IP Library › Granted Patent US 12699406
Granted Patent B2
US 12699406 · App. 18/744,641 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Method of carrying out a departure inspection on an autonomous vehicle combination

Inventor: Fridtjof Stein (Ostfildern, DE)
Assignee: Daimler Truck AG
G05D1/689G05D1/221G07C5/008G05D2105/89
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12699406
App. No.
18/744,641
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a method of carrying out a departure inspection on an autonomous vehicle combination. In a method that shortens the inspection period, before departure of the vehicle combination ( 1 ), a first region ( 15 ) under the towing vehicle ( 3 ) of the vehicle combination ( 1 ) is checked for living beings and objects by means of a sensor system ( 13 ) fixedly installed on the towing vehicle ( 3 ), and a second region ( 21 ) under the trailer ( 5 ) of the vehicle combination ( 1 ) is checked by means of a mobile robot ( 19 ) comprising a further sensor system ( 15 ).

Claims (26)

1 . A method of carrying out a departure inspection on an autonomous vehicle combination ( 1 ), comprising a towing vehicle ( 3 ) and a trailer ( 5 ), characterised in that

before departure of the autonomous vehicle combination ( 1 );

a first region ( 15 ) under the towing vehicle ( 3 ) of the autonomous vehicle combination ( 1 ) is checked for living beings and objects by means of a sensor system ( 13 ) fixedly installed on the towing vehicle ( 3 ), and

a second region ( 21 ), under the trailer ( 5 ) of the autonomous vehicle combination ( 1 ), is inspected by means of a mobile robot ( 19 ) comprising a further sensor system ( 25 ), the method of inspection by mobile robot ( 19 ) includes the steps of:

storing the mobile robot ( 19 ) in a storage box ( 17 ) carried by the autonomous vehicle;

releasing the mobile robot ( 19 ) from the storage box ( 17 ) onto a surface under an end of the trailer ( 5 ) portion of the autonomous vehicle combination ( 1 );

activating a sensor system ( 25 ) on the mobile robot ( 19 ) such that the mobile robot ( 19 ) autonomously travels beneath the trailer ( 5 ), substantially inspecting the entire underside of the trailer ( 5 ), and;

then storing the mobile robot ( 19 ) in the storage box ( 17 ) in a manner that the mobile robot ( 19 ) can be deployed again, as needed.

2 . The method according to claim 1 ,

characterised in that

the mobile robot ( 19 ) is transported in the autonomous vehicle combination ( 1 ).

3 . The method according to claim 2 ,

characterised in that

the mobile robot ( 9 ) is transported in a storage box ( 17 ) on a base ( 9 ) of the autonomous vehicle combination ( 1 ) while the autonomous vehicle combination ( 1 ) is travelling.

4 . The method according to claim 3 ,

characterised in that

the mobile robot ( 19 ) is charged in a storage box ( 17 ) within the autonomous vehicle combination ( 1 ), when not in use.

5 . The method according to claim 1 ,

characterised in that

the mobile robot ( 19 ) continuously communicates wirelessly with the autonomous vehicle combination ( 1 ) during the entire departure inspection under the trailer ( 5 ).

6 . The method according to claim 1 ,

characterised in that

the mobile robot ( 19 ) continuously communicates with the autonomous vehicle combination ( 1 ) via a wired connection during the inspection under the trailer ( 5 ).

7 . The method according to claim 1 ,

characterised in that

any data determined by the first sensor system ( 13 ) of the towing vehicle ( 3 ) and any data determined by the further sensor system ( 25 ) of the mobile robot ( 19 ) are evaluated in the autonomous vehicle combination ( 1 ) or in a vehicle backend.