A towing device operably provided on a trailer for powering and controlling the trailer. The towing device has an actuator operably connected with the trailer during a towing operation. The towing device also has at least one switch provided in the actuator and operable to variably control at least one motor/generator provided on the trailer. The at least one switch is also operable to send a first signal to the at least one motor/generator via a first force exerted on the actuator by a vehicle, and wherein a first torque is applied to at least one wheel on the trailer via the at least one motor/generator being operably engaged with the at least one wheel. In addition, the towing device may include a controller operably connected to the at least one switch and to the at least one motor/generator, to control the torque applied by the at least one motor/generator.

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.

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.

A device for preventing jackknifing using a magnetic damping coupler of a tractor is provided. The device uses a magnetic damping coupler to prevent jackknifing due to a loss of stability in yawing of a trailer during driving.

A device for preventing jackknifing using a magnetic damping coupler of a tractor is provided. The device uses a magnetic damping coupler to prevent jackknifing due to a loss of stability in yawing of a trailer during driving.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for a three-point attachment trailer hitch. An example hitch includes a crossbar including a first end and a second end, the first end or the second end including at least one tab protruding from an edge of the first end or the second end, and a first endplate positioned on the first end or the second end of the crossbar using the at least one tab, the endplate including a first threaded hole and a second threaded hole, a diameter of the second threaded hole larger than a diameter of the first threaded hole.

A method for dampening trailer sway, includes: receiving, by a controller of a vehicle system that is coupled to a trailer, a vehicle speed signal of the vehicle system, wherein the vehicle speed signal is indicative of a vehicle speed of the vehicle system; determining a friction force to be applied to the trailer by an actuator using the vehicle speed of the vehicle system and a graph that establishes a relationship between the friction force to be applied to the trailer and the vehicle speed; and adjusting, by the controller, the graph that establishes the relationship between the friction force and the vehicle speed using the decay rate of the plurality of oscillation amplitudes to create an updated graph.

A system for probing properties of a trailer towed by a towing vehicle in a heavy-duty vehicle combination. The system comprises at least one torque generating component for inducing movements of the trailer relative to a yaw axis of the trailer; a control unit configured to, during driving of the vehicle combination, activate the torque generating component and apply a pre-determined control action to the torque generating component so as to excite oscillations of the trailer; and at least one detection unit configured to detect the resulting oscillations of the trailer, wherein the control unit is configured to, based on the detected resulting oscillations, determine one or more properties of the trailer. The invention also relates to a probing method.

A system for probing properties of a trailer towed by a towing vehicle in a heavy-duty vehicle combination. The system comprises at least one torque generating component for inducing movements of the trailer relative to a yaw axis of the trailer; a control unit configured to, during driving of the vehicle combination, activate the torque generating component and apply a pre-determined control action to the torque generating component so as to excite oscillations of the trailer; and at least one detection unit configured to detect the resulting oscillations of the trailer, wherein the control unit is configured to, based on the detected resulting oscillations, determine one or more properties of the trailer. The invention also relates to a probing method.

An oscillation brake system and method is disclosed for a vehicle having front and rear vehicle sections coupled with an oscillation joint that allows rotation about an oscillation axis. The system includes front and rear brake sections rigidly coupled to the front and rear vehicle sections, respectively. The rear vehicle section has multiple degrees of freedom of movement relative to front vehicle section. When the oscillation brake is activated the front brake section engages the rear brake section to increase resistance against or prevent rotation about the oscillation axis. The system can also include sensors, and a controller that activates the system based on the sensor readings. The sensors can include accelerometers, pressure, position, speed or other sensors. The oscillation brake can include a hub splined to separator plates and a housing splined to friction plates, where the oscillation brake is activated to force the separator and friction plates together.