A motor vehicle has a steering axle, a drive axle and a lift axle having an actuator for lifting and lowering the same. The wheels of the drive axle can be electrically driven, at least in a supporting manner, via an electric machine operable as an electric motor and as a generator, and the wheels can be driven in a generating manner in a recuperation operation. The electric machine is connected to an accumulator and to a control and/or regulation device to control the operation of the lift axle. The device is connected to sensors for wheel slip detection at the drive axle. The device is configured such that, during a recuperation operation, it can send a command to the actuator to lift the lift axle and thereby unload the wheels thereof, if there is wheel slip at least at one wheel of the drive axle.

A motor vehicle has a steering axle, a drive axle and a lift axle having an actuator for lifting and lowering the same. The wheels of the drive axle can be electrically driven, at least in a supporting manner, via an electric machine operable as an electric motor and as a generator, and the wheels can be driven in a generating manner in a recuperation operation. The electric machine is connected to an accumulator and to a control and/or regulation device to control the operation of the lift axle. The device is connected to sensors for wheel slip detection at the drive axle. The device is configured such that, during a recuperation operation, it can send a command to the actuator to lift the lift axle and thereby unload the wheels thereof, if there is wheel slip at least at one wheel of the drive axle.

In one example, mobile industrial equipment for coupling to a truck for on highway transportation is provided. The mobile industrial equipment includes a frame to connect to the truck, a plurality of wheels connected to the frame, and a track assembly connected to the frame. In another example a method for using mobile equipment is provided. The method includes transporting mobile industrial equipment over the highway with a plurality of wheels connected to a frame of the mobile industrial equipment. The frame of the mobile industrial equipment is separated from the truck. The mobile industrial equipment is moved while separated from the truck using a track connected to the frame of the mobile industrial equipment.

In one example, mobile industrial equipment for coupling to a truck for on highway transportation is provided. The mobile industrial equipment includes a frame to connect to the truck, a plurality of wheels connected to the frame, and a track assembly connected to the frame. In another example a method for using mobile equipment is provided. The method includes transporting mobile industrial equipment over the highway with a plurality of wheels connected to a frame of the mobile industrial equipment. The frame of the mobile industrial equipment is separated from the truck. The mobile industrial equipment is moved while separated from the truck using a track connected to the frame of the mobile industrial equipment.

A modular slave vehicle articulatable at one end thereof to another slave vehicle and at another end thereof to an independently driven master vehicle, simultaneously. The slave vehicle comprising a body including a driving system; a structural frame supporting said body; a master coupling system in the form of a mechanical stress absorbing coupling mechanism; at least one first slave coupling device; at least one second slave coupling device; said first and second coupling devices, when mounted to two adjacent slave vehicles intended to be articulated to each other, are detachably connectable to each other to form a tandem coupling configured to constrain all DOF therebetween.

A modular electric vehicle comprising a single module(s) with an electric driving system and a vehicle control unit, the modular vehicle is configured to be selectively articulated to a master vehicle and to be controlled from a selectable control source via the vehicle control unit either in a first, articulated mode, or in a second, autonomous mode. The control source may be selected to be in communication with a first gateway installed at the master vehicle or a second gateway installable at the modular vehicle. The modular electric vehicle may comprise a pair of single modules coupled to one another in tandem and in data and control communication with one another. The modules may each be configured to serve a master or a slave vehicle, so that any of the modules may serve a master vehicle, whenever required for the autonomous mode.

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 truck, a tractor unit, a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, at a tandem, 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.

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 truck, a tractor unit, a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, at a tandem, 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.

A robotized tractor unit comprises a frame and a housing, an axle mounted on the frame, at least two main wheels mounted on either side of the axle, at least one electric engine arranged to drive the wheels to rotate through transmission, a braking system, a fifth wheel, a mechanism for damping and adjusting the position of the fifth wheel, a control system, wherein the mechanism for damping and adjusting the position of the fifth wheel comprises a first and a second support elements and a first and a second independently controlled pneumatic units.

The design of the present invention provides for the reliable damping of the fifth wheel, the simplifying of its coupling to a semi-trailer, allowing for towing the semi-trailer at any design height, as well as ruling out a forward or rearward semi-trailer displacement force during lifting the fifth wheel, when the tractor unit is braked.

A robotized tractor unit comprises a frame and a housing, an axle mounted on the frame, at least two main wheels mounted on either side of the axle, at least one electric engine arranged to drive the wheels to rotate through transmission, a braking system, a fifth wheel, a mechanism for damping and adjusting the position of the fifth wheel, a control system, wherein the mechanism for damping and adjusting the position of the fifth wheel comprises a first and a second support elements and a first and a second independently controlled pneumatic units.

The design of the present invention provides for the reliable damping of the fifth wheel, the simplifying of its coupling to a semi-trailer, allowing for towing the semi-trailer at any design height, as well as ruling out a forward or rearward semi-trailer displacement force during lifting the fifth wheel, when the tractor unit is braked.