A self-propelled cart comprising: a body having a generally rectangular prism shape with a top, bottom, front end, rear end, and two sides, the body further comprising: a battery compartment, and a utility platform comprising a plurality of connecting features for releasable attachment of one or more components to the platform; a rechargeable battery housed in the battery compartment; a controller; four arms having a first end and a second end, each pivotally attached at the first end to the body; four wheels, each connected to the second end of one of the four arms; four arm actuators, each configured to pivot one of the four arms such that each wheel can be moved closer to or further away from the body; and at least two motors powered by the battery, each configured to rotate one of the four wheels, each independently controlled by the controller, whereby the controller can move the cart and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the four wheels; at least one sensor for determining the pitch of the cart in communication with the controller, whereby the controller is able to adjust the height of the cart and the pitch of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arm actuators is disclosed.

A cargo carrier for mounting on a mobile cart, comprising: a base configured to be releasably attached to a top surface of the mobile cart; first and second opposing side walls, each having a bottom edge attached to the base, a top edge, a front side edge running from the bottom edge to the top edge and a rear side edge running from the bottom edge to the top edge; a front end wall, having a bottom edge hingedly connected to the base so as to hinge between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, a first front end wall side edge fits against the front side edge of the first side wall, and a second front end wall side edge fits again the front side edge of the second side wall, to thereby close a front end of the cargo carrier; and in the open position, the front end wall is generally parallel to the base, to thereby open a front end of the cargo carrier; a front end wall lock for releasably locking the front end wall in the closed position; a rear end wall, having a bottom edge hingedly connected to the base so as to hinge between a closed position and an open position, wherein: in the closed position, a first rear end wall side edge fits against the rear side edge of the first side wall, and a second rear end wall side edge fits again the rear side edge of the second side wall, to thereby close a rear end of the cargo carrier; and in the open position, the rear end wall is generally parallel to the base, to thereby open a rear end of the cargo carrier; a rear end wall lock for releasably locking the rear end wall in the closed position; whereby the cargo carrier can be converted between a four-walled bin, for containing objects within its four walls, to an open ended cargo carrier, allowing elongated objects in the cargo carrier to extend beyond the front end wall and/or the rear end wall by hingedly moving the front end wall and/or the rear end wall, respectively, between the closed and open positions is disclosed.

A system for mounting a stowed component on a self-propelled cart, comprising: the self-propelled cart comprising: a body having a top, bottom, front end, rear end, left side, and right side, and further comprising: a battery compartment, and a platform; a battery housed in the battery compartment; a controller; four arms, each pivotably attached at a first end to the body; four wheels, each connected to a second end of one of the four arms; four arm actuators, each configured to pivot one of the four arms such that each wheel can be moved closer to or further away from the body; and at least two motors, each configured to rotate one wheel and each independently controlled by the controller, whereby the controller can move the cart; at least one sensor for determining the position of the component to be mounted on the cart; wherein the controller can adjust the height of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arm actuators and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the wheels; and wherein the cart is configured to approach a location of a component and adjust its orientation to compliment an orientation of the component to thereby facilitate mounting of the component on the cart is disclosed.

A self-docking, motorized cart, comprising: a body comprising a battery compartment and a platform; a battery housed in the battery compartment; a cart docking attachment arm; a controller; four arms, each pivotably attached at a first end to the body; four wheels, each connected to a second end of one of the four arms; four arm actuators, each configured to pivot one of the four arms such that each wheel can be moved closer to or further away from the body; wherein the controller adjusts the height of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arms; and at least two motors, each configured to rotate one of the four wheels, each independently controlled by the controller, whereby the controller can move the cart and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the four wheels; whereby the cart can be moved into an appropriate position and orientation for connecting the docking arm attachment to a docking station by the controller selectively pivoting the arms and rotating the wheels; and wherein the docking attachment arm comprises connections for electricity or data is disclosed.

A method to control a road vehicle during a slip of the drive wheels and having the steps of: detecting a slip of at least one drive wheel; and controlling, only during a slip of at least one drive wheel, a driving unit of the road vehicle with a signalling law so as to obtain a cyclic operating irregularity, which generates an abnormal vibration and/or an abnormal noise.

Methods and systems are provided for adaptive pulse width modulated control of an electrified powertrain of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include perturbing a switching frequency for pulse width modulated control of the electrified powertrain, and, responsive to sound measured in a vehicle cabin indicating a noise improvement after the perturbation, controlling the electrified powertrain with the perturbed switching frequency. In this way, acoustic emissions from an electrified powertrain may be reduced.

Methods and systems are provided for adaptive pulse width modulated control of an electrified powertrain of a vehicle. In one example, a method may include perturbing a switching frequency for pulse width modulated control of the electrified powertrain, and, responsive to sound measured in a vehicle cabin indicating a noise improvement after the perturbation, controlling the electrified powertrain with the perturbed switching frequency. In this way, acoustic emissions from an electrified powertrain may be reduced.

A regenerative braking control system for a vehicle can include one or more user interface elements located in a cabin of the vehicle. The user interface element(s) can correspond to a plurality of regenerative braking settings. Each of the regenerative braking setting(s) can correspond to a different amount of regenerative braking torque to apply to the wheel(s) of the vehicle. The system can include a processor operatively connected to the user interface element(s). The processor can be configured to detect a condition, the condition being at least one of a weight of the vehicle, a center of gravity of the vehicle, a weight of a trailer operatively connected to the vehicle, and a center of gravity of a trailer operatively connected to the vehicle. The processor can be configured to cause the amount of regenerative braking torque for the regenerative braking setting(s) to be adjusted based on the condition.

A battery control device of a vehicle traveling by electric power from a battery includes a parameter calculator configured to calculate a deterioration parameter indicating a deterioration state of the battery, and a controller configured to notify a user of a plurality of types of control related to the battery when the deterioration parameter calculated by the parameter calculator falls outside a reference range corresponding to at least any one of usage time of the battery and a travel distance of the vehicle by electric power from the battery and configured to execute control selected by the user from among the plurality of types of control.

A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.