System and method for automated vehicle refueling at refueling stations

A system for automated refueling of autonomous vehicles, the system comprising:

• one or more refueling stations, each refueling station comprising at least one automated fuel dispenser configured to dispense fuel during refueling of vehicles;
• and
• a fuel sensor and a processing device associated with an autonomous vehicle in communication with the fuel sensor, wherein the processing device is configured to execute instructions stored in a memory to perform operations comprising:
• detecting, using an input from the fuel sensor, when a remaining fuel level for the autonomous vehicle is less than a threshold fuel level;
• identifying at least one candidate refueling station from the one or more refueling stations;
• selecting a preferred refueling station from the at least one candidate refueling station;
• controlling the navigation of the autonomous vehicle to the preferred refueling station;
• and
• further controlling the navigation of the autonomous vehicle to locate the autonomous vehicle in an alignment lane at the preferred refueling station.

A method for automated refueling of an autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle comprising at least one sensor and a processing device communicatively connected to the at least one sensor, the method comprising:

• executing instructions stored in a memory with a processing device in communication with the one or more sensors to perform operations comprising:
• detecting, based on an input from the at least one sensor, a fuel nozzle of an automated fuel dispenser in proximity to the autonomous vehicle;
• determining a location of the fuel nozzle relative to a reservoir inlet of the autonomous vehicle while the fuel nozzle is automatically extended towards the autonomous vehicle by an automated fuel dispenser;
• and
• actuating a motor to automatically open an outer cover of the reservoir inlet when the location of the fuel nozzle is within a threshold distance of the reservoir inlet;
• and
• receiving the fuel nozzle in the reservoir inlet to create a fluidic connection between the fuel reservoir and the fuel nozzle.