An automatic guided vehicles (AGV) can include: motors, wheels, motor controllers, and batteries coupled to an elongated frame. The two wheels can be mounted on opposite sides of the elongated frame. The wheels can be coupled to motors which can be controlled by motor controllers. The motors and motor controllers can be attached to the frame and a connector flange can be mounted on a center portion of the AGV frame. Linkages are used to couple a plurality of AGVs together. In a two AGV embodiment, the AGVs can be mounted to a front portion and a rear portion on a centerline of a platform. In a four AGV embodiment, front width, rear width, left length, and right length linkages can form a parallelogram with AGVs couple to each of the four corners of the parallelogram.

A battery powered driver for propelling a wheeled ground surface modifying machine includes at least one wheel contacting a ground surface, a battery powered electric motor, control circuitry configured to manage delivery of electrical battery power to the electric motor to control a sped of the driver, at least one pedal attached to a pedal axle and tiltable in each of a forward and rearward direction with respect to the pedal axle, and at least one pedal tilt sensor configured to output one or more signals to the control circuitry indicating a degree of tilt of the at least one pedal. The control circuitry is configured to control the electric motor to accelerate the driver forward based on the one or more signals indicating a forward tilt of the at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for forward acceleration proportional to a degree of forward tilt of the at least one pedal, and to control the electric motor to accelerate the driver rearward based on the one or more signals indicating a rearward tilt of at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for rearward acceleration proportional to a degree of rearward tilt of the at least one pedal.

A battery powered driver for propelling a wheeled ground surface modifying machine includes at least one wheel contacting a ground surface, a battery powered electric motor, control circuitry configured to manage delivery of electrical battery power to the electric motor to control a sped of the driver, at least one pedal attached to a pedal axle and tiltable in each of a forward and rearward direction with respect to the pedal axle, and at least one pedal tilt sensor configured to output one or more signals to the control circuitry indicating a degree of tilt of the at least one pedal. The control circuitry is configured to control the electric motor to accelerate the driver forward based on the one or more signals indicating a forward tilt of the at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for forward acceleration proportional to a degree of forward tilt of the at least one pedal, and to control the electric motor to accelerate the driver rearward based on the one or more signals indicating a rearward tilt of at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for rearward acceleration proportional to a degree of rearward tilt of the at least one pedal.

A weight measuring hitch ball assembly is described. The assembly can include a hitch ball having a ball and a lower portion. The assembly can also include a body portion defining a hitch ball opening that slidably receives the lower portion of the hitch ball. The assembly can further include a load measurement device operably associated with the body portion and the hitch ball to determine a magnitude of a force acting on the hitch ball. Additionally, the assembly can include a hitch mount interface configured to interface with an attachment structure that facilitates coupling the weight measuring hitch ball assembly to a tow vehicle.

A trailer hitch system for a vehicle such as a car, truck, or SUV, and trailer comprising an overcab portion substantially parallel to a roof of the truck. The overcab portion comprises a roof connector located generally equidistant from either lateral side of the roof and is aligned with a door pillar, and a hitch for connecting the trailer. The overcab portion further comprises a forward frame portion extending from the overcab portion with a forward frame connector and a rearward frame portion extending from the overcab portion with a rearward frame connector, both of which connect to the frame of the vehicle.

A chassis for a vehicle includes a frame having a first end and an opposing second end. The frame includes a first frame rail defining a first channel, a second frame rail defining a second channel and that is spaced from the first frame rail, and a cross member assembly coupled to the first end of the frame and extending between the first frame rail and the second frame rail. The cross member assembly includes a first end plate positioned within and releasably received by the first channel of the first frame rail, a second end plate positioned within and releasably received by the second channel of the second frame rail, and a cross member extending between the first end plate and the second end plate.

A towing apparatus includes a towing bracket configured to protrude rearward from a rear end frame which is disposed to extend in a left-right direction at a rearmost lower end of a vehicle body, and a towing pin assembly which is detachably assembled with the towing bracket and to which a towing mechanism provided in a towing vehicle is to be caught and coupled.

A skid plate for a vehicle may include a continuous unitary plate of material including: a plurality of mounting points configured for mounting the continuous unitary plate to an undercarriage of a vehicle; and a recovery opening proximate an outer edge of the continuous unitary plate and configured to receive a device for recovering a vehicle.

A vehicle includes a vehicle frame. The vehicle frame includes a frame rail elongated along a vehicle-longitudinal axis that defines a hole. The vehicle includes a trailer hitch mount supported by the frame rail. The vehicle includes a face plate supported by the trailer hitch mount that defines an opening extending through the face plate that is aligned with the hole of the frame rail. The trailer hitch mount extends through the opening and is completely surrounded by the face plate. The trailer hitch mount extends into the hole of the frame rail along the vehicle-longitudinal axis.

A king pin adaptor is provided for allowing a king pin, intended to connect to a fifth wheel hitch, to be attachable to a ball hitch assembly. A hitch assembly is provided having a plurality of vertical and longitudinal positions for securing a ball member to allow for greater flexibility in attaching to various towed structures. The king pin adaptor and hitch assembly may be used alone or together as components of a towing system for towing a trailer with a king pin or ball mount.