A tow configuration may include a tow vehicle and first and second trailers. The intermediate trailer hitch angle with the tow vehicle is controlled with one objective being to improve the off-tracking performance of the other trailer. The hitch angle may be controlled through steerable wheels at the intermediate trailer or through wheel differential steering at the intermediate trailer.

A work vehicle includes left and right track assemblies, each track assembly having a main frame, a pivot member, a pivot shaft coupled to the pivot member, and an electrical actuator coupled between the pivot shaft and the main frame. The work vehicle also includes a control system having a controller communicatively coupled to each electrical actuator of the track assemblies. The controller includes processors that control the electrical actuator to steer the work vehicle about a generally vertical steering axis. Each pivot member is mounted to the main frame of the track assemblies. Each track assembly is pivotal about a generally horizontal pitch axis of the pivot shaft to permit pitch movement of the track assembly. Each track assembly is pivotal about a generally horizontal camber axis through a portion of the pivot member to permit camber movement of the track assembly.

A belt-type, portable, radial conveyor system is provided that may include a conveyor frame extending from a rear end to a front end, and having rear portions and front portions, a hopper disposed adjacent the rear end of the conveyor frame, a conveyor belt mounted to the conveyor frame, a tracked or wheeled drive carriage to support the conveyor system during relocation from site to site, and an engine mounted to the rear portion of the conveyor frame remote from the carriage.

A method for maneuvering a vehicle-trailer system in a reverse direction is provided. The method includes receiving images from a camera positioned on a rear portion of the trailer. The method includes: identifying one or more guide representations within the received images; and transmitting the received images to a user interface. The method also includes receiving from the user interface, an indication of a guide representation from the one or more guide representations. The method includes determining a path that includes maneuvers configured to move the vehicle-trailer system along the path to follow the guide associated with the identified guide representation while maintaining a minimum distance from the guide positioned behind the trailer. The method also includes transmitting to a drive system of the vehicle, one or more commands causing the vehicle-trailer system to autonomously move the vehicle-trailer system along the vehicle-trailer path in the reverse direction.

A hitch assist system for a vehicle comprises a camera mounted to view a reverse path of a vehicle, an input device connected for the hitch assist system, and a controller. The controller includes instructions for detecting a trailer proximate to a vehicle with the camera, determining a vehicle hitch ball location, determining a trailer hitch location, and calculating a vehicle path from an initial position to a final position. The vehicle hitch ball is laterally aligned with the trailer hitch in the final position. The controller also includes instructions for calculating the steering and braking maneuvers necessary to move the vehicle along the path to the final position and sending instructions to a vehicle steering system and a vehicle brake system to perform the calculated maneuvers.

Disclosed are a vehicle control apparatus and a control method thereof. The vehicle control apparatus and the control method thereof include: a sensing unit that senses at least one of current trailer connection information, current trailer load information, current trailer traction information, and current trailer relative angle information; a determination unit that determines whether a trailer is in a mounted state by using the sensed current trailer connection information, and determines whether an ESC is in an unstable operation state by using at least one of the sensed current trailer load information, current trailer traction information, and current trailer relative angle information when the trailer is in the mounted state; and a control unit that transmits a first compensation signal to an ESC apparatus to compensate the ESC apparatus in accordance with the set target ESC stable operation control information in order to operate the ESC apparatus in a stable operation state according to at least one of the sensed current trailer load information, current trailer traction information, and current trailer relative angle information when the ESC is in the unstable operation state.

Provided are self-powered actively steerable converter dollies (SPASCDs) for long combination vehicles (LCVs), LCVs utilizing SPASCDs, and methods of operating such LCVs. These SPASCDs could be used with conventional tractors and/or specifically configured tractors. A SPASCD may include an electrical drive, which can generate power (e.g., to charge SPASCD's battery) or generate torque using the electrical power stored in SPASCD's battery (e.g., to assist the tractor during acceleration or going uphill). The SPASCD also comprises steerable wheels and a steering component, configured to change the steering angle of the steerable wheels. The steering angle may be changed in response to various inputs, such as the steering angle of the tractor's front steerable wheels, the steering angle of the steerable wheels of another trailer in the same LCV, sensor inputs, and the like. This steering feature allows change the track of the SPASCD, e.g., to follow the tractor's track.

The technology relates to fine maneuver control of large autonomous vehicles that employ multiple sets of independently actuated wheels. The control is able to optimize the turning radius, effectively negotiate curves, turns, and clear static objects of varying heights. Each wheel or wheel set is configured to adjust individually via control of an on-board computer system. Received sensor data and a physical model of the vehicle can be used for route planning and selecting maneuver operations in accordance with the additional degrees of freedom provided by the independently actuated wheels. This can include making turns, moving into or out of parking spaces, driving along narrow or congested roads, construction zones, loading docks, etc. A given maneuver may include maintaining a minimum threshold distance from a neighboring vehicle or other object.

An optimal lane keeping assistance device of an articulated vehicle (100), in which a tractor (200) and a trailer (300) are connected via a fifth wheel coupling (400), includes a first sensor (520,540) which detects a tractor state variable, a second sensor (560) which detects a fifth wheel coupling (400) state variable, and an electric control unit (500) incorporating a microcomputer. The electric control unit (500) calculates a control variable (Uc) according to a target lateral displacement value (Yd), an output signal of the first sensor (520, 540), and an output signal of the second sensor (560), taking into account a feedback gain of an optimal control rule, to calculate a target steering angle (?f) of the tractor (200) according to the calculated control variable (Uc) and the output signal of the first sensor (520,540), and to assist steering of the tractor (200) based on the calculated target steering angle (?f).

A road vehicle convoy control method includes applying, on a hinge, a moment, an amplitude of which varies based on measured oscillations to absorb the measured oscillations. The moment is applied on the hinge by controlling an actuator of the hinge and jointly controlling: an electrical machine of a first wheel from a wheel set that belongs to part of a chassis that pivot in relation to another wheel because of the hinge to increase torque of the first wheel; and, simultaneously, an electrical machine of a second wheel from the same wheel set to keep the torque thereof constant or increase the torque of the second wheel less than the torque of the first wheel to apply the moment on the hinge in combination with the actuator.