TRAILER AIRBRAKE AUGMENTATION MECHANISM FOR UNMANNED CONTAINER YARD OPERATIONS
An air brake controller system for a vehicle trailer associated with a vehicle enables an air brake system of the trailer to be controlled via teleoperation control signals when the vehicle is teleoperated. The air brake controller system comprises a wireless communication device to wirelessly receive brake control signals from the vehicle or directly from a remote teleoperation system. An on-board computer of the air brake controller system processes the brake control signals to generate one or more valve control signals that controls flow of air from a compressed air reservoir into air lines connected to the air brake system of the trailer.
1 . An air brake controller system for a vehicle trailer associated with a vehicle, comprising:
a wireless communication device to wirelessly receive brake control signals;
an on-board computer to process the brake control signals to generate one or more valve control signals;
a compressed air reservoir for storing compressed air;
a valve for controlling flow of air from the compressed air reservoir to one or more air lines in response to the valve control signals.
2 . The air brake controller system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more air lines comprises:
a first air brake connector to connect to a service line of the vehicle trailer;
a first flexible hose coupled between the valve and the first air brake connector;
a first pressure transducer to sense a first pressure of the first flexible hose and to communicate the first pressure to the on-board computer;
a second air brake connector to connect to an emergency line of the vehicle trailer;
a second flexible hose coupled between the valve and the second air brake connector;
a second pressure transducer to sense a second pressure of the first flexible hose and to communicate the second pressure to the on-board computer.
3 . The air brake controller system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pressure transducer to sense a pressure of the compressed air reservoir and communicate the sensed pressure to the on-board computer.
4 . The air brake controller system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device is configured to wirelessly receive the brake control signals from a remote support server providing teleoperation control signals to the vehicle including the brake control signals.
5 . The air brake controller system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication device is configured to wirelessly receive the brake control signals from a truck that is electronically paired with the air brake controller.
6 . The air brake controller system of claim 1 , wherein the on-board computer comprises:
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform steps including:
recording timestamps of brake control packets received by the wireless communication device;
determining if a current time is at least a threshold time period beyond a last recorded timestamp of a most recent brake control packet; and
responsive to determining that the current time is at least the threshold time period beyond the last recorded timestamp, generating a valve control signal to cause the valve to release pressure in the one or more air lines.
7 . The air brake controller system of claim 1 , wherein the on-board computer comprises:
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform steps including:
receiving one or more emergency brake packets from the wireless communication device;
responsive to receiving the one or more emergency brake packets, generating a valve control signal to cause the valve to release pressure in the one or more air lines.
8 . The air brake controller system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a connectivity sensor to detect a connection between the air lines of the air brake controller and the trailer and to report a connectivity state to the on-board computer representing a state of the connection.
9 . The air brake controller system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mounting device for detachably mounting the air brake controller to the vehicle trailer.
10 . The air brake controller system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a positioning system to determine a position of the air brake controller system; and
wherein the on-board computer reports the position to a remote support server to enable location of the air brake controller system.
11 . The air brake controller system of claim 1 , wherein the on-board computer comprises:
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform steps including:
transmitting pressure control signals to gradually increase pressure in the one or more air lines in response to detecting mechanical error;
detecting if brake disengagement occurs; and
responsive to brake disengagement failing to occur, transmitting error information to the vehicle or a remote support server.
12 . The air brake controller system of claim 1 , wherein the on-board computer comprises:
a processor; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform steps including:
monitoring pressure data from transducers sensing pressuring the one or more airlines;
detecting a pneumatic fault based on the sensed pressure data; and
transmitting an error signal indicative of the pneumatic fault to the vehicle or a remote support server.
13 . A method for operating an air brake controller system for a vehicle trailer associated with a vehicle, the method comprising:
storing compressed air in a compressed air reservoir;
wirelessly receiving brake control signals by a wireless communication device;
processing the brake control signals to generate one or more valve control signals; and
operating a valve to control flow of air from the compressed air reservoir to one or more air lines in response to the valve control signals.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
recording timestamps of brake control packets received by the wireless communication device;
determining if a current time is at least a threshold time period beyond a last recorded timestamp of a most recent brake control packet; and
responsive to determining that the current time is at least the threshold time period beyond the last recorded timestamp, generating a valve control signal to cause the valve to release pressure in the one or more air lines.
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
receiving one or more emergency brake packets from the wireless communication device;
responsive to receiving the one or more emergency brake packets, generating a valve control signal to cause the valve to release pressure in the one or more air lines.
16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
transmitting pressure control signals to gradually increase pressure in the one or more air lines in response to detecting mechanical error;
detecting if brake disengagement occurs; and
responsive to brake disengagement failing to occur, transmitting error information to the vehicle or a remote support server.
17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
monitoring pressure data from transducers sensing pressuring the one or more airlines;
detecting a pneumatic fault based on the sensed pressure data; and
transmitting an error signal indicative of the pneumatic fault to the vehicle or a remote support server.
18 . A vehicle system comprising:
a vehicle a drive system enabling teleoperation control of the vehicle by a remote support server;
an air brake controller system for attaching to the vehicle or a trailer attached to the vehicle, the air brake controller system comprising:
a wireless communication device to wirelessly receive brake control signals;
an on-board computer to process the brake control signals to generate one or more valve control signals;
a compressed air reservoir for storing compressed air;
a valve for controlling flow of air from the compressed air reservoir to one or more air lines in response to the valve control signals.
19 . The vehicle system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more air lines comprises:
a first air brake connector to connect to a service line of the vehicle trailer;
a first flexible hose coupled between the valve and the first air brake connector;
a first pressure transducer to sense a first pressure of the first flexible hose and to communicate the first pressure to the on-board computer;
a second air brake connector to connect to an emergency line of the vehicle trailer;
a second flexible hose coupled between the valve and the second air brake connector; and
a second pressure transducer to sense a second pressure of the first flexible hose and to communicate the second pressure to the on-board computer.
20 . The vehicle system of claim 18 , wherein the air brake controller system further comprises a pressure transducer to sense a pressure of the compressed air reservoir and communicate the sensed pressure to the on-board computer.