A combinable and detachable vehicle includes: a front connecting portion and a rear connecting portion provided at a front portion and a rear portion of a vehicle, respectively, and connected to another vehicle when the vehicle is combined with the other vehicle; a front monitoring portion and a rear monitoring portion monitoring a forward area and a rearward area of the vehicle, respectively; and a controller determining whether the other vehicle is connected to the front connecting portion or the rear connecting portion of the vehicle based on information received from the front connecting portion or the rear connecting portion, or the front monitoring portion or the rear monitoring portion, and controlling whether to operate each of a front component and a rear component of the vehicle depending on a direction of the vehicle is connected to the other vehicle.

This disclosure relates to systems and methods of towing, hitching, and connecting devices. In particular, this disclosure relates to tow devices, hitches, and connections for towing item containers behind vehicles, both autonomous and manually guided.

This disclosure relates to systems and methods of towing, hitching, and connecting devices. In particular, this disclosure relates to tow devices, hitches, and connections for towing item containers behind vehicles, both autonomous and manually guided.

An apparatus and system for: combining independent driving vehicles into a single assembly for condensed, efficient, variable capacity transportation on common routes; and for separating into independent vehicles for flexibility on diverse routes. Connection logistics are exchanged locally via line of sight optical channel. Retractable coupling and mated coupling on opposing ends of the vehicles provide multiple degrees of freedom (DOF) to accommodate misalignment during initial dynamic engagement, and lock as rigidly coupled assembly with zero DOF. Mating vehicles' doors open during transit, permitting inter-vehicle movement and consolidation of passengers en route to urban locales, and release of empty vehicles. On return, independent vehicles combine to dense passenger vehicles from urban locales for redistribution of passengers in individual vehicles that later separate for diverse destinations. Slaved vehicle systems allow one vehicle to control coupled vehicles' systems of retractable suspension, coordinated steering, power sharing. Utility vehicles couple to assembly for service.

A trailer system for providing transportability for a cavity cleaning and coating system may include a frame, a bed that is attached to the frame, a pair of ground engaging elements that are attached to the frame, and a lifting and reclining assembly that is attached to the frame that is configured to raise and lower the cavity cleaning system into position over a cavity.

A modular electric vehicle comprising a single module(s) with an electric driving system and a vehicle control unit, the modular vehicle is configured to be selectively articulated to a master vehicle and to be controlled from a selectable control source via the vehicle control unit either in a first, articulated mode, or in a second, autonomous mode. The control source may be selected to be in communication with a first gateway installed at the master vehicle or a second gateway installable at the modular vehicle. The modular electric vehicle may comprise a pair of single modules coupled to one another in tandem and in data and control communication with one another. The modules may each be configured to serve a master or a slave vehicle, so that any of the modules may serve a master vehicle, whenever required for the autonomous mode.

A control device, a vehicle, a vehicle combination, and a method, the control device being designed to provide a first control signal for the approach of the vehicle to a further vehicle in a first portion of a travel route of the vehicle, the control device being designed to provide a second control signal for the coupling of the vehicle to the further vehicle in the first portion of the travel route, in order to provide a passage between the vehicle and the further vehicle, via which a person may change over between the vehicle and the further vehicle.

Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for high-traffic density transportation pathways. An example system includes a convoy moving at a first speed, the convoy including a first and second powertrain vehicle, a first land vehicle disposed between the first powertrain vehicle and the second powertrain vehicle, the first land vehicle including a first transit carrier, and a second land vehicle coupled to the first land vehicle, the second land vehicle including a second transit carrier having a first movement system and first stacking couplers, and a transit pod coupled to the second transit carrier, the transit pod having second stacking couplers, the second stacking couplers coupled to the first stacking couplers, and a controller to, in response to a request for a third transit carrier traveling at a second speed to join the convoy, instruct the third transit carrier to join the convoy at the first speed.

The present invention relates to a novel trolley coupling structure that allows coupling of base parts of trolleys aligned in the vertical or horizontal direction. The present invention provides a trolley coupling structure in which a first receiving recess part is provided in a base part of one trolley, a second receiving recess part is provided in a base part of another trolley, a locking member is pivotally attached to the first receiving recess part, a recess part body and a bent section are formed in the respective first and second receiving recess parts, and retaining of the locking member is achieved by constraining and locking a constraining piece part of the locking member at the bent section.

The present invention relates to a flexible conveyor system. The system includes a supply conveyor module and a receiver conveyor module. A hitch mechanism is provided for pivotally coupling the supply conveyor module to the receiver conveyor module about a pivot axis so that the receiver conveyor module receives conveyed material from the supply conveyor module proximal to the pivot axis. Advantageously, the receiver conveyor module receives conveyed material from the supply conveyor module proximal to the pivot axis which impedes spillage between the adjacent conveyor modules on very tight corners.