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 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 system and method for automatically coupling at least one of an air line or an electrical line of a tractor to a trailer that is configured to be pulled by the tractor. A moveable arm is mounted to the tractor and is configured to exhibit at least one degree of freedom (DOF) of motion relative to the tractor. The moveable arm carries at least one of an air line connector or an electrical connector. A trailer coupling head is mounted to the trailer and carries at least one of an air line connector or an electrical connector that are configured to be connected to the at least one of an air line connector or an electrical connector of the tractor. The trailer coupling head can be moved in at least a vertical DOF relative to the ground by the automatic coupling system.

An auto-coupling system for coupling a trailer and a towing vehicle includes a base plate between a vehicle frame and a fifth wheel of the towing vehicle, an extendable arm rotatably coupled to the base plate at a first point and configured to extend in response to relative movement of the towing vehicle and the trailer, a spring fixedly coupled to the base plate at a second point and coupled to the extendable arm, the spring being configured to exert a retractive force onto the extendable arm, and an alignment assembly rotatably coupled to the extendable arm and configured to move against an outer perimeter of the trailer.

A fifth-wheel coupling arrangement includes a primary coupling apparatus and a fifth-wheel plate that includes a semitrailer surface having an outward-pointing normal, and an insertion opening that extends in an insertion direction, the primary coupling apparatus includes a main body, a drive mechanically connected to a cover apparatus via a coupling mechanism, and a plug element having energy conducting contacts that point in a plug-in direction, wherein the cover apparatus includes a cover element displaceable by the drive between a first position where the plug element is exposed, and a second position where the plug element is covered, and wherein the insertion direction is substantially parallel to the plug-in direction.

A coupling system for a fifth wheel coupling includes a first plug unit having a plurality of first plug connectors, and a second plug unit having a plurality of second plug connectors to engage and transmit power and/or fluid with the first plug connectors, and an adjuster unit having a guide section configured to be brought into engagement with a retaining element on one of the plug units to transmit a force from the adjuster unit to the plug unit, which displaces the plug unit along a plug-in axis, wherein the adjuster unit can be displaced transversely and laterally to the plug-in axis or can be rotated about the plug-in axis.

A system for pivoting a coupling component for a semi-trailer truck includes a rotation device 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 and wherein the system comprises a pivot arm for entraining the at least one line when the coupling component is pivoted between the primary position and the secondary position.

A gladhand coupler assembly is configured to releasably couple to a gladhand coupler having a mating seal and first and second mating structures. The gladhand coupler assembly includes an assembly mating seal for interfacing with the gladhand coupler mating seal and first and second assembly mating structures coupled to the assembly mating seal. The first and second assembly mating structures are configured to interface with the gladhand coupler first and second mating structures, respectively. The gladhand coupler assembly further includes an actuation mechanism configured to move the assembly mating seal relative to the pair of rigidly fixed assembly mating structures. The gladhand actuation mechanism is further configured to place the assembly mating seal into and out of fluid communication with the gladhand coupler mating seal.

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.