Abstract: Vehicle charging apparatuses and methods connect a vehicle to an external power source, the vehicle having a battery that is capable of being charged from the external power source and having a receptacle configured to receive a plug connected to the external power source. An alignment target receives at least one visual alignment beam from a vehicle, the position of the alignment beam providing visual indication to a vehicle operator that the vehicle is properly aligned relative to the charging station. A robotic arm is mounted to a structure and has a plug at a distal end thereof, the plug interconnected to the external power source and adapted to engage the vehicle receptacle to transfer power to or from the vehicle. A module may be provided for controlling the robotic arm such that said plug engages with the vehicle receptacle when the vehicle is properly aligned to receive the plug.

Abstract: A model railroad train control system for supplying power to at least one DCC two-rail operated train engine and/or at least one AC three-rail operated train engine. The train control system used for operating the engines simultaneously and independently on the same railroad track or separate train section blocks making up the track. The control system includes one or more current limited voltage source modules connected to the track for providing modulated voltage to each engine. Each module has two identical channels composed of power transistors for a left track power output and two identical channels composed of power transistors for a right track power output. The outputs rapidly switch, alternately, between ground potential (zero volts) and as high as 48 volts. The transistors provide a return current path for the DCC two-rail engine and the AC three-rail engine. The power transistors are individually current limited and have a response time in a range of 1 to 5 microseconds.