A recovery system for recovering wrecked vehicles in difficult-to-access locations generally includes a frame, a front plate, a rear plate with a mounting system for mounting the recovery system to an operating vehicle, a guide shaft and guide wheel, a boom assembly, a horse head assembly mounted in a cable sleeve in a pivot end of the boom assembly, a winch, and a cable running from the winch over and along the boom and through the horse head assembly. The horse head assembly generally includes a clevis, a clevis pin, a sheave wheel, and a cable guide. The clevis preferably rotates within the cable sleeve with respect to the boom assembly, the cable guide preferably pivots on top of the boom assembly, and the sheave wheel and cable guide preferably freely rotate on the clevis pin and preferably translate along the clevis pin.

Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicle and/or smart homes are described herein. Autonomous operation features and related components can be assessed using direct or indirect data regarding operation. Such assessment may be performed to determine the condition of components for salvage following a collision or other loss-event. To this end, the information regarding a plurality of components may be received. A component of the plurality of components may be identified for assessment. Assessment may including causing test signals to be sent to the identified component. In response to the test signal, one or more responses may be received. The received response may be compared to an expected response to determine whether the identified component is salvageable.

Methods and systems for assessing, detecting, and responding to malfunctions involving components of autonomous vehicle and/or smart homes are described herein. Autonomous operation features and related components can be assessed using direct or indirect data regarding operation. Such assessment may be performed to determine the condition of components for salvage following a collision or other loss-event. To this end, the information regarding a plurality of components may be received. A component of the plurality of components may be identified for assessment. Assessment may including causing test signals to be sent to the identified component. In response to the test signal, one or more responses may be received. The received response may be compared to an expected response to determine whether the identified component is salvageable.

A system for electric car rescue and a method of operating the system can include a rescue vehicle that includes a mobile platform, the mobile platform deployable for retrieving a disabled electric vehicle thereon for transportation of the disabled electric vehicle. A charging unit can be associated with the mobile platform and can connect to the disabled electric vehicle for recharging of the disabled electric vehicle during a transportation of the disabled electric vehicle on the mobile platform. The rescue vehicle can be an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle, or a non-autonomous vehicle.

An adapter assembly for lifting a vehicle includes an adapter defining a first pin aperture, a second pin aperture, and an adapter aperture, a first pin, a second pin, and a cross member removably received by the adapter aperture. The first pin is configured to be removably received by the first pin aperture and a first aperture defined by a frame of the vehicle to selectively couple the adapter to the frame. The second pin is configured to be removably received by the second pin aperture and a second aperture defined by the frame of the vehicle to selectively couple the adapter to the frame.

An electrical vehicle (EV) rescue vehicle includes a mobile platform, which further includes a winch and a ramp. The mobile platform of the EV rescue vehicle is deployable for retrieving a disabled EV (a “rescued vehicle”) thereon with the winch and the ramp and for transportation of the disabled EV. A charging unit is associated with the mobile platform for connecting and charging of the disabled EV, either on a fixed location or during transport. A systems analysis module can be included with a system for testing a functionality of systems and components of the disabled EV and providing results of the resting EV to customers. The mobile platform can be provided as an EV rescue vehicle in a form of a trailer pulled by another vehicle or integrated with another vehicle (e.g., a truck). The EV rescue vehicle can also carry passengers associated with the disabled EV when the disabled EV is being transported, charged, and/or analyzed by the EV rescue vehicle.

The invention relates to a method, performed by a control device associated with a vehicle assembled from a set of modules, the vehicle comprising: at least one drive module; and at least one functional module, wherein the at least one drive module comprises a pair of wheels and is configured to be autonomously operated and drive the assembled vehicle, the method comprising: identifying an erroneous function of the at least one drive module; physically connecting an autonomously operated assisting drive module to the at least one drive module; and controlling the assisting drive module to perform at least the erroneous function of the at least one drive module.

The invention relates to a method, performed by a control device associated with a vehicle assembled from a set of modules, the vehicle comprising: at least one drive module; and at least one functional module, wherein the at least one drive module comprises a pair of wheels and is configured to be autonomously operated and drive the assembled vehicle, the method comprising: identifying an erroneous function of the at least one drive module; physically connecting an autonomously operated assisting drive module to the at least one drive module; and controlling the assisting drive module to perform at least the erroneous function of the at least one drive module.

Methods and systems for enhancing the functionality of a semi-autonomous vehicle are described herein. The semi-autonomous vehicle may receive a communication from a fully autonomous vehicle within a threshold distance of the semi-autonomous vehicle. If the vehicles are travelling on the same route or the same portion of a route, the semi-autonomous vehicle may navigate to a location behind the fully autonomous vehicle. Then the semi-autonomous vehicle may operate autonomously by replicating one or more functions performed by the fully autonomous vehicle. The functions and/or maneuvers performed by the fully autonomous vehicle may be detected via sensors in the semi-autonomous vehicle and/or may be identified by communicating with the fully autonomous vehicle to receive indications of upcoming maneuvers. In this manner, the semi-autonomous vehicle may act as a fully autonomous vehicle.

Methods and systems for enhancing the functionality of a semi-autonomous vehicle are described herein. The semi-autonomous vehicle may receive a communication from a fully autonomous vehicle within a threshold distance of the semi-autonomous vehicle. If the vehicles are travelling on the same route or the same portion of a route, the semi-autonomous vehicle may navigate to a location behind the fully autonomous vehicle. Then the semi-autonomous vehicle may operate autonomously by replicating one or more functions performed by the fully autonomous vehicle. The functions and/or maneuvers performed by the fully autonomous vehicle may be detected via sensors in the semi-autonomous vehicle and/or may be identified by communicating with the fully autonomous vehicle to receive indications of upcoming maneuvers. In this manner, the semi-autonomous vehicle may act as a fully autonomous vehicle.