Apparatus for dispensing cones onto a surface and for retrieving cones from the surface includes a cone transfer device having a tower with a platform moveable to and from a lower transfer position for dispensing and retrieving cones from the surface. The platform is movable in a vertical direction between the lower transfer position and an upper transfer position for receiving a stack of cones from a storage area and for returning a stack of cones to the storage area. The tower includes a device for holding one or more cones in an elevated position and for releasing cones onto and receiving cones from the platform in the elevated position. The apparatus may include a lamp transfer device for attaching a lamp unit to a cone when the cone is dispensed and for removing the lamp unit from the cone when the cone is retrieved.

An easily attachable and removable self-contained slide in storage, safety and warning light chassis assembly for use by the traffic control industry and others is described. The chassis assembly includes a bed portion that is built to slide into a pickup truck bed. Associated removable jacks can be used to raise and support the chassis while a truck is backed up under it, or where the jacks include castors, the assembly is rolled into the truck. Additionally, a safety platform portion is included on the rear portion of the chassis assembly, so that when installed it is disposed behind the bed of the truck for use in the placement and pickup of traffic control devises. The chassis assembly can be mounted securely to the factory hitch of truck as well as additional locations in the bed.

Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, system for an autonomous vehicle includes one or more signaling devices configured to visually notify other vehicles when placed on or near a roadway, and an object placing device configured to place the one or more signaling devices. The system further includes a processor and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: determine that the autonomous vehicle has experienced a malfunction, and provide instructions to the object placing device to place the one or more signaling devices on or near the roadway.

Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, system for an autonomous vehicle includes one or more signaling devices configured to visually notify other vehicles when placed on or near a roadway, and an object placing device configured to place the one or more signaling devices. The system further includes a processor and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: determine that the autonomous vehicle has experienced a malfunction, and provide instructions to the object placing device to place the one or more signaling devices on or near the roadway.

Described herein is a vehicle cone placer and chock assembly. The vehicle cone placer is equipped with collapsible traffic cones, a motorized linear actuator, and may have LED safety lights. The vehicle cone placer is telescopic, remote controlled, and mountable to a vehicle. The vehicle cone placer and chock assembly includes at least two chock systems and adjustable brackets hydraulically operated and with at least one motorized assembly. The vehicle cone placer and chock assembly is remotely operated and self-contained as components of the vehicle.

Described herein is a vehicle cone placer and chock assembly. The vehicle cone placer is equipped with collapsible traffic cones, a motorized linear actuator, and may have LED safety lights. The vehicle cone placer is telescopic, remote controlled, and mountable to a vehicle. The vehicle cone placer and chock assembly includes at least two chock systems and adjustable brackets hydraulically operated and with at least one motorized assembly. The vehicle cone placer and chock assembly is remotely operated and self-contained as components of the vehicle.

An apparatus and method for handling portable traffic delineators includes a lifting arm assembly and a gripper assembly arranged to move portable traffic delineators between a cargo platform on a vehicle and a road surface. The gripper assembly has guide rails that define a V-shaped receiving structure with rollers to guide and center the portable traffic delineators within the V-shaped receiving structure. The gripper assembly also has suction cups arranged to pivot into and out of the V-shaped receiving structure for applying a suction force to the outer surface of the portable traffic delineators received in the V-shaped receiving structure. A programmable controller is used to perform a sequence of movements of the lifting arm assembly and the gripper assembly to either retrieve portable traffic delineators from a roadway or place portable traffic delineators on the roadway when the portable traffic delineators are detected within the V-shaped receiving structure.

The technical description relates to perimeters for vehicles. Specific examples relate to vehicle perimeters established by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), such as autonomous drones, for a variety of vehicle types, including manually-driven, partially autonomous, and fully autonomous vehicles. Perimeter devices, vehicles, including autonomous vehicles and human-controlled vehicles, UAVs, and related systems and methods are described. Perimeter devices respond to triggering events, such as vehicle-immobilizing events, GPS-based events, and environment-based events, to establish a perimeter adjacent a vehicle such that observers can visually detect the presence of a signal member, such as a warning triangle having a reflective surface. An example vehicle includes a tractor unit, a trailer connected to the tractor unit, a storage enclosure associated with the tractor unit, and a plurality of perimeter devices disposed in the chamber. Each perimeter device of the plurality of perimeter devices includes a triangular signal member, a base member, and a UAV. Each perimeter device is adapted to deploy from the chamber and establish a perimeter by the vehicle in response to a triggering event, such as parking of the vehicle in a location for which a perimeter must be established, impact of the vehicle with another object, such as during a traffic accident, rollover of the vehicle, or mechanical and/or electrical failure of the vehicle.

A traffic barrel deploying and retrieving apparatus comprises a roller deck mounted on the tailgate of a flatbed utility truck. An aft-facing cage and a forward-facing cage are appended to the ends of the roller deck. The cages have proximal and distal walls each spaced apart by a gap into which a traffic barrel is received. The aft-facing cage stabilizes a barrel dropped into it as the barrel is left behind by the moving truck. The forward-facing cage includes swing arms and a pivotable and elevatable paddle whereby an operator uses a first swing arm to tip the barrel forward so that the paddle delves beneath it so that a second swing arm sweeps the barrel onto the paddle. The apparatus then elevates the paddle to the level of the roller deck so the retrieves barrel may be brought aboard the truck bed.

A traffic barrel deploying and retrieving apparatus comprises a roller deck mounted on the tailgate of a flatbed utility truck. An aft-facing cage and a forward-facing cage are appended to the ends of the roller deck. The cages have proximal and distal walls each spaced apart by a gap into which a traffic barrel is received. The aft-facing cage stabilizes a barrel dropped into it as the barrel is left behind by the moving truck. The forward-facing cage includes swing arms and a pivotable and elevatable paddle whereby an operator uses a first swing arm to tip the barrel forward so that the paddle delves beneath it so that a second swing arm sweeps the barrel onto the paddle. The apparatus then elevates the paddle to the level of the roller deck so the retrieves barrel may be brought aboard the truck bed.