with separate motors.
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#75Not strictly on-topic or generally interesting, but for any of us who've read Neal Stephenson's new novel 'Seveneves', this reveal has a thin extra layer of interestingness: In that book, a character who is an obvious analogue for Elon Musk sponsors the development of a variety of asteroid mining robots, including a type that superficially resembles this thing. 'Siwis' are, unlike this real thing, modular, semi-auton…
I got more of a Richard Branson vibe than Musk, from the book.
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#76Are there any engineering advantages from choosing this design vs. a more traditional arm, or plug that just moves on two rails up or down and then extends out? In theory, there is minimal height distance from where such a charging station would be in relation to the car and the charging port height, even when accounting for different Tesla models. As such, I'm not clear why they went with something that on the surfa…
The snake arm is quite simple. The "snake" part is a set of dumb hinged segments; it's all cable-driven from the base. The application does not require much rigidity or repeatability. The load is low; it's just carrying a power cable. There's probably a camera at the end of the tentacle to guide the connector to the car's power socket. The car opens the connector cover, so there's no need for a mechanism on the robot…
You're right , the tech isn't hard. For example there's this arduino hobby project , a swimming robot snake:
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#77Tesla cars will be self-driving soon, right? Let's call such cars 'robots'.
Isn't there some convention against allowing robots to re-fuel without human intervention?
Isn't such a rule in the same class as the rule against giving them the keys to the armory?
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#78Really? Is the need to get out and hook up the hose yourself really what's holding back electric cars?
There is certainly a cool factor with this thing, but think about how it will work at a real fuel/charging station. The driver will only ever see it in a mirror. And it looks like the range of motion is very limited, requiring the plug to be within a 30x30cm box. A later model will probably have a greater range of motion but I cannot see that be any less cumbersome. Give me a wire and a plug.
But maybe Tesla has done some market research. Maybe their target market is old people for whom getting out of the car is a real struggle. Maybe they fear large electrical cables more than rubber ones filled with gasoline. Or maybe they so distrust attendants that they prefer a mechanical octopus fuel their precious car ... until it misses the mark and does some actual damage to the paint.
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#79I wouldn’t mind these in Oregon when I fill up for gas (where the gas attendants have to pump your gas for you). Way less awkward as long as I stay in the car.
Re: Tesla unveils new car-charging robo-snake
#80After watching this GIF, I imagined what it would feel like walking past a charging station with this thing on it. How it slowly turns its 10KV-charged head towards me. "- You definitely do look like a charging socket to me. - I really do not. Look, I am human... - No, you really do. You just need a quick charge..."
well, it can be used as a home protection device - once home security is armed anything the computer identifies as intruder can be chased and Tasered by this thing.