A system for transferring harvested drinking water from a vehicle to a trailer towed behind the vehicle includes a vehicle reservoir for collecting water from a vehicle heat-exchanger. The reservoir includes a heating element for heating water within the vehicle reservoir. A vehicle controller is coupled with the vehicle reservoir and is programmed to boil the water in the vehicle reservoir. The controller is further programmed to measure a fill level of the vehicle reservoir. A trailer reservoir receives water from the vehicle reservoir. A trailer controller is coupled with the trailer reservoir and is programmed to measure a fill level of the trailer reservoir. The trailer controller is further programmed to transmit a wireless communication to the vehicle controller. The wireless communication is indicative of the fill level of the trailer reservoir. A fluid conduit fluidly connects the vehicle reservoir to the trailer reservoir.

A system for transferring harvested drinking water from a vehicle to a trailer towed behind the vehicle includes a vehicle reservoir for collecting water from a vehicle heat-exchanger. The reservoir includes a heating element for heating water within the vehicle reservoir. A vehicle controller is coupled with the vehicle reservoir and is programmed to boil the water in the vehicle reservoir. The controller is further programmed to measure a fill level of the vehicle reservoir. A trailer reservoir receives water from the vehicle reservoir. A trailer controller is coupled with the trailer reservoir and is programmed to measure a fill level of the trailer reservoir. The trailer controller is further programmed to transmit a wireless communication to the vehicle controller. The wireless communication is indicative of the fill level of the trailer reservoir. A fluid conduit fluidly connects the vehicle reservoir to the trailer reservoir.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to forming chains of autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) for delivering merchandise. In some embodiments, there is provided a system including: a plurality of AGVs with each AGV having a motorized locomotion system, a storage area, first and second magnetic connectors at ends of a vehicle body, a transceiver, an optical sensor, and a control circuit that activates and deactivates the magnetic connectors; a subset of the AGVs defining a chain; an unlinked AGV; a database containing images of the vehicle body; and a master control circuit that receives an authentication code from the unlinked AGV, determines that the authentication code is authorized, determines position, speed, and direction of the chain of AGVs and the unlinked AGV, compares images to determine proximity and orientation of the unlinked AGV, and activates a magnetic connector to link the unlinked AGV to the chain.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to forming chains of autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) for delivering merchandise. In some embodiments, there is provided a system including: a plurality of AGVs with each AGV having a motorized locomotion system, a storage area, first and second magnetic connectors at ends of a vehicle body, a transceiver, an optical sensor, and a control circuit that activates and deactivates the magnetic connectors; a subset of the AGVs defining a chain; an unlinked AGV; a database containing images of the vehicle body; and a master control circuit that receives an authentication code from the unlinked AGV, determines that the authentication code is authorized, determines position, speed, and direction of the chain of AGVs and the unlinked AGV, compares images to determine proximity and orientation of the unlinked AGV, and activates a magnetic connector to link the unlinked AGV to the chain.

A system for transferring harvested drinking water from a vehicle to a trailer towed behind the vehicle includes a vehicle reservoir for collecting water from a vehicle heat-exchanger. The reservoir includes a heating element for heating water within the vehicle reservoir. A vehicle controller is coupled with the vehicle reservoir and is programmed to boil the water in the vehicle reservoir. The controller is further programmed to measure a fill level of the vehicle reservoir. A trailer reservoir receives water from the vehicle reservoir. A trailer controller is coupled with the trailer reservoir and is programmed to measure a fill level of the trailer reservoir. The trailer controller is further programmed to transmit a wireless communication to the vehicle controller. The wireless communication is indicative of the fill level of the trailer reservoir. A fluid conduit fluidly connects the vehicle reservoir to the trailer reservoir.

A system for transferring harvested drinking water from a vehicle to a trailer towed behind the vehicle includes a vehicle reservoir for collecting water from a vehicle heat-exchanger. The reservoir includes a heating element for heating water within the vehicle reservoir. A vehicle controller is coupled with the vehicle reservoir and is programmed to boil the water in the vehicle reservoir. The controller is further programmed to measure a fill level of the vehicle reservoir. A trailer reservoir receives water from the vehicle reservoir. A trailer controller is coupled with the trailer reservoir and is programmed to measure a fill level of the trailer reservoir. The trailer controller is further programmed to transmit a wireless communication to the vehicle controller. The wireless communication is indicative of the fill level of the trailer reservoir. A fluid conduit fluidly connects the vehicle reservoir to the trailer reservoir.

A robotic body includes a first section and a second section. The first section includes a first wheel, and the second section includes a second wheel. A coupling assembly couples the first section and the second section. The coupled first section and second section are movable together via operation of the wheels. The coupling assembly includes a housing defining an interior chamber, a spindle disposed in the interior chamber of the housing, and a bearing device disposed in the interior chamber and between the housing and the spindle. The bearing device allows the spindle to rotate inside the interior chamber and relative to the housing. The first section is coupled to the housing and the second section is coupled to the spindle. The first section rotates relative to the second section according to a rotation between the spindle and the housing.

A robotic body includes a first section and a second section. The first section includes a first wheel, and the second section includes a second wheel. A coupling assembly couples the first section and the second section. The coupled first section and second section are movable together via operation of the wheels. The coupling assembly includes a housing defining an interior chamber, a spindle disposed in the interior chamber of the housing, and a bearing device disposed in the interior chamber and between the housing and the spindle. The bearing device allows the spindle to rotate inside the interior chamber and relative to the housing. The first section is coupled to the housing and the second section is coupled to the spindle. The first section rotates relative to the second section according to a rotation between the spindle and the housing.

A running board assembly for a vehicle including a running board and a plurality of brackets for connecting the running board to a rocker. The brackets include first and second planar supports extending downward and laterally outward from the rocker to the running board. The planar supports are spaced from each other and are disposed in a vertical/transverse plane. The first and second planar supports are disposed parallel to each other and form a parallelogram connecting the running board to the rocker that deflects in a longitudinal direction when impacted from the side in an impact. The running board assembly includes a mounting plate attached to the rocker that defines a plurality of longitudinally extending slots. The first and second planar supports are secured to the mounting plate with a first set of fasteners that are received in the slots.

A running board assembly for a vehicle including a running board and a plurality of brackets for connecting the running board to a rocker. The brackets include first and second planar supports extending downward and laterally outward from the rocker to the running board. The planar supports are spaced from each other and are disposed in a vertical/transverse plane. The first and second planar supports are disposed parallel to each other and form a parallelogram connecting the running board to the rocker that deflects in a longitudinal direction when impacted from the side in an impact. The running board assembly includes a mounting plate attached to the rocker that defines a plurality of longitudinally extending slots. The first and second planar supports are secured to the mounting plate with a first set of fasteners that are received in the slots.