Vehicle system and method for selectively coupled vehicles
First Claim
1. A vehicle system for selectively coupled vehicles, comprising:
- a primary vehicle (PV) having a propulsion system (PS), a braking system (BS), and a directional control system (DCS) for controlling steering of at least one steerable wheel of the PV;
an auxiliary vehicle (AV) having a propulsion system (PS), a braking system (BS), and a directional control system (DCS) for controlling steering of at least one steerable wheel of the AV, the AV selectively connectable to the PV for operation as a combined vehicle;
an interactive control system for cooperatively controlling the PS, the BS and the DCS of the PV and the AV, the interactive control system including a PV electronic control unit (ECU) on the PV and an AV ECU on the AV that are in communication with one another; and
a docking system for mechanically coupling the AV selectively to the PV while allowing limited relative movement between the PV and the AV, the docking system including an automatic docking actuator (ADA) that initiates automatic docking of the AV with the PV through the interactive control system to couple the AV to the PV when actuated.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle system and method includes a primary vehicle (PV) and an auxiliary vehicle (AV) selectively connectable to the primary vehicle. The PV and AV vehicles each having an ECU, a propulsion system a braking system, and a directional control system for steering at least one wheel thereon. The ECU of the PV and the ECU of the AV in communication with one another to form an interactive control system that control operation of the systems of the PV and the AV when connected to one another. The vehicle system also includes a docking system for connecting the AV and the PV. The docking system includes an automatic docking actuator that automatically connects the AV to the PV when actuated. Optionally, a remote control device communicates with the ECU of the AV for controlling the AV through the ECU of the AV when disconnected from the PV.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A vehicle system for selectively coupled vehicles, comprising:
-
a primary vehicle (PV) having a propulsion system (PS), a braking system (BS), and a directional control system (DCS) for controlling steering of at least one steerable wheel of the PV; an auxiliary vehicle (AV) having a propulsion system (PS), a braking system (BS), and a directional control system (DCS) for controlling steering of at least one steerable wheel of the AV, the AV selectively connectable to the PV for operation as a combined vehicle; an interactive control system for cooperatively controlling the PS, the BS and the DCS of the PV and the AV, the interactive control system including a PV electronic control unit (ECU) on the PV and an AV ECU on the AV that are in communication with one another; and a docking system for mechanically coupling the AV selectively to the PV while allowing limited relative movement between the PV and the AV, the docking system including an automatic docking actuator (ADA) that initiates automatic docking of the AV with the PV through the interactive control system to couple the AV to the PV when actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A vehicle system comprising:
-
a primary vehicle (PV) and an auxiliary vehicle (AV) selectively connectable to the primary vehicle, the PV and AV vehicles each having an electronic control unit (ECU), a propulsion system, a braking system and a directional control system for steering at least one wheel thereon, the ECU of the PV and the ECU of the AV in communication with one another to form an interactive control system that controls operation of the systems of the PV and the AV when connected to one another; and a docking system for connecting the AV and the PV, the docking system including an automatic docking actuator that automatically connects the AV to the PV when actuated. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A vehicle control system, comprising:
-
an auxiliary vehicle (AV) having an electronic control unit (ECU), a propulsion system, a braking system, and a directional control system for controlling steering of at least one steerable wheel thereon, the AV selectively coupled to a primary vehicle (PV) for operation as a cooperatively controlled combined vehicle; and a remote control device communicating with the ECU of the AV for controlling the AV through the ECU when the AV is decoupled from the PV. - View Dependent Claims (21)
-
-
22. A method for selectively coupling an auxiliary vehicle to a primary vehicle, wherein each of the auxiliary vehicle and the primary vehicle includes a propulsion system, a braking system, a directional control system and an electronic control unit (ECU), the ECUs of the primary and auxiliary vehicles communicating with one another to form an interactive control system that controls operation of the systems of the primary and auxiliary vehicles, the method comprising:
-
actuating an automatic docking actuator disposed on at least one of the auxiliary vehicle or the primary vehicle to initiate automatic docking of the auxiliary vehicle with the primary vehicle; propelling and steering the auxiliary vehicle by the interactive control system to couple the auxiliary vehicle to the primary vehicle when automatic docking is initiated; and coupling the auxiliary vehicle to the primary vehicle, wherein limited relative movement between the vehicles is allowed over a specified range of motion.
-
Specification