A method detects and prevents stall of a drive motor of an autonomous electric tractor. A stall detector receives, at intervals, a motor current value from a drive circuit of the autonomous electric tractor, determines when the motor current value reaches or exceeds a first current threshold and applies brakes, inhibits a throttle controlling the drive motor, and sets a motor stall flag. A method determines a height above the ground of a landing gear of a trailer coupled with a tractor. A lift detector controls a hydraulic pump to pump a hydraulic fluid into a chamber of a piston coupled to a fifth wheel of the tractor to raise the fifth wheel. The lift detector senses, at intervals as the fifth wheel rises, a pressure value of the hydraulic fluid in the chamber and processes the pressure value to determine when the landing gear is lifted off the ground.

A fifth wheel hitch assembly is shown and described. The fifth wheel hitch system may comprise a jaw fixed about a pivot pin and a biasing member biasing the jaw to a closed position. The fifth wheel hitch assembly may also include a kingpin guide positioned opposite the jaw, where the kingpin guide is adapted to engage and retain a kingpin against the jaw.

A system for pivoting a coupling component for an outrigger, for a coupling between a tractor unit and a semi-trailer includes a rotation configured to pivot the coupling component between a primary position and a secondary position, and at least one line, which is guided into the coupling component via the rotation device, wherein the system is configured such that the at least one line forms a loop in the primary position in a defined area, and the loop is reduced in size when pivoted to the secondary position.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for determining and verifying operational states of fifth wheels. Certain methods for determining the operational state of the fifth wheel may include sensing, with at least one sensor, magnetic flux caused by a magnet on a movable component movable to lock the fifth wheel to a kingpin of a towed vehicle and determining an end position of the movable component based on the magnetic flux. The end position of the movable component is then compared to a threshold position and an operational state of the fifth wheel is determined based on the comparison of the end position of the movable component to the threshold position.

Disclosed is a sensor device for a towing vehicle coupling or as a component of a towing vehicle coupling, in particular a fifth-wheel coupling, with which a trailer vehicle can be coupled to a towing vehicle wherein the towing vehicle coupling has a coupling element for detachably coupling to a coupling counter element, in particular a fifth-wheel king pin, wherein the coupling element is/can be secured to the towing vehicle and the coupling counter element is/can be secured to the trailer vehicle, and in the coupled state forming a joint, they can rotate relative to one another about at least one joint rotational axis, wherein the sensor device has a follower, mounted on a bearing body such that it can rotate about a follower rotational axis, for detecting a rotation of the coupling counter element relative to the coupling element about the at least one joint rotational axis wherein the follower can rotate about the follower rotational axis by rotationally following the coupling counter element in a rotation about the at least one joint rotational axis, and the sensor device has at least one sensor for detecting a respective rotational position of the follower relative to the bearing body in relation to the follower rotational axis. The follower is arranged outside a bearing region of the joint, in which the coupling element and the coupling counter element are engaged with one another in a bearing manner, and the at least one sensor is arranged inside the follower and/or the follower forms a protective housing for the at least one sensor.

An emergency trailer release device for separating a trailer from a towing truck during an emergency situation includes an actuating module and a controller, which are mountable to a fifth wheel and within a cab of the towing truck, respectively. The actuating module is operationally engaged to and can selectively open a set of locks so that a king pin engaging the trailer to the fifth wheel is released. The controller is operationally engaged to the actuating module and can be engaged an electrical circuit of the towing truck. The controller can be selectively actuated by a driver of the towing truck in an emergency situation to signal the actuating module to open the set of locks to disengage the trailer from the towing truck, for example, when the driver believes the towing truck, the trailer, or both, are in danger of rolling over.

Trailer electrical connector assemblies can facilitate the automatic coupling and decoupling of a trailer. A trailer electrical connector assembly can include a vehicle portion and a trailer portion. The vehicle portion can include a hitch ring that is secured to a hitch ball and guides within which contacts are positioned. The trailer portion can include a sleeve that is positioned around a coupling mechanism of the trailer and a sleeve ring that forms receivers within which contacts are positioned. When the hitch ball is inserted into the trailer's coupling mechanism, the receivers can be automatically coupled with the guides to thereby form an electrical connection between the vehicle and the trailer.

A system and method for operation of an autonomous vehicle (AV) yard truck is provided. A processor facilitates autonomous movement of the AV yard truck, and connection to and disconnection from trailers. A plurality of sensors are interconnected with the processor that sense terrain/objects and assist in automatically connecting/disconnecting trailers. A server, interconnected, wirelessly with the processor, that tracks movement of the truck around and determines locations for trailer connection and disconnection. A door station unlatches/opens rear doors of the trailer when adjacent thereto, securing them in an opened position via clamps, etc. The system computes a height of the trailer, and/or if landing gear of the trailer is on the ground and interoperates with the fifth wheel to change height, and whether docking is safe, allowing a user to take manual control, and optimum charge time(s). Reversing sensors/safety, automated chocking, and intermodal container organization are also provided.

A system and method for operation of an autonomous vehicle (AV) yard truck is provided. A processor facilitates autonomous movement of the AV yard truck, and connection to and disconnection from trailers. A plurality of sensors are interconnected with the processor that sense terrain/objects and assist in automatically connecting/disconnecting trailers. A server, interconnected, wirelessly with the processor, that tracks movement of the truck around and determines locations for trailer connection and disconnection. A door station unlatches/opens rear doors of the trailer when adjacent thereto, securing them in an opened position via clamps, etc. The system computes a height of the trailer, and/or if landing gear of the trailer is on the ground and interoperates with the fifth wheel to change height, and whether docking is safe, allowing a user to take manual control, and optimum charge time(s). Reversing sensors/safety, automated chocking, and intermodal container organization are also provided.

A method for automatically verifying a coupling between a tractor and a first trailer unit, the method comprising engaging a wheel brake on the first trailer unit, generating a propulsion torque by the tractor, determining a first coupling force between the tractor and the first trailer unit, and verifying the coupling between the tractor and the first trailer unit based on the determined first coupling force.