AUTONOMOUS GLADHAND WITH LIGHT ASSIST GLADHAND POSITIONING

1 . A method, comprising:

mounting an end effector having a gladhand coupler to a robotic arm;

moving, with the robotic arm, the end effector proximate a gladhand receptacle of a trailer;

transmitting one or more light rays relative to the gladhand receptacle of the trailer;

utilizing the one or more light rays as a visual aid to facilitate alignment of the gladhand coupler of the end effector relative to the gladhand receptacle;

coupling the gladhand coupler of the end effector to the gladhand receptacle; and

releasing the end effector from the robotic arm;

wherein one or more steps are performed by a processor coupled to memory.

2 . The method according to claim 1 wherein transmitting the one or more light rays includes directing the one or more light rays onto the gladhand receptacle of the trailer.

3 . The method according to claim 2 wherein utilizing the one or more light rays includes aligning the gladhand coupler of the end effector relative to the gladhand receptacle based at least in part on a location of the one or more light rays on the gladhand receptacle.

4 . The method according to claim 3 including detecting the one or more light rays on the gladhand receptacle of the trailer with an imaging device.

5 . The method according to claim 4 wherein coupling the gladhand coupler of the end effector includes utilizing image data collected by the imaging device to control movement of at least one of the robotic arm and the end effector.

6 . The method according to claim 3 wherein directing the one or more light rays includes focusing the one or more light rays relative to a gladhand seal of the gladhand receptacle of the trailer to facilitate lateral alignment of the gladhand coupler of the end effector and the gladhand receptacle.

7 . The method according to claim 6 wherein focusing the one or more light rays includes directing the one or more light rays at a center segment of the gladhand seal of the gladhand receptacle.

8 . The method according to claim 7 wherein focusing the one or more light rays includes directing first and second intersecting lines of light at the center segment of the gladhand seal.

9 . The method according to claim 3 wherein directing the one or more light rays includes focusing the one or more light rays relative to a periphery of the gladhand receptacle of the trailer to facilitate depth alignment of the gladhand coupler of the end effector and the gladhand receptacle.

10 . The method according to claim 9 focusing the one or more light rays includes directing first and second lines of light on the periphery of the gladhand coupler.

11 . The method according to claim 3 wherein coupling the gladhand coupler is manually performed at least in part.

12 . The method according to claim 3 wherein transmitting the one or more light rays includes directing at least one laser beam of light onto the gladhand receptacle of the trailer.

13 . The method according to claim 12 including mounting a laser source to the robotic arm, the laser source directing the one or more light rays onto the gladhand receptacle of the trailer.

14 . The method according to claim 3 wherein directing the one or more light rays includes directing the one or more light rays on the trailer to facilitate depth alignment of the gladhand coupler of the end effector and the gladhand receptacle.

15 . The method according to claim 3 directing the one or more light rays further includes directing first and second beams of light on the trailer.

16 . A gladhand coupler system for attachment to a gladhand of a trailer, which comprises:

a robotic apparatus including at least one robotic arm and having an end effector coupled to the robotic arm;

a gladhand coupler mounted to the end effector of the robotic arm;

a light transmitter for transmitting one or more light rays relative to a gladhand receptacle of a trailer; and

at least one processor coupled to a non-transitory computable-reading medium storing instructions that when executed by the at least one processor results in:

activating the at least one robotic arm; and

moving at least one of the robotic arm and the end effector to position the gladhand coupler adjacent the gladhand receptacle of the trailer based at least in part on detection of the one or more light rays.

17 . The gladhand coupler system according to claim 16 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further results in:

transmitting the one or more light rays relative to the gladhand receptacle of the trailer.

18 . The gladhand coupler system according to claim 16 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further results in:

detecting the one or more light rays on the gladhand receptacle of the trailer with an imaging device.

19 . The gladhand coupler system according to claim 18 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further results in:

utilizing image data collected by the imaging device to control movement of at least one of the robotic arm and the end effector.

20 . The gladhand coupler system according to claim 19 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further results in:

coupling the gladhand coupler of the end effector to the gladhand receptacle.

21 . The gladhand coupler system according to claim 20 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further results in:

releasing the end effector from the robotic arm.