In the past few years, technology has evolved faster than ever before. Today we have fast internet, smartphones, AI assistants, and self-driving cars, which will soon be on the roads. However, refueling techniques have remained mainly a mechanical process that demands the utmost attention from the user.
A Danish company Autofuel wants to change this method. It has developed an automated refueling system that eliminates human involvement and, in turn, reduces the risks associated with it.
Autofuel robotic refueling system offers convenience to users, necessary support to the disabled, and support for future autonomous mobility.
The system consists of a robotic arm that dispenses fuel from an existing fuel dispenser as well as an app that can take care of customer identification and payments, making the entire process hands-free. The system is an add-on to the existing dispenser, requires no modifications, and still lets the customer refuel manually if needed.
To use the Autofuel system, the customer first needs to register the car details such as model, fuel type, payment details, and license plate. The license plate is used for recognizing the car and customer details upon arrival at the gas station. The cars will also be required to install a special gas tank cap to facilitate this process.
Additionally, Autofuel uses an advanced AI algorithm to position the car correctly. The user is guided on a screen with intuitive graphics, showing everything from parking instructions to refueling status. During refueling, the screen can also be used for showing commercials.
Once in place, the robotic arm will then open the fuel cap and place the nozzle in the fuel tank. The customer will be shown information about the refueling process, and a message will appear on the screen when the robot completes the refueling. The driver will be able to continue the journey after the green light turns on when the robot closes the fuel door on the car. At the same time, the payment gets cleared amid the process.
Autofuel is not only for regular liquid fuels but can also – by adjusting the robotic tool – handle alternative fuels such as electricity, hydrogen, CNG, and LNG.
Autonomous cars are soon a reality, and for these, Autofuel is the ideal solution, keeping them full of energy without any human action involved.
“The refueling of our cars is done just like it has been done for the past 70 years, and no major development has taken place. In the same period, technology has developed faster than ever, and today we have fast internet, smartphones, AI assistants, and self-driving cars that will soon be present on the roads. Gas stations with robotic refueling can offer a top-level convenience for both today’s customer and for tomorrow’s mobility,” the company says.
