Method and apparatus for trailer monitoring

1 . A method of accessing a cargo in a trailer, comprising:

unlocking a trailer door of at least one trailer door assembly of the trailer via at least one locking assembly upon the at least one locking assembly receiving a first unlock command from a controller;

actuating the trailer door, via a rotary actuator, from a closed position to an opened position upon the rotary actuator receiving a first torque command from the controller;

pivoting the trailer door, via an expansion assembly of at least one driving assembly, from the closed position to the opened position, based on a first torque applied by the at least one rotary actuator, wherein the expansion assembly is connected to the rotary actuator; and

providing access to the cargo inside of the trailer.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

actuating at least one actuator of the at least one locking assembly from a locked position to an unlocked position upon the at least one actuator receiving the first unlock command from the controller;

disengaging the at least one actuator from at least one lock plate operably engaged with the trailer door; and

moving the at least one lock plate away from the trailer by the rotary actuator and the expansion assembly.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

applying the first torque, via the rotary actuator, to the expansion assembly of the at least one driving assembly upon receiving the first torque command from the controller;

rotating a first sleeve of the expansion assembly away from the trailer by the rotary actuator; and

sliding a second sleeve of the expansion assembly along the first sleeve to transition the expansion assembly from a collapsed position to an expanded position.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

applying a second torque, via the rotary actuator, to the expansion assembly of the at least one driving assembly upon receiving a second torque command from the controller;

rotating the first sleeve of the expansion assembly towards the trailer by the rotary actuator;

sliding the second sleeve of the expansion assembly along the first sleeve to transition the expansion assembly from the expanded position to the collapsed position;

and

actuating at least one actuator of the at least one locking assembly from an unlocked position to a locked position upon receiving a first lock command from the controller.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

unlocking a second trailer door of a second trailer door assembly via a second locking assembly upon receiving a second unlock commend from the controller;

actuating the second trailer door, via a second rotary actuator, from the closed position an opened position upon receiving the first torque command from the controller; and

pivoting the second trailer door, via a second expansion assembly of a second driving assembly, from the closed position to the opened position based on a first torque applied by the second rotary actuator, wherein the second expansion assembly is connected to the second rotary actuator.

6 . A method of accessing a cargo in a trailer, comprising:

unlocking a trailer door of at least one trailer door assembly of the trailer via at least one locking assembly upon the at least one locking assembly receiving a first unlock command from a controller;

actuating the trailer door, via a rotary actuator, from a closed position to an opened position upon the rotary actuator receiving a first torque command from the controller;

pivoting the trailer door, via an expansion assembly of at least one driving assembly, from the closed position to the opened position, based on a first torque applied by the at least one rotary actuator, wherein the expansion assembly is connected to the rotary actuator;

monitoring the trailer and the at least one trailer door assembly with at least one input device;

monitoring the trailer and the at least one trailer door assembly with at least one output device that is operatively connected with the at least one input device via at least one electrical connection; and

providing access to the cargo inside of the trailer.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of monitoring the trailer and the at least one trailer door assembly with the at least one input device further comprises:

recording visual images during a triggering event in a first viewing plane, by the at least one input device, that is exterior to a central compartment defined by the trailer;

wherein the at least one input device is a camera mounted to the trailer exterior to the central compartment.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of monitoring the trailer and the at least one trailer door assembly with the at least one input device further comprises:

recording visual images during the triggering event in a second viewing plane, by at least another input device, that is interior to the central compartment defined by the trailer;

wherein the at least another input device is a camera mounted to the trailer interior to the central compartment, and wherein the second viewing plane is different than the first viewing plane.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of monitoring the trailer and the at least one trailer door assembly with the at least one input device further comprises:

detecting a predetermined area surrounding the trailer with a first input device of the at least one input device; and

detecting when the at least one trailer door assembly is positioned between the opened position and the closed position with a first input device of the at least one input device;

wherein the first input device is a proximity sensor; and wherein the second input device is a door sensor.

10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of monitoring the trailer and the at least one trailer door assembly with the at least one input device further comprises:

sharing a location of the trailer with the at least one input device;

wherein the at least one input device is a geolocation device having a global positioning system (GPS).

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of pivoting the trailer door from the closed position to the opened position further comprises:

rotating a post, by the rotary actuator, to transition the trailer door of the at least one trailer door assembly from the closed position to the opened position, wherein the post operably engages with the expansion assembly and the rotary actuator.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

rotating the expansion assembly about a shaft of the post, via the rotary actuator, to transition the expansion assembly between a collapsed position and an expanded position for opening and closing the at least one trailer door assembly.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the shaft defines a first axis of rotation and a drive shaft of the rotary actuator defines a second axis of rotation that is parallel to the first axis of rotation.

14 . The method of claim 11 ,

wherein the post engages with a first sleeve of the expansion assembly;

wherein the rotary actuator engages with a second sleeve of the expansion assembly; and

wherein the first sleeve and the second sleeve engage with one another such that the second sleeve is slidably movable inside of the first sleeve.

15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

supporting the rotary actuator from the trailer, via a support bracket, at an angle that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the trailer.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of engaging the post with the door of the at least one trailer door assembly further comprises:

engaging the post with the door of the at least one trailer door assembly with at least one mounting bracket exterior to a central compartment defined by the trailer.

17 . The method of claim 1 ,

wherein at least one actuator of the at least one locking assembly connects to a bolster of the trailer or to a bumper of the trailer inside a central compartment defined by the trailer.

18 . The method of claim 1 ,

wherein a first actuator of the at least one locking assembly connects to a bolster of the trailer or to a bumper of the trailer inside a central compartment defined by the trailer; and

wherein a second actuator of the at least one locking assembly connects to the bolster of the trailer or to a bumper of the trailer inside the central compartment defined by the trailer.

19 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of engaging the at least one actuator with the at least one lock plate further comprises:

housing a portion of the at least one lock plate inside of a bolster of the trailer or a bumper of the trailer when the at least one trailer door assembly is in the closed position.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of engaging the at least one actuator with the at least one lock plate further includes that the at least one actuator engages with the at least one lock plate inside of the bolster of the trailer or the bumper of the trailer when the at least one trailer door assembly is in the closed position.