Semi-autonomous vehicle providing an auxiliary power supply
A semi-autonomous vehicle couplable to a parent vehicle is described, and includes a chassis supported on first and second axles coupled to a plurality of wheels, a propulsion system configured to transfer torque to one of the wheels, a steering system configured to control direction of travel of the semi-autonomous vehicle, a braking system configured to apply braking force to the wheels, a high-voltage electrical energy storage system, an extra-vehicle communications system, and an extra-vehicle sensory system. A control system operatively couples to the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system. A coupling device is configured to electrically couple the semi-autonomous vehicle to the parent vehicle, the coupling device consisting essentially of a high-voltage DC electrical power bus electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system.
1. A semi-autonomous vehicle couplable to a parent vehicle, including:
a chassis supported on first and second axles coupled to a plurality of wheels;
a propulsion system configured to transfer torque to one of the wheels;
a steering system configured to control direction of travel of the semi-autonomous vehicle;
a braking system configured to apply braking force to the wheels;
a high-voltage electrical energy storage system;
an extra-vehicle communications system;
an extra-vehicle sensory system;
a control system operatively coupled to the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system;
a coupling device, the coupling device consisting essentially of a high-voltage DC electrical power bus electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system, the coupling device configured to electrically couple the high-voltage electrical energy storage system to the parent vehicle; and
an electric power management system configured to control flow of electric power originating from the high-voltage electric power storage system to the high-voltage DC electrical power bus of the coupling device.
2. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system configured to transfer torque to one of the wheels includes an electrically-powered wheel motor coupled to one of the wheels.
3. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the steering system configured to control direction of travel of the semi-autonomous vehicle comprises independently controllable first and second electric wheel motors coupled to first and second ones of the wheels.
4. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the steering system configured to control direction of travel of the semi-autonomous vehicle includes an electrically-actuated rack-and-pinion steering system coupled to one of the wheels.
5. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the braking system configured to apply braking force to the wheels includes an electric wheel motor coupled to one of the wheels and a power inverter system configured to operate in a regenerative braking mode.
6. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the extra-vehicle communications system comprises a wireless communications system operative to communicate with a communication system of the parent vehicle.
7. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the extra-vehicle sensory system includes a front sensor configured to detect a target device mounted on the parent vehicle.
8. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the extra-vehicle sensory system is configured to determine a linear range, a relative speed, and a trajectory of the parent vehicle correlated to the detected target device mounted on the parent vehicle.
9. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the front sensor configured to detect the target device mounted on the parent vehicle comprises one of a radar system, a lidar system, and a digital image capture and processing system.
10. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the coupling device is configured to electrically couple the high-voltage electrical energy storage system to a high-voltage electrical energy power management system of the parent vehicle.
11. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the electric power management system is configured to control flow of electric power originating from the high-voltage electric power storage system to the high-voltage electrical energy power management system of the parent vehicle via the high-voltage DC electrical power bus of the coupling device.
12. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a sealable storage and conveyance system.
13. A semi-autonomous vehicle couplable to a parent vehicle, including:
a chassis supported on axles coupled to a plurality of wheels;
a propulsion system configured to transfer torque to one of the wheels;
a steering system configured to control direction of travel of the semi-autonomous vehicle;
a braking system configured to apply braking force to the wheels;
an energy storage system;
an extra-vehicle communications system;
an extra-vehicle sensory system;
a control system connected to the propulsion system, the steering system, the braking system, the extra-vehicle communications system and the extra-vehicle sensory system; and
a coupling device, the coupling device consisting essentially of a high-voltage DC electrical power bus electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system, the coupling device configured to electrically couple the high-voltage electrical energy storage system to the parent vehicle; and
an electric power management system configured to control flow of electric power originating from the high-voltage electric power storage system to the high-voltage DC electrical power bus of the coupling device.
14. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the energy storage system comprises a liquid fuel storage system and the liquid fuel storage system is configured to transfer liquid fuel to an internal combustion engine operatively coupled to an electric generator.
15. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the electric generator is electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system.
16. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the energy storage system comprises a liquid fuel storage system and the liquid fuel storage system is configured to transfer the liquid fuel to a fuel cell electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system.
17. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the control system is operative to control transfer of electric power between the high-voltage electrical energy storage system of the semi-autonomous vehicle and the energy storage system of the parent vehicle via the coupling device consisting essentially of the high-voltage DC electrical power bus.
18. A semi-autonomous vehicle, including:
a chassis supported on axles coupled to a plurality of wheels;
a propulsion system, a steering system, and a braking system;
an energy storage system;
an extra-vehicle communications system;
an extra-vehicle sensory system;
a control system connected to the propulsion system, the steering system, the braking system, the extra-vehicle communications system and the extra-vehicle sensory system; and
a coupling device for coupling to a parent vehicle, the coupling device comprising a high-voltage DC electrical power bus electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system, the coupling device configured to electrically couple the high-voltage electrical energy storage