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 trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, 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.

The invention provides a brake assist and retarder system for hybrid commercial vehicles. The system is mainly specific to the application scenarios of long-distance transport for large commercial vehicles (trucks or buses). According to the vehicle-mounted three-dimensional electronic map, the three-dimensional positioning data of the vehicle measured by the navigator, and data such as relative speed and absolute distance between the vehicle and the vehicle ahead in the same lane measured by the forward looking millimeter wave radar, the electrical power split device is commanded through the vehicle control unit to allocate the flow direction and amplitude of 100 kW-class electric power accurately, continuously and dynamically among the generator set, the power battery pack and the driving motor with response time scale of 10 ms, and meet the transient power balance of road load required by the vehicle dynamics equation in real time; achieve vehicle energy saving and emission reduction through predictive adaptive cruise control and fuel saving AI algorithms, educe drivers' labor intensity of long-distance driving, realize the functions of emergency brake assist and retarding when the vehicle is going down a long slope, and improve the vehicle driving safety.

Techniques are disclosed for performing hybrid simulation operations with an autonomous vehicle. A method of testing autonomous vehicle operations includes receiving, by a computer, a pre-configured scenario that includes one or more simulation parameters and one or more initial condition parameters, sending, to the autonomous vehicle and based on the one or more initial condition parameters, control signals that instruct the autonomous vehicle to operate at an operative condition, and in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle is operating at the operative condition, performing a simulation with the one or more simulated objects and the autonomous vehicle to test a response of the autonomous vehicle.

Techniques are disclosed for performing hybrid simulation operations with an autonomous vehicle. A method of testing autonomous vehicle operations includes receiving, by a computer, a pre-configured scenario that includes one or more simulation parameters and one or more initial condition parameters, sending, to the autonomous vehicle and based on the one or more initial condition parameters, control signals that instruct the autonomous vehicle to operate at an operative condition, and in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle is operating at the operative condition, performing a simulation with the one or more simulated objects and the autonomous vehicle to test a response of the autonomous vehicle.

In some examples, a network computer system can monitor a plurality of mobile computing devices to determine a current location of a corresponding freight operator of a plurality of freight operators. The network computer system can record the current location of each of the plurality of freight operators in a data store of the set of memory resources. Additionally, the network computer system can repeatedly query the data store to determine when at least two freight operators of the plurality of freight operators that satisfy a set of drafting conditions. The set of drafting conditions including a proximity condition as between the at least two freight operators and a candidate commencement location. In response to the determination, the network computer system can implement a drafting arrangement between the at least two freight operators.

In some examples, a network computer system can monitor a plurality of mobile computing devices to determine a current location of a corresponding freight operator of a plurality of freight operators. The network computer system can record the current location of each of the plurality of freight operators in a data store of the set of memory resources. Additionally, the network computer system can repeatedly query the data store to determine when at least two freight operators of the plurality of freight operators that satisfy a set of drafting conditions. The set of drafting conditions including a proximity condition as between the at least two freight operators and a candidate commencement location. In response to the determination, the network computer system can implement a drafting arrangement between the at least two freight operators.

A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. An integrated actuator housing includes a single external power access for the shift actuator. A controller interprets a shaft displacement angle, determines if the transmission is in an imminent zero or zero torque region, and performs a transmission operation in response to the transmission in the imminent zero or zero torque region.

A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. An integrated actuator housing includes a single external power access for the shift actuator. A controller interprets a shaft displacement angle, determines if the transmission is in an imminent zero or zero torque region, and performs a transmission operation in response to the transmission in the imminent zero or zero torque region.

A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. An integrated actuator housing includes a single external power access for the shift actuator. A controller interprets a shaft displacement angle, determines if the transmission is in an imminent zero or zero torque region, and performs a transmission operation in response to the transmission in the imminent zero or zero torque region.

A heavy hybrid truck is powered by a non-electric powered medium and an electric powered axle. The electric powered axle assists the non-electric powered medium when load changes are detected. The electric powered axle is sourced by a rechargeable battery. The non-electric powered medium is either a fossil fuel combustion engine, a biofuel engine, a hydrogen engine, or a combination.