Dolly System with Tilt Sensor Feedback for Trailer Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The trucking industry faces challenges in efficiently transporting heavy and bulky loads due to inefficient axle loading, which can cause damage to roadways and lead to tilting or overturning of trailers and containers during turns, posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A two-axle dolly system is used to distribute the weight of trailers and containers across extended axles, combined with a sensor feedback system that alerts the driver to excessive tilt through haptic, visual, or audio signals, ensuring safe and stable transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If heavy loads are hauled in single trailers, then transportation efficiency is improved, but axle weight limits are exceeded causing roadway damage
Solution Approach 1:
The load is segmented across multiple trailers connected in a dolly configuration, distributing the total weight across separate axles of each trailer. This allows heavy loads to be transported legally by dividing the weight burden across multiple axles rather than concentrating it on a single trailer's axles, thereby improving transportation efficiency while avoiding roadway damage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If trailers are partially loaded to meet axle weight limits, then roadway damage is prevented, but transportation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple trailers are merged into a single dolly configuration to transport a unified heavy load. By combining the carrying capacity of multiple trailers, the system can haul loads that would exceed axle weight limits on a single trailer, thereby improving transportation efficiency while maintaining compliance with weight regulations through proper weight distribution across all axles.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If trailers are made stable during turns, then freight damage is prevented, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor feedback system is integrated into the dolly configuration to detect excessive tilting during turns. Sensors monitor the angle and stability of each trailer, providing real-time feedback to the driver through visual or audible alerts. This feedback mechanism enables stable freight transport during turns by allowing the driver to adjust driving behavior based on sensor data, preventing freight damage without requiring complex mechanical stabilization systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods, apparatuses, and systems for receiving feedback during transport. Embodiments include a transportation system comprising a tractor, a dolly attached to opposing ends of a first and second trailer, and a sensor feedback system. Sensor feedback system may include a tilt sensor system mounted on at least one of the dolly, the first trailer, and the second trailer, and a user feedback system mounted within the tractor. Tilt sensor system may measure tilt of at least one of the dolly, first and second trailers, and first and second containers attached to the first and second trailers, to obtain tilt information, and send tilt information to the user feedback system via a communication system. User feedback system may receive the tilt information and alert a driver of the tractor if the tilt information is above a predetermined level.