This disclosure relates to systems and methods of towing, hitching, and connecting devices. In particular, this disclosure relates to tow devices, hitches, and connections for towing item containers behind vehicles, both autonomous and manually guided.

An apparatus and system for: combining independent driving vehicles into a single assembly for condensed, efficient, variable capacity transportation on common routes; and for separating into independent vehicles for flexibility on diverse routes. Connection logistics are exchanged locally via line of sight optical channel. Retractable coupling and mated coupling on opposing ends of the vehicles provide multiple degrees of freedom (DOF) to accommodate misalignment during initial dynamic engagement, and lock as rigidly coupled assembly with zero DOF. Mating vehicles' doors open during transit, permitting inter-vehicle movement and consolidation of passengers en route to urban locales, and release of empty vehicles. On return, independent vehicles combine to dense passenger vehicles from urban locales for redistribution of passengers in individual vehicles that later separate for diverse destinations. Slaved vehicle systems allow one vehicle to control coupled vehicles' systems of retractable suspension, coordinated steering, power sharing. Utility vehicles couple to assembly for service.

A vehicle includes one or more laser scanners and an on-board vehicle computer system communicatively coupled to the laser scanners. The computer system uses information (e.g., coordinate points) obtained from the laser scanners to calculate a trailer angle (e.g., a cab-trailer angle) for the vehicle. The computer system may include a shape detection module that detects a trailer based on the information obtained from the laser scanners and an angle detection module that calculates an angle of the detected trailer relative to a laser scanner, calculates the orientation of the detected trailer based on that angle and dimensions (e.g., width and length) of the trailer, and calculates a cab-trailer angle based on the orientation of the trailer. The computer system may include an autonomous operation module configured to use the cab-trailer angle in an autonomous or computer-guided vehicle maneuver, such as a parking maneuver or backing maneuver.

This disclosure relates to systems and methods of towing, hitching, and connecting devices. In particular, this disclosure relates to tow devices, hitches, and connections for towing item containers behind vehicles, both autonomous and manually guided.

This disclosure relates to systems and methods of towing, hitching, and connecting devices. In particular, this disclosure relates to tow devices, hitches, and connections for towing item containers behind vehicles, both autonomous and manually guided.

An autonomous work vehicle having a chassis, a power system disposed on the chassis, a field wheel system coupled to the chassis and the power system, and a hitch assembly. The power system is configured to power the autonomous work vehicle in an autonomous control mode. The field wheel system is configured to drive the autonomous work vehicle in a field in the autonomous control mode. The hitch assembly is configured to couple to a lead vehicle in a transport mode. The autonomous work vehicle may engage wheels of a transportation wheel system with a road to support the autonomous work vehicle on the road. The autonomous work vehicle may be coupled via the hitch assembly to the lead vehicle, then transported on a road. A brake system of the transportation wheel system may be coupled to the lead vehicle.

A modular skid mounted oil production system, comprising multiple skid sections that are connectable via alignment pins coupled to the skid beam structure. The alignment pins having a fork connector that is connected to a knife connector. When the skid sections are connected, the piping, electrical, and pneumatic tubing connectors are connectable to the other corresponding skid piping, electrical, and pneumatic tubing connectors without the need for welding or field construction of connecting components. The modular skid oil production system is capable of expansion or contraction as required by the operation of the system. For example the system includes removing a skid section having a larger separator and replacing it with a skid section having a smaller separator, without the need of welding or field construction of connecting components.

A couplable automotive road vehicle includes two front wheels, a chassis having a front part and a rear part, an articulated connection device, and front and rear couplings. A wheel cylinder is defined as the cylindrical geometric shape surrounding the two front wheels when the wheels are not turned. The front part of the chassis includes a chassis beam disposed behind the front wheels, outside the wheel cylinder. The front coupling includes a yaw rigid coupling module mounted on the chassis beam between the two front wheels. The vehicle includes, for each front wheel, a suspension arm mounted on the chassis beam and extending around the wheel cylinder, above same, and a tie rod for controlling the steering device, located above the wheel cylinder.

A method for stabilization of a convoy of vehicles linked in pairs one behind the other, includes a lead vehicle and at least one second vehicle comprising a front axle assembly with two wheels that are rotationally mobile about a front axis, a rear axle assembly with two wheels that are rotationally mobile about a rear axis, the front axis of a second vehicle coinciding with the rear axis of the vehicle preceding it, an articulation configured to render the rear axle assembly rotationally mobile about a vertical axis substantially at right angles to the reference plane relative to the front axle assembly, a sensor intended to estimate an orientation of the second vehicle, a computer, the method comprising the following steps: estimation of the position and the orientation of the vehicles, determination of the deviation between the actual trajectory and the reference trajectory, computation of a control vector to be applied to the two wheels of the front axle assembly, application of the first control vector to the two wheels of the front axle assembly of each second vehicle.

This disclosure relates to systems and methods of towing, hitching, and connecting devices. In particular, this disclosure relates to tow devices, hitches, and connections for towing item containers behind vehicles, both autonomous and manually guided.