Charge coupler and method for autonomously charging vehicle batteries

A method for charging a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a charging box comprising an interface electrical contact and an interface activation surface, the method comprising:

• maneuvering the vehicle over a charge coupler comprising a coupler electrical contact, the charge coupler comprising a coupler activation surface configured to face an underside of the vehicle;
• lowering the interface activation surface relative to the charge coupler, such that the interface activation surface contacts the coupler activation surface of the charge coupler;
• continuing to lower the interface activation surface;
• exposing the coupler electrical contact of the charge coupler to the underside of the vehicle, such that the interface electrical contact of the charging box contacts the coupler electrical contact of the charge coupler;
• and
• electrically coupling the vehicle to an electrical power source via the coupler electrical contact and the interface electrical contact.

A method for charging a vehicle having a first charge interface facing a support surface on which the vehicle is supported, the method comprising:

• maneuvering the vehicle over a charge coupler comprising a second charge interface, the charge coupler configured to be electrically coupled with an electrical power source;
• adjusting a position of the first charge interface relative to the second charge interface, to align the first charge interface with the second charge interface;
• coupling the first charge interface with the second charge interface;
• electrically coupling the charge coupler to the electrical power source in response to coupling the first charge interface and the second charge interface;
• and
• charging the vehicle with energy from the electrical power source via the charge coupler.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

• maneuver a vehicle having a first charge interface along a support surface over a charge coupler having a second charge interface;
• align, along the support surface, the first charge interface and the second charge interface;
• reposition the first charge interface or the second charge interface along a vertical axis to modify a vertical distance between the first charge interface and the second charge interface;
• electrically couple the charge coupler to an electrical power source in response to coupling the first charge interface and the second charge interface;
• and
• charge a battery of the vehicle using the electrical power source via the charge coupler.