Systems and methods for automated operation and handling of autonomous trucks and trailers hauled thereby

• Main Authors: Rosenblum, Mark H, Nett, Jeremy M, Smith, Andrew F, Klein, Lawrence S, Seminara, Gary Michael, Langenderfer, Stephen A, Johannes, Matthew S, Rowley, Dale Dee, Bahl, Vikas, James, Peter, Sotola, Martin E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.10.2023
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS ORWINDOWS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES; CONTROLLING; CONVEYING; ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT OR PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLEDVEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, IN GENERAL; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; HAND TOOLS; HANDCUFFS; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; KEYS; LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS; LOCKS; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MANIPULATORS; MOTOR VEHICLES; PACKING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; REGULATING; SAFES; SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS; STORING; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; TRAILERS; TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING ORTIPPING; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLE CONNECTIONS; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS

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.