Bi-directional autonomous truck
First Claim
1. An autonomous truck having a longitudinal axis defining front and rear ends thereof, comprising a truck chassis and a dump bed supported by said truck chassis, said truck chassis having respective lifting mechanisms and bearings connected to each of said ends, said lifting mechanisms being coupled to corresponding ends of said dump bed, wherein each of said bearings is adapted to receive and pivotally retain said dump bed when said dump bed is being lifted by the lifting mechanism associated with the opposite of said ends, and to release said dump bed when said dump bed is being lifted by the lifting mechanism associated with the same one of said ends.
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Abstract
A bi-directional autonomous truck. The truck includes a drive-train including one or more drive wheels, the drive-train having drive characteristics that are substantially the same whether the drive wheels rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. The drive characteristics may consist of the ability to reach a maximum rotational speed of the drive wheels, but may include other characteristics, such as the ability to steer corresponding pairs of drive wheels that are situated at opposite ends of the truck. Preferably, the truck includes a dump bed that is adapted for dumping in either of two opposite directions.
13 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An autonomous truck having a longitudinal axis defining front and rear ends thereof, comprising a truck chassis and a dump bed supported by said truck chassis, said truck chassis having respective lifting mechanisms and bearings connected to each of said ends, said lifting mechanisms being coupled to corresponding ends of said dump bed, wherein each of said bearings is adapted to receive and pivotally retain said dump bed when said dump bed is being lifted by the lifting mechanism associated with the opposite of said ends, and to release said dump bed when said dump bed is being lifted by the lifting mechanism associated with the same one of said ends.
- 2. The autonomous truck of claim 2, wherein said chassis includes respective wheels corresponding to each of said ends of the truck, wherein said dump bed is substantially symmetric about a plane that is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and centered between said wheels.
Specification