AGV is widely used in modern warehousing and logistics industry, and its efficient operation cannot be separated from reliable energy guarantee. As the key equipment for the normal operation of AGV, the choice of charging pile becomes particularly important. The common AGV charging piles on the market are mainly divided into two categories: telescopic and compressed, and each type of charging pile has its own unique design principles and application scenarios. This paper will compare the characteristics of these two types of charging piles in detail to help users better understand their working mechanism and scope of application.

The core of retractable AGV charging pile lies in the design of its retractable mechanism. This mechanism usually includes one or more telescopic arms, which can automatically extend when the AGV is near the charging pile, and achieve accurate docking with the charging interface of the AGV. The movement of the telescopic arm is driven by an electric motor or pneumatic device, which is precisely controlled by a series of sophisticated sensors and control systems. The motor or pneumatic device requires high precision motion control to ensure smooth and accurate extension and retraction of the telescopic arm. At the same time, the strength and durability of the mechanical structure are also an integral part of the design to ensure that there is no failure during frequent use. This flexibility allows the retractable charging pile to adapt to AGVs of different heights, ensuring accurate docking for each charge and improving overall charging efficiency.

The biggest feature of the compressed AGV charging pile is its fixed charging interface. This design makes the position and height of the charging interface fixed, and the AGV needs to align the interface in a specific charging area to complete the docking. The fixed interface is usually a plug-in or plug design to ensure the stability and reliability of the physical connection during the charging process. The fixed interface design not only simplifies the internal structure of the charging pile, but also reduces the charging failure caused by the loosening of the interface, which is especially suitable for long-term, high-power charging needs. This design is particularly suitable for single-model AGVs, which can provide efficient and stable charging service in space-limited and cost-constrained environments.

The retractable charging pile is equipped with an intelligent identification system that automatically identifies the AGV's vehicle type, battery capacity, current power status and charging needs when it is near the charging pile. Intelligent identification systems usually include a variety of sensors, such as cameras, RFID readers and infrared sensors, which are able to collect relevant information about the AGV and analyze it through the data processing unit. The camera can capture the appearance characteristics of the AGV, the RFID reader can read the identity information of the AGV, and the infrared sensor can detect the position and distance of the AGV. Through this information, the charging pile can automatically adjust the docking position and charging parameters to ensure the success rate and charging efficiency of the charging docking. In contrast, although the compressed charging pile does not have an intelligent identification system, its high-precision positioning system can ensure that the AGV is accurately docked in the charging area. The positioning system of the compressed charging station can use a variety of technologies, such as laser navigation, magnetic strip navigation or visual navigation, to ensure that the AGV can be parked properly in the charging area. The laser navigation system uses laser scanners and reflectors to accurately measure the position and Angle of the AGV. The magnetic stripe navigation system uses the magnetic stripe laid on the ground to guide the AGV along the predetermined path to the charging area; The visual navigation system uses the camera and image processing technology to recognize the position information of the marks on the ground or the AGV itself to achieve high-precision positioning.

In the design of the charging interface, the charging interface of the retractable charging pile can be automatically retractable, and safety measures such as contact sensors, position sensors and mechanical limit devices can be adopted to ensure that the interface will not damage equipment or personnel during the extension and withdrawal process. Once the charging docking is successful, the charging pile will automatically detect the charging state, such as current, voltage and other parameters, and adjust the charging power according to the charging demand of the AGV. The charging interface of the compressed charging pile is fixed, and the thicker cable and stronger connector are used to provide a more stable physical connection. Although this design is not as flexible as the retractable charging pile, it performs well in long-term, high-power charging needs, reducing the risk of loose charging interfaces.

The safety and monitoring system is an essential part of the design of both types of charging piles. The retractable charging pile is equipped with various sensors, which can monitor the abnormal conditions that may occur during the charging process in real time, such as current, voltage, temperature and other parameters. Once an anomaly is found, the charging pile will immediately stop charging and send an alarm signal to notify the management to check and deal with it. This real-time monitoring and protection system ensures the safety of the charging process. The compressed charging pile is also equipped with a monitoring and protection system, which usually includes current sensors and voltage sensors for real-time monitoring of current and voltage parameters during the charging process. The protection system includes overcurrent protection, overvoltage protection and short circuit protection, etc. Once an anomaly is found, the charging pile will immediately cut off the power supply to prevent safety accidents in the charging process. Despite the simple internal structure of the compact charging pile, these monitoring and protection systems ensure the safety and reliability of the charging process.

