How Tankpitstop works
The Tankpitstop is fabricated from different parts, which will be explained below.
Radio Frequency Identification Chip
The customer’s car gets a radio frequency identification chip hidden in a sticker on the inside of the windshield; this chip contains all the necessary information.
The TankPitstop database has all the data: which fuel the car requires, where the filler cap is, the correct angle of the nozzle when fuelling, the amount of fuel required, etc.
The information for every make and every type of car is obtained through a special learning process from the so-called learning station.
This station is located at the distributor.
The RFID-sticker cannot be removed without disabling it.
So the sticker is inextricably bound to the car and not the motorist.
Instruction screen
As the car approaches, TankPitstop shows an instruction screen, not unlike those found in car washes, that indicates where the car must stop and what the motorist must do.
Once the car has stopped at the right spot, the sliding wall that safely stores the robot is raised.
The car is identified.
So the robot knows exactly where the fuel-filler cap is.
Supple
One of the three 'hands' of the robot arm, whose rubber suction cup acts as
a 'finger', gently opens the flap. The robot arm then changes position and a
second 'hand' unscrews the fuel-filler cap. A third 'hand' then grabs the fuel
nozzle, inserts this into the tank opening and "fills 'er up!" The fuel nozzle then
retreats, the robot screws the fuel-filler cap back on and closes the flap. The
robot then retreats behind the sliding wall and the instruction display indicates
that the car can depart. The driver pays without even having to get out of the car.
Payment takes place through the owner’s authorisation and this is granted during
registration.
Safety above all!
Before undertaking any action, the robot verifies the position of the car. The car
could possibly have moved due to a faulty handbrake. This will cause the robot
to shut down. The robot will also retreat if the sensor registers movement close
by, like playing children for instance. The customer can also personally stop the
automatic fuelling process by pressing the red button. Safety above all!
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