A tow bar system for an independently steered and powered trailer includes a front tow bar configured to removably couple to a hitch of a lead vehicle, a rear tow bar configured to removably couple to a hitch of the trailer, and a damper system disposed between the front tow bar and the rear tow bar. The damper system is configured to absorb compressive and tensile loads occurring during steering, accelerating, and braking of the independently steered and powered trailer.

A human machine interface (HMI) system for a multi-vehicle system having a lead vehicle and a trailer vehicle with independent propulsion and control includes a display disposed in the lead vehicle, a lead vehicle sensor suite, a trailer vehicle sensor suite, and a controller configured to generate a trailer reverse screen on the display. The trailer reverse screen includes (i) a trailer rear view showing a view from one or more cameras located on a rear of the trailer vehicle, (ii) a multi-vehicle system top view showing a view from above the multi-vehicle system based on signals from one or more cameras located on the multi-vehicle system, and (iii) a lead vehicle backup camera view from a lead vehicle backup camera, to thereby provide a driver of the lead vehicle with an intuitive perspective for reversing the trailer vehicle without aid from another person outside of the lead vehicle.

A trailer platform system with independent propulsion and control includes a steerable first axle connected to a pair of first wheels, a second axle connected to a pair of second wheels, and at least one electric traction motor configured to drive the steerable first axle and/or the second axle. A high voltage battery system is configured to power the at least one electric traction motor. A load platform is supported by a chassis and a suspension, wherein the load platform is a wagon-style platform with the first and second wheels located at the four corners of the load platform. A lead vehicle hitch connection is configured to removably couple to a lead vehicle.

A multi-vehicle control system (MVCS) for dynamic stability and control of a multi-vehicle system having a lead vehicle and a trailer vehicle each with independent propulsion and control. The MVCS includes a controller in signal communication with the lead vehicle and a trailer vehicle advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) or autonomous driving system via a controller area network (CAN) bus. The controller is configured to (i) receive throttle, brake, and steering signals respectively from a throttle-by-wire system, a brake-by-wire system, and a steer-by-wire system of the trailer vehicle ADAS or autonomous driving system, (ii) receive lead vehicle control inputs from the lead vehicle, and (iii) modify a throttle, a steering, and a braking of the trailer vehicle, based on the received lead vehicle control inputs, to dynamically stabilize the multi-vehicle system such that the trailer vehicle does not induce forces that accelerate or slow the lead vehicle.

A trailer system with independent propulsion and control is configured to be towed by a lead vehicle. The trailer system includes a steerable first axle connected to a pair of first wheels, a second axle connected to a pair of second wheels, at least one electric traction motor configured to drive the steerable first axle, and a high voltage battery system configured to power the at least one electric traction motor. A trailer control system (TCS) includes a controller configured to steer, accelerate, and brake the first and/or second wheels. A trailer sensor suite is in signal communication with the TCS. The TCS is configured for signal communication with a lead vehicle sensor suite, and is configured to control driving and/or operation of the trailer system based on one or more signals from the trailer sensor suite and the lead vehicle sensor suite.

A dolly platform system with independent propulsion and control is configured to support a trailer and includes a steerable first axle connected to a pair of first wheels, a second axle connected to a pair of second wheels, and at least one electric traction motor configured to drive the steerable first and/or second axle. The system further includes a high voltage battery system configured to power the at least one electric traction motor, a load platform having a trailer hitch structure configured to removably couple to the trailer, and a lead vehicle hitch connection configured to removably couple to a lead vehicle. An advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) or autonomous driving system includes a controller in signal communication with one or more sensors and/or cameras. The controller is configured to steer, accelerate, and brake the dolly platform system, based on signals from the one or more sensors and/or cameras.

A human machine interface (HMI) system for a multi-vehicle system having a lead vehicle and a trailer vehicle with independent propulsion and control includes a display disposed in the lead vehicle, a lead vehicle sensor suite, a trailer vehicle sensor suite, and a controller in signal communication with the display, the lead vehicle sensor suite, and the trailer vehicle sensor suite. The controller is programmed to generate a trailer mode screen on the display when the trailer vehicle is connected to the lead vehicle. The trailer mode screen includes (i) a trailer top view section providing a top-view graphical representation of the multi-vehicle system, and (ii) a trailer enhanced view section providing a 3D dynamic representation of the multi-vehicle system.

An identifier for first set of display content on a vehicle display is input to a statistical model that outputs a plurality of probabilities that a user input will select each of a plurality of second set of display contents for display after the first set of display content is displayed. A first probability is identified for a predicted set of display content that is a highest probability in the plurality of probabilities. The plurality of probabilities are provided to at least one of an optimization model and a neural network upon determining an accuracy of the statistical model is below a threshold. Upon receiving, from the at least one of the optimization model and the neural network, a second probability for the predicted set of display content, the display content is selected based on the first and second probabilities. The vehicle display is updated based on the selected set of display content.

A trailed vehicle is provided comprising a plurality of operational components, at least one weight-sensing component, a body control module, a weight processing module, and an interface device comprising memory, a hardware processor coupled to the memory, a user interface, and a display. The user interface comprises user prompts for (i) associating particular operational components with the trailed vehicle and (ii) associating a particular weight-related parameter with the trailed vehicle. The weight processing module, the weight-sensing component, and the user interface are structured to generate an indication of vehicle weight at the user interface. The indication of vehicle weight is at least partially dependent upon the particular weight-related parameter associated with the trailed vehicle at the user interface. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Methods and vehicle interfaces are provided. One example method includes receiving, by a cloud processing service, data from a vehicle over a wireless network. The data includes information usable to identify a user account. The user account is accessible by one or more processing entities of the cloud processing service to identify a profile of a user. The profile of the user includes preferences of the user for the vehicle and learned behavior data of the user for the vehicle. Confirming, by one or more of said process entities, an identity of the user. Identifying, by one or more of said process entities, the preferences of the user responsive to confirming said identity of the user. Sending, by one or more of said process entities, the preferences of the user for the vehicle to electronics of the vehicle. The preferences including an assignment of control functions and associated display interface data to be rendered on display screen of a plurality of dials of a control interface of the vehicle. Each one of the plurality of dials is configured to render different display interface data based on the assignment of types of control functions selected for each of the plurality of dials. The preferences of the user are saved to memory of the vehicle for use with the user profile and saved to storage of the cloud processing service.