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.

The technology relates to autonomous vehicles having hitched or towed trailers for transporting cargo and other items between locations. Aspects of the technology provide a smart hitch connection between the fifth-wheel of a tractor unit and the kingpin of a trailer. This avoids requiring a person to make physical pneumatic and electrical connections between the fifth-wheel and kingpin using external hoses and cables. Instead, the necessary connections are made internally, autonomously. For instance, the fifth-wheel may provide air pressure via one or more slots arranged on a connection surface, and the trailer is configured to receive the air pressure through one or more openings on a contact surface of the kingpin. An electrical connection section of the fifth-wheel may also provide electrical signals and/or power to an electrical contact interface of the kingpin. Rotational information about relative alignment of the trailer to the tractor unit may also be 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 system for conducting cables in a vehicle having vehicle parts that are movably connected to one another. The system for conducting cables having a stabilization element and a reception element for receiving a cable and the reception element is movably arranged at the stabilization element.

A system for conducting cables in a vehicle having vehicle parts that are movably connected to one another. The system for conducting cables having a stabilization element and a reception element for receiving a cable and the reception element is movably arranged at the stabilization element.

Embodiments describe a method for positioning a hinged vehicle including a primary part and a secondary part coupled to the primary part at a project site. The method includes receiving, from an image capturing device, digital image data representing one or more features of the secondary part; performing image analysis on the digital image data to identify positions of the one or more features of the secondary part; identifying an angle of at least a portion of the secondary part; calculating a current position of the secondary part based on the angle; calculating a positional difference between a correct position at the project site for the secondary part and a current position of the secondary part at the project site; and initiating a change in a position of the primary part to compensate for the positional difference and to position the secondary part on the correct position.

A spring bar coupling device is described for coupling a spring bar of a weight distributing trailer hitch to a trailer frame. The spring bar coupling device can include a spring bar support operable to interface with and support a spring bar of a weight distributing trailer hitch. The spring bar support can have a vertical support arm having a first coupler opening, and a lower spring bar stop extending from the vertical support arm to provide a lower interface for the spring bar. The spring bar coupling device can also include a channel bracket having at least two opposing walls defining a vertically oriented channel operable to receive the vertical support arm, and a second coupler opening in at least one of the two walls. The first and second coupler openings can be configured to be aligned with one another at a first coupling location when the vertical support arm is located at least partially within the vertically oriented channel. In addition, the spring bar coupling device can include at least one coupler operable to extend into the first and second coupler openings to couple the spring bar support to the channel bracket.

Systems and methods carried out in a truck (TW) configured to be coupled to a trailer (TR), wherein a trailer connection status (CST) is determined by a pneumatic line test performed on a test pneumatic line arranged to pneumatically couple the trailer to the truck, the method comprising determining a line test circumstantial criterion, such criterion allowing or not a pneumatic line test to be performed, performing the pneumatic line test, whenever the test circumstantial criterion allows it, and updating therefrom the trailer connection status (CST), from a result of step b- and/or as time passes by,wherein the line test circumstantial criterion comprises at least a first condition representative of an air pressure prevailing in the pneumatic line below a predefined test threshold, a second condition representative of a presence, and/or activity of a driver of the truck in the truck’s cabin.

Systems and methods carried out in a truck (TW) configured to be coupled to a trailer (TR), wherein a trailer connection status (CST) is determined by a pneumatic line test performed on a test pneumatic line arranged to pneumatically couple the trailer to the truck, the method comprising determining a line test circumstantial criterion, such criterion allowing or not a pneumatic line test to be performed, performing the pneumatic line test, whenever the test circumstantial criterion allows it, and updating therefrom the trailer connection status (CST), from a result of step b- and/or as time passes by,wherein the line test circumstantial criterion comprises at least a first condition representative of an air pressure prevailing in the pneumatic line below a predefined test threshold, a second condition representative of a presence, and/or activity of a driver of the truck in the truck’s cabin.