Vehicle architectures, devices and control algorithms for managing wireless vehicle charging

An electric-drive motor vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body;
• a traction battery back attached to the vehicle body;
• a wireless charging receiver component electrically coupled to the traction battery back and configured to operably couple with a wireless vehicle charging station;
• and
• a vehicle controller attached to the vehicle body and programmed to:
• communicate with the wireless vehicle charging station to initiate charging of the traction battery back;
• monitor a predetermined proximity of the wireless vehicle charging station for intrusion of an obstruction;
• receive, from a sensor, a signal indicative of detection of the obstruction within the predetermined proximity of the wireless vehicle charging station;
• determine whether the detected obstruction is a living object or a lifeless object;
• responsive to a determination that the detected obstruction is a living object, initiate a first remedial action strategy including commanding the motor vehicle to generate a visual or audible cue configured to drive away the living object;
• and
• responsive to a determination that the detected obstruction is a lifeless object, initiate a second remedial action strategy including commanding the motor vehicle to reposition such that the motor vehicle avoids contact with the lifeless object.

A non-transitory, computer readable medium storing instructions for execution by an onboard vehicle controller of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having an electrical storage unit electrically coupled to a wireless charging receiver component configured to operably couple with a wireless vehicle charging station, the instructions causing the vehicle controller to perform steps comprising:

• communicating with the wireless vehicle charging station to initiate charging of the electrical storage unit of the motor vehicle;
• monitoring a predetermined proximity of the wireless vehicle charging station for intrusion of an obstruction;
• receiving, from a sensor, a signal indicative of detection of the obstruction within the predetermined proximity of the wireless vehicle charging station;
• determining whether the detected obstruction is a living object or a lifeless object;
• initiating, responsive to a determination that the detected obstruction is a living object, a first remedial action strategy including commanding the motor vehicle to generate a visual or audible cue configured to drive away the living object;
• and
• initiating, responsive to a determination that the detected obstruction is a lifeless object, a second remedial action strategy including commanding the motor vehicle to reposition such that the motor vehicle avoids contact with the lifeless object.