In terms of communication and control systems, retractable charging piles usually have the ability to communicate with AGVs and central management systems. A wireless communication module is installed inside the charging pile, which can exchange real-time data with the AGV and the central management system through wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or zigbee. The central management system can monitor the working status of each charging pile, record charging data, and carry out fault diagnosis and maintenance management. This highly automated and networked control system not only improves charging efficiency, but also facilitates unified management and maintenance by enterprises. In comparison, the communication capability of the compressed charging pile is relatively weak, but its internal structure is simple, and the maintenance cost is low, which is suitable for enterprises with limited budgets or weak technical maintenance forces. The communication module and control system of the compressed charging pile usually also have basic fault diagnosis and data transmission functions, which can meet the needs of most application scenarios.

In practical applications, the flexible and intelligent characteristics of the retractable charging pile are particularly outstanding. Due to the design of its telescopic mechanism and intelligent identification system, the telescopic charging pile can adapt to a variety of models and AGVs of different heights, improving the overall charging efficiency. At the same time, the function of automatically adjusting charging parameters makes the charging pile provide the most suitable charging scheme according to different models and battery capacity, reduce charging time and extend the running time of AGV. This makes it preferred in large logistics centers and complex environments. The compressed charging pile performs well in terms of space utilization and ease of installation. Due to its small size, simple internal structure, the installation process is relatively simple, does not require complex mechanical adjustment, especially suitable for warehouses and factories with limited space. The fixed interface design enables it to run stably for a long time after installation, with easy maintenance and low failure rate. This makes it of high application value in the space limited and cost constrained environment.

Maintenance costs are also an important consideration when choosing a charging pile. Retractable charging piles have relatively high maintenance costs due to their complex mechanical and electronic components. The complexity of telescopic mechanisms and intelligent identification systems means that they require regular inspection and maintenance to ensure their long-term stable operation. Electric motors and pneumatic devices need regular lubrication and cleaning to prevent wear and failure; The sensor also needs to be calibrated regularly to ensure its detection accuracy. In contrast, the internal structure of the compressed charging pile is simple and the maintenance cost is low. It is mainly composed of a charging module, a power management system and a small number of sensors, which makes maintenance and overhaul more convenient, the failure rate is low, and the daily maintenance cost is relatively low. This design not only reduces the manufacturing cost, but also improves the reliability of the equipment, which is suitable for enterprises with limited budgets or weak technical maintenance forces.

Safety is one of the most important aspects of charging pile design. The retractable charging pile ensures the accuracy of the charging docking and the safety of the charging process through its intelligent identification and safety monitoring system. These systems can monitor various parameters in the charging process in real time, such as current, voltage, temperature, and so on, and will immediately stop charging and send an alarm signal once an anomaly is found. The security of the compressed charging pile is more reflected in its stable physical connection. The fixed interface design reduces the charging failure caused by the loose interface and improves the stability of the charging process. At the same time, its monitoring and protection system can also ensure the safety of the charging process, through the current sensor and voltage sensor real-time monitoring of charging parameters, to prevent overcurrent and overvoltage and other problems.

In the future, retractable and compressed AGV charging piles will develop in a smarter, safer and more efficient direction. The retractable charging pile may integrate more advanced sensors and technologies, such as visual recognition, machine learning algorithms, etc., to further improve its intelligence level and safety. Visual recognition technology can help charging piles more accurately identify the position and docking state of AGVs, and machine learning algorithms can optimize charging parameters based on historical data, reduce charging time, and improve charging efficiency. The compressed charging pile will maintain its simple design and low cost advantages, and further optimize its high-precision positioning system and physical connection mechanism. In the future, more advanced navigation technologies, such as lidar and deep learning algorithms, may be used to improve the positioning accuracy of AGVs in the charging area and reduce the probability of charging failure. At the same time, its monitoring and protection system will be more perfect to ensure the safety and reliability of the charging process. In order to further enhance the user experience, future compressed charging piles may also integrate more intelligent functions, such as remote monitoring and fault diagnosis, to help enterprises better manage and maintain charging equipment.

In summary, the telescopic AGV charging pile and the compressed AGV charging pile have their own characteristics in design principle. The retractable charging pile achieves a high degree of automation and flexibility through its retractable mechanism, intelligent identification system, charging interface docking mechanism, security and monitoring system, and communication and control system, which is especially suitable for large logistics centers with diverse models and a large number of models. The compact charging pile, with its fixed interface design, high-precision positioning system, simple internal structure, monitoring and protection system, and ease of installation, demonstrates its advantages in space and cost constrained environments, especially for small warehouses and factories. The choice of which type of charging pile should be determined according to the specific needs and application scenarios of the enterprise, to ensure that the cost and maintenance convenience are taken into account while meeting the charging needs. It is hoped that the detailed introduction of this article can help users better understand the design principle of retractable and compressed AGV charging piles, so as to make a more intelligent choice.