A mobile communications station may include a supporting frame including an interface for mechanical coupling to a vehicle for transporting the mobile communications station, wherein the interface includes fastening points for attachment of a three-point hitch; a first antenna mounted on the supporting frame to facilitate communication with mobile devices; and a second antenna mounted on the supporting frame to facilitate communication with a distant location, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are to facilitate a bidirectional communication link between the mobile devices and the distant location.

A mobile communications station may include a supporting frame including an interface for mechanical coupling to a vehicle for transporting the mobile communications station, wherein the interface includes fastening points for attachment of a three-point hitch; a first antenna mounted on the supporting frame to facilitate communication with mobile devices; and a second antenna mounted on the supporting frame to facilitate communication with a distant location, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are to facilitate a bidirectional communication link between the mobile devices and the distant location.

Techniques are described for measuring angle and/or orientation of a rear drivable section (e.g., a trailer unit of a semi-trailer truck) relative to a front drivable section (e.g., a tractor unit of the semi-trailer truck) using an example rotary encoder assembly. The example rotary encoder assembly comprises a base surface; a housing that includes a second end that is connected to the base surface and a first end that is at least partially open and is coupled to a housing cap; and a rotary encoder that is located in the housing in between the base surface and the housing cap, where the rotary encoder includes a rotatable shaft that protrudes from a first hole located in the housing cap, and where a top of the rotatable shaft located away from the rotary encoder is coupled to magnet(s).

A sensor device for a towing vehicle coupling or forming part of a towing vehicle coupling with which a trailer vehicle can be coupled to a towing vehicle wherein the towing vehicle coupling has a coupling element for releasably coupling a coupling mating element, which can be secured to the towing vehicle and the trailer vehicle, and when coupled together can rotate relative to one another about at least one joint rotational axis, forming a joint, where the sensor device has a follower mounted on a bearing body such that it can rotate relative to the coupling element about a follower rotational axis; can be rotatably carried about the follower rotational axis, by the rotation of the coupling mating element about the at least one joint rotational axis, to sense a rotation of the coupling mating element relative to the coupling element about the at least one joint rotational axis, and the sensor device has at least one sensor for sensing a respective rotational position of the follower relative to the bearing body in relation to the follower rotational axis.

A driver assistance system for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle is described, including a video camera attached to the towing vehicle and an associated display device in the driver's field of vision, in whose video image a static guide marking is displayed along which a coupling mouth arranged on the towing vehicle can be contacted with a drawbar eye held on the trailer by a drawbar. Providing a driver assistance system which helps the driver estimating the three-dimensional position of the drawbar eye in relation to the towing vehicle while rearwards approaching a trailer. The video camera is arranged at a vertical distance from the coupling and the guide marking is formed by two beam corridors arranged on both sides of the vehicle's longitudinal axis converging towards one another in the rearward direction of the towing vehicle.

A driver assistance system for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle is described, including a video camera attached to the towing vehicle and an associated display device in the driver's field of vision, in whose video image a static guide marking is displayed along which a coupling mouth arranged on the towing vehicle can be contacted with a drawbar eye held on the trailer by a drawbar. Providing a driver assistance system which helps the driver estimating the three-dimensional position of the drawbar eye in relation to the towing vehicle while rearwards approaching a trailer. The video camera is arranged at a vertical distance from the coupling and the guide marking is formed by two beam corridors arranged on both sides of the vehicle's longitudinal axis converging towards one another in the rearward direction of the towing vehicle.

A safety apparatus for a fifth wheel coupling having locking jaws arranged to detachably couple to a trailer having spring applied air brakes, the fifth wheel coupling comprising a locking component that is moveable between a first position whereat the locking jaws are in a coupled state and a second position whereat the locking jaws are in a decoupled state, the safety apparatus comprising a pneumatic valve arrangement pneumatically coupled to both a constant air pressure supply and an air park brake supply that supplies pressurised air to the spring applied air brakes, and a mechanical actuator mechanically coupled to the locking component and configured to mechanically actuate the pneumatic valve arrangement when the locking component moves from the first position to the second position, thereby causing the pneumatic valve arrangement to block flow in an air park brake supply line for preventing the spring applied air brakes from releasing.

A dirt protection cover arrangement with a semi-trailer (2) and a towing vehicle (3), for closing a hollow-bored king pin (21) on the semi-trailer (2) for an automatic fifth-wheel coupling, the king pin (21) being arranged on the underside (20) of the semi-trailer (2) as a counter-bearing for a fifth wheel (31) of the towing vehicle (3), a dirt protection cover device (1) being arranged such that it is adjacent to the underside (20) of the semi-trailer (2) and can rotate about the king pin (21), said dirt protection cover device including a dirt protection cover (11) for covering the borehole (22) in the king pin (21), and the dirt protection cover (11) being configured on the dirt protection cover device (1) such that, during the coupling process, it can be displaced from a base position covering the borehole (22) in the king pin (21) into a coupled position exposing the borehole. Also, a dirt protection cover device (1) for a dirt protection cover arrangement, and a coupling method involving same.

A towing attachment is designed to facilitate the towing of bobtail trucks and similar vehicles. The towing attachment includes a tube, a hitch attachment body, a first mounting bracket, a second mounting bracket, a first locking mechanism, and a second locking mechanism. The tube is preferably a rectangular, tubular, structure that receives the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket. The hitch attachment body is an assembly that allows attachment onto the hitch feature of a bobtail truck or other similar vehicle. The first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket allow engagement to a wheel lift of a towing vehicle. The first locking mechanism maintains the first mounting bracket in place along the tube. The second locking mechanism maintains the second mounting bracket in place along the tube.

A system and method for operation of an autonomous vehicle (AV) yard truck is provided. A processor facilitates autonomous movement of the AV yard truck, and connection to and disconnection from trailers. A plurality of sensors are interconnected with the processor that sense terrain/objects and assist in automatically connecting/disconnecting trailers. A server, interconnected, wirelessly with the processor, that tracks movement of the truck around and determines locations for trailer connection and disconnection. A door station unlatches/opens rear doors of the trailer when adjacent thereto, securing them in an opened position via clamps, etc. The system computes a height of the trailer, and/or if landing gear of the trailer is on the ground and interoperates with the fifth wheel to change height, and whether docking is safe, allowing a user to take manual control, and optimum charge time(s). Reversing sensors/safety, automated chocking, and intermodal container organization are also provided.