A side underride system configured to be coupled to a trailer is provided. The side underride system includes a support system, including a brace system and a cable, configured to be positioned below the trailer to provide side underride protection. The brace system includes a plurality of cross-braces that each extend across a width of the trailer and are spaced apart at intervals along a length of the trailer. The cable is configured to extend across the intervals between the cross-braces.

A side underride system configured to be coupled to a trailer is disclosed. The side underride system comprises a support system configured to be positioned below the trailer to provide side underride protection. The support system includes a cable system and a brace system. The cable system is configured to couple to the trailer. The brace system includes a plurality of cross-braces that each extend at least partially across a width of the trailer, are spaced apart at intervals along a length of the trailer, and are configured to capture the cable system.

Vertical brackets extend downwardly from a trailer or semi-trailer frame to a transverse tubular bar to form an underride guard. The transverse tubular bar includes a top, a bottom, a rear impact side and a forward side and extends beyond the vertical brackets to define two end portions. The top and bottom have slits therethrough on the outer half of the end portions extending from inwardly of the rear impact side toward the forward side at an angle toward the vertical brackets. The slits extend toward the vertical brackets at an angle at least 45 through a portion of their length and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle through a second portion. The forward side includes two converging surfaces from the top and bottom. The slits extend from the top and bottom no more than half way to the convergence of the two surfaces.

Vertical brackets extend downwardly from a trailer or semi-trailer frame to a transverse tubular bar to form an underride guard. The transverse tubular bar includes a top, a bottom, a rear impact side and a forward side and extends beyond the vertical brackets to define two end portions. The top and bottom have slits therethrough on the outer half of the end portions extending from inwardly of the rear impact side toward the forward side at an angle toward the vertical brackets. The slits extend toward the vertical brackets at an angle at least 45 through a portion of their length and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle through a second portion. The forward side includes two converging surfaces from the top and bottom. The slits extend from the top and bottom no more than half way to the convergence of the two surfaces.

A vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a bumper assembly, a skid plate, and a capacitive sensor system of the skid plate. A sensing method for a vehicle includes using a capacitive sensing system to detect a proximity of a vehicle to an object. The capacitive sensing system is incorporated into a skid plate that is vertically beneath a portion of a bumper assembly of the vehicle.

In a truck having a plate-like side guard disposed at each of the right and left side faces of a vehicle body and arranged apart from the lower face of a cargo bed, a flexible sheet having a rectangular shape is attached between the cargo bed and the side guard. The sheet has one end portion in the vertical direction secured to one of the cargo bed and the side guard, and the other end portion in the vertical direction, detachably fastened to the other of the cargo bed and the side guard.

In a truck having a plate-like side guard disposed at each of the right and left side faces of a vehicle body and arranged apart from the lower face of a cargo bed, a flexible sheet having a rectangular shape is attached between the cargo bed and the side guard. The sheet has one end portion in the vertical direction secured to one of the cargo bed and the side guard, and the other end portion in the vertical direction, detachably fastened to the other of the cargo bed and the side guard.

A mounting mechanism for mounting an underride system on a structure, comprises a pair of clamping jaws, and a first bracket including a first edge for coupling the underride system thereto. The first bracket further includes a second edge for coupling the pair of clamping jaws thereto. Wherein, the first bracket and the pair of clamping jaws define a jaw opening therebetween configured to receive at least a portion of the structure for removably mounting the underride system on the structure using the mounting mechanism.

A mounting mechanism for mounting an underride system on a structure, comprises a pair of clamping jaws, and a first bracket including a first edge for coupling the underride system thereto. The first bracket further includes a second edge for coupling the pair of clamping jaws thereto. Wherein, the first bracket and the pair of clamping jaws define a jaw opening therebetween configured to receive at least a portion of the structure for removably mounting the underride system on the structure using the mounting mechanism.

A self-driving semi-truck can include tractor comprising a drive system, a first set of sensors mounted to the tractor, a fifth wheel, and cargo trailer comprising a kingpin coupled to the fifth wheel. The cargo trailer can include a Mansfield bar having a second set of sensors mounted thereto, where the second set of sensors have a rearward field of view from the trailer. The semi-truck can include an autonomous control system that receives sensor data from the first set of sensors and the second set of sensors, and analyzes the live sensor view to autonomously operate the drive system along a current route.