SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR AUTONOMOUS TRAILER STANDS
Systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for autonomous trailer stands in which an automatically adjustable trailer stand is placed by an autonomous vehicle, adjusted by the autonomous vehicle to engage with a trailer, and disengaged from (e.g., deposited by) the autonomous vehicle.
1 . A system, comprising:
a vehicle configured to traverse an area;
a trailer stand operatively coupled to the vehicle, the trailer stand configured for positioning relative to a trailer; and
one or more controllers for controlling operation of at least one of the vehicle and the trailer stand.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the trailer stand is positionable beneath the trailer, and is configured to transition between a first condition having a first length and a second condition having a second length greater than the first length.
3 . The system according to claim 2 , including an actuator in communication with the controller for selectively transitioning the trailer stand between the first condition and the second condition.
4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the trailer stand is releasably coupled to the vehicle.
5 . The system according to claim 4 , including a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the trailer stand to the vehicle, the coupling mechanism including at least one of a mechanical coupling, an electrical coupling, an electro-mechanical coupling, a magnetic coupling or an electromagnetic coupling, or combinations thereof.
6 . The system according to claim 1 , including one or more sensors configured to detect one or more conditions of the trailer stand, and to transmit one or more signals to the controller representative of the one or more conditions.
7 . The system according to claim 6 , wherein the one or more conditions include at least one of:
positional relationship of trailer stand relative to the trailer;
a force exerted by the trailer on the trailer stand;
a distance between the trailer stand and the vehicle;
presence of the trailer stand; and
global positional location of the trailer stand.
8 . The system according to claim 6 , wherein the one or more controllers is located on the trailer stand.
9 . The system according to claim 1 , including one or more strain sensors disposed on the trailer stand.
10 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more strain sensors includes at least one of a lateral strain sensor or a vertical strain sensor.
11 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to maneuver the vehicle based at least in part on positional data associated with the vehicle truck and the trailer stand.
12 . The system according to claim 1 , including an output coupled to the controller to provide feedback related to at least one of the trailer stand and the vehicle.
13 . The system according to claim 1 , including one or more secondary sensors to detect an object within the environment.
14 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is one of a hostler, yard truck and forklift.
15 . A system, comprising:
a yard vehicle configured to traverse an area;
a trailer stand releasably coupled to the yard vehicle;
an actuator coupled to the trailer stand to cause transition of the trailer stand between a first transport condition to enable maneuvering of the trailer stand by the yard vehicle about the area and positioning beneath one end of a trailer, and a second deployed condition where the trailer stand supports the one end of the trailer;
a controller configured to control the actuator; and
one or more sensors to detect a condition of the trailer stand relative to at least one of the yard vehicle and the trailer.
16 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to control traversing movement of the yard vehicle about the area.
17 . The system according to claim 16 , including one or more secondary sensors coupled to at least one of the yard vehicle and the trailer stand, the one or more secondary sensors configured to provide one or more signals representative of at least one of a position of the yard vehicle in the area or detection of an object in the area.
18 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect an orientation of the trailer stand.
19 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to release the trailer stand from the yard vehicle.
20 . A system, comprising:
a self-propelled trailer stand configured for movement about a yard;
an actuator coupled to the trailer stand to cause transition of the trailer stand between a first transport condition to enable positioning beneath one end of a trailer, and a second deployed condition where the trailer stand supports the one end of the trailer;
a controller configured to control movement of the trailer stand about the yard and actuation of the actuator; and
one or more sensors to detect at least one of an object in the yard, location of the trailer stand or a condition of the trailer stand relative to the trailer.
21 . (canceled)