Examples provide a trailer hitch system for connecting a tow vehicle and a trailer. Some examples of the system include a vehicle connector configured to be coupled to the tow vehicle and a chamber coupled to the vehicle connector. The chamber includes a center, an interior wall, and a valve for modulating a flow of hydraulic fluid within the chamber. A pin extends through the chamber and is configured to rotate within the chamber. A paddle is coupled to the pin and sized and shaped to sit substantially flush against the interior wall. The paddle is configured to push the hydraulic fluid in a first direction and a second direction through the valve. A trailer connector is coupled to the pin and configured to be coupled to the trailer.

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.

There is provided herein a recovery tow hitch assembly which may be utilized in a standard configuration much like a conventional tow hitch assembly. However, during bogging, a locking mechanism may be unlocked so as to free a sliding member slidably retained within a sleeve. A compression member acts between the sliding member and the sleeve such that, when unlocked, the vehicle may be driven forwards free of trailer tow load until such time that the compression member acts on the extended sliding member to pull the trailer free. In embodiments, at the full extent of travel of the sliding member, the present tow hitch assembly initially jerks the trailer under the inertia of the vehicle and wherein the potential energy stored within the compression member further assist the freeing of the trailer wheels.

A traction saddle disposed on a tractor for connection with a traction pin of a trailer, is provided. The traction saddle includes a base, a gear set, and a damper. A gear carrier of the gear set fixes planetary gears of the gear set, the planetary gears are meshed with an inner ring gear of the gear set, and the inner ring gear is fixed to the base. The gear carrier is used for fixing the traction pin to rotate with the traction pin. The planetary gears are meshed with a sun gear of the gear set to drive the sun gear to rotate, and the damper is connected to the sun gear to apply resistance. In addition, a traction pin, a tractor, a trailer, and a truck are also provided.

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 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.