Abstract: A vehicle includes: an electrical slip ring; a motor-driven cable reel for dispensing and retracting an electrical power cord, wherein the electrical power cord has an electrical plug for connection to an electrical socket, and is electrically connected to the electrical slip ring; a sensor for producing sensor data in response to changes in a rotational position of the motor-driven cable reel; a processor for receiving the sensor data as feedback for commands sent by the processor to the motor-driven cable reel to control a length of the electrical power cord which is dispensed by the motor-driven cable reel; a guide roller, disposed axially parallel to the cable reel, for exerting a force that presses an outermost layer of the electrical power cord against an adjacent layer of the electrical power cord wound around the cable reel, or the cable reel itself; and a level wind assembly for providing transverse movement along an axis parallel to an axis of the cable reel, for controlling the winding, and unwindi

Abstract: An apparatus includes a robot arm, an electrical power cord, a motor-driven cable reel, an end effector, and at least one sensor. The robot arm has a proximal end and a distal end, and is configured to move in response to one or more electrical signals. The electrical power cord extends through the robot arm from the proximal end to the distal end and has an electrical plug at an end thereof. The motor-driven cable reel dispenses and retracts the electrical power cord so as to control a length thereof. The end effector is disposed at the distal end of the robot arm, and is configured to selectively grasp and release the electrical plug. The sensor is disposed at the distal end of the robot arm, and is configured to produce sensor data for controlling the robot arm to dock the electrical plug into an electrical receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a robot arm, an electrical power cord, a motor-driven cable reel, an end effector, and at least one sensor. The robot arm has a proximal end and a distal end, and is configured to move in response to one or more electrical signals. The electrical power cord extends through the robot arm from the proximal end to the distal end and has an electrical plug at an end thereof. The motor-driven cable reel dispenses and retracts the electrical power cord so as to control a length thereof. The end effector is disposed at the distal end of the robot arm, and is configured to selectively grasp and release the electrical plug. The sensor is disposed at the distal end of the robot arm, and is configured to produce sensor data for controlling the robot arm to dock the electrical plug into an electrical receptacle.