A hitch configured to selectively latch to a tow bar is provided. The hitch includes a housing, a frame defining a receiving cavity, a moveable arm, an actuator configured to move the arm between an unlatched position and a latched position, and a contact sensor mounted within the housing on a slotted mounting plate. The arm is configured to engage the tow bar when in the latched position. The slotted mounting plate is configured to enable a position of the contact sensor to be adjusted based on a geometry of the tow bar. The actuator is activated by the contact sensor sensing the presence of the tow bar within the receiving cavity.

A hitch configured to selectively latch to a tow bar is provided. The hitch includes a housing, a frame defining a receiving cavity, a moveable arm, an actuator configured to move the arm between an unlatched position and a latched position, and a contact sensor mounted within the housing on a slotted mounting plate. The arm is configured to engage the tow bar when in the latched position. The slotted mounting plate is configured to enable a position of the contact sensor to be adjusted based on a geometry of the tow bar. The actuator is activated by the contact sensor sensing the presence of the tow bar within the receiving cavity.

An assist method for coupling a motor vehicle to a trailer, wherein the motor vehicle includes a trailer coupling, at least one camera, a display, and an electronic unit, and wherein the trailer includes a tow bar for the trailer coupling. The assist method captures a first image of at least one tow bar of a trailer by the camera, displays the first image on the display, selects a first region in the first image in which the tow bar is located, enlarges the selected first region to produce a second image, displays the second image on the display, selects a second region in the second image in which the tow bar is located, and determines a trajectory of the motor vehicle for coupling the trailer assuming that the tow bar is located in the second region.

An assist method for coupling a motor vehicle to a trailer, wherein the motor vehicle includes a trailer coupling, at least one camera, a display, and an electronic unit, and wherein the trailer includes a tow bar for the trailer coupling. The assist method captures a first image of at least one tow bar of a trailer by the camera, displays the first image on the display, selects a first region in the first image in which the tow bar is located, enlarges the selected first region to produce a second image, displays the second image on the display, selects a second region in the second image in which the tow bar is located, and determines a trajectory of the motor vehicle for coupling the trailer assuming that the tow bar is located in the second region.

Systems and methods for towing, hitching, and connecting devices are described. An autonomous guided vehicle includes an automated hitch capable of connecting to a variety of types of containers.

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 vehicular trailering assist system includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle. With a trailer hitched to the vehicle at a hitch ball of the vehicle, the camera views at least a portion of the trailer. An electronic control unit includes an image processor operable to process frames of image data captured by the camera. With the trailer hitched to the vehicle at the hitch ball of the vehicle, the vehicular trailering assist system determines trailer feature points via image processing of image data captured by the camera, and determines respective perpendicular bisectors of respective line segments extending between the determined trailer feature points in respective frames of captured image data while the vehicle tows the trailer and turns. The vehicular trailering assist system determines a location of the hitch ball based at least in part on an intersection point of the determined perpendicular bisectors.

A vehicular trailering assist system includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle. With a trailer hitched to the vehicle at a hitch ball of the vehicle, the camera views at least a portion of the trailer. An electronic control unit includes an image processor operable to process frames of image data captured by the camera. With the trailer hitched to the vehicle at the hitch ball of the vehicle, the vehicular trailering assist system determines trailer feature points via image processing of image data captured by the camera, and determines respective perpendicular bisectors of respective line segments extending between the determined trailer feature points in respective frames of captured image data while the vehicle tows the trailer and turns. The vehicular trailering assist system determines a location of the hitch ball based at least in part on an intersection point of the determined perpendicular bisectors.

A method of determining the configuration of a tow load (12) coupleable to a vehicle (10), the method comprising: controlling (116) a vehicle system to obtain an indication of the presence of a unique identifier (40) mounted on the tow load (12); retrieving data (120) encoded within the unique identifier to determine the configuration of the tow load; configuring (124) the vehicle in dependence on the determined configuration of the tow load.

A method of determining the configuration of a tow load (12) coupleable to a vehicle (10), the method comprising: controlling (116) a vehicle system to obtain an indication of the presence of a unique identifier (40) mounted on the tow load (12); retrieving data (120) encoded within the unique identifier to determine the configuration of the tow load; configuring (124) the vehicle in dependence on the determined configuration of the tow load.