Automated wiring for a mechanized current collector of a trolley bus

Carbon neutral transport is a well articulated approach of many governments worldwide and is essentially mandatory given the need to achieve carbon-neutrality. This is also very important to avoid the most severe impacts of concurrently occurring climate change both on a national and worldwide level. A particular useful approach to achieving this carbon-neutrality is the use of electrified public transport in particular on existing road networks. To be efficient however, the network of contact wires has to be as small as is feasible. This in turn can be achieved when trolley buses can connect and de-connect to overhead lines quickly and reliably. In this paper a new sensor approach is introduced that allows for the current collector to securely connect to the overhead lines at specific connecting stations throughout the network laying some groundwork towards more carbon-neutral public transport.