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Systems and methods for automatic air and electrical connections on autonomous cargo vehicles

A technology for electrical connection and vehicles, applied in vehicle maintenance, vehicle components, transportation and packaging, etc., can solve problems such as low efficiency and infeasibility

Pending Publication Date: 2020-12-08
WAYMO LLC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

One solution is to have staff at both endpoint facilities, but this may be inefficient or simply not feasible in various situations

Method used

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  • Systems and methods for automatic air and electrical connections on autonomous cargo vehicles
  • Systems and methods for automatic air and electrical connections on autonomous cargo vehicles
  • Systems and methods for automatic air and electrical connections on autonomous cargo vehicles

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Embodiment Construction

[0036] overview

[0037]The technology relates to fully autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles for transporting cargo, such as containerized cargo or livestock, between selected locations. Cargo can be transported using a towed or trailer arrangement. Driving from a warehouse or other starting point to a destination is done in fully or partially autonomous mode. Whether the cargo unit (trailer) can be autonomously coupled and disengaged from the tractor unit will seriously affect how efficient the entire transportation process will be.

[0038] Figure 1A -B shows an example vehicle 100, such as a tractor-trailer truck. The truck may comprise, for example, a single, double or triple trailer, or may be another medium or heavy duty truck, such as a commercial weight class 4 to 8 truck. As shown, the truck includes a tractor unit 102 and a single cargo unit or trailer 104 . Depending on the type of cargo to be transported, the trailer 104 may be fully enclosed, open (eg, a fl...

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PUM

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Abstract

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 (400) between the fifth-wheel (110) of a tractor unit and the kingpin (108) 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 (402, 404) arranged on a connection surface, and the trailer is configured to receive the air pressure through one or more openings (316, 318) on a contact surface of the kingpin. An electrical connection section(408) 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.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims the benefit of the filing dates of U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 007,688, filed June 13, 2018, and U.S. Continuation-in-Part Application No. 15 / 992,337, filed May 30, 2018, which are incorporated by reference The disclosure content of is incorporated herein. Background technique [0003] Autonomous vehicles (eg, vehicles that do not require a human driver) may be used to help transport trailered (eg, towed) cargo, such as container freight, livestock, or other items, from one location to another. Such a vehicle may operate in a fully autonomous mode without any input from the occupants of the vehicle, or may operate in a partially autonomous mode where a human provides some driving input. With conventional non-autonomous commercial tractor-trailer vehicles, the air supply that controls the trailer brakes and the electrical connectors that control the lights and powered automatic braking system u...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(China)
IPC IPC(8): B60D1/01B60D1/06B60W30/182B60W40/02
CPCG05D1/0225G05D1/0246B60D1/62B62D53/0807B62D53/0842B62D53/125B62D53/06B60D1/015B60S9/02
Inventor W.格罗斯曼
Owner WAYMO LLC