Moving vehicles on and off transport carriages
A method that includes a computer in a vehicle. The method includes: controlling an approach to a pivotable bridge that spans between two transport carriages or between one of the carriages and a vehicle loader; receiving, from a communication device coupled to the bridge or one of the carriages, an indication to cross the bridge; and based on the indication, crossing the bridge.
1. A method, comprising:
controlling, using a computer in a vehicle, an approach to a pivotable bridge that spans between two transport carriages or between one of the carriages and a vehicle loader;
receiving at the computer, from a communication device coupled to the bridge or one of the carriages, an indication to cross the bridge; and
based on the indication, instructing a powertrain and steering system, in the vehicle, to move the vehicle to thereby cross the bridge.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer is programmed to operate the vehicle in a fully autonomous mode.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the two transport carriages are railroad cars.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is carried by a contact region of the bridge.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication device comprises a chipset which transmits the indication, wherein the chipset is configured to communicate using a low-energy, peer-to-peer short-range wireless communication link.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication is received at the computer based on proximity sensor data that indicates contact between the one of the carriages and the bridge in a deployed position.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication further comprises a unique identifier.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining to cross the bridge based on an indication that the bridge is in a deployed position.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: to inventory the vehicle, transmitting a vehicle identifier to a server in communication with the communication device.
10. A computer, comprising:
a processor; and
memory, wherein the memory stores instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor, wherein the instructions comprise to:
control an approach of a vehicle to a pivotable bridge that spans between one of: two transport carriages, or a vehicle loader and one of the carriages;
receive, from a communication device coupled to the bridge or one of the carriages, an indication to cross the bridge; and
based on the indication, instruct a powertrain and steering system, in the vehicle, to move the vehicle thereby crossing the bridge.
11. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise to operate the vehicle in a fully autonomous mode.
12. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the two transport carriages are railroad cars.
13. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the communication device is carried by a contact region of the bridge.
14. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the communication device comprises a chipset which transmits the indication, wherein the chipset is configured to communicate using a low-energy, peer-to-peer short-range wireless communication link.
15. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the indication is received at the computer based on proximity sensor data that indicates contact between the one of the carriages and the bridge in a deployed position.
16. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the indication further comprises a unique identifier.
17. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise to determine to cross the bridge based on an indication that the bridge is in a deployed position.
18. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise to inventory the vehicle, transmitting a vehicle identifier to a server in communication with the communication device.
19. A system, comprising:
a computer, comprising:
a processor; and
memory, wherein the memory stores instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor, wherein the instructions comprise to:
control an approach of a vehicle to a pivotable bridge that spans between one of: two transport carriages, or a vehicle loader and one of the carriages;
receive, from a first communication device coupled to the bridge or one of the carriages, an indication to cross the bridge; and
based on the indication, instruct a powertrain and steering system, in the vehicle, to move the vehicle thereby crossing the bridge; and
a server programmed to:
determine a location of the vehicle based on communication between the vehicle and a plurality of communication devices which include the first communication device, wherein each of the plurality of communication devices is coupled to a different bridge.
20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising a vehicle loader comprising one of the plurality of communication devices coupled to a loader bridge thereof, wherein, when the loader bridge is in a deployed position, the loader bridge facilitates the vehicle to be loaded or unloaded from one of the carriages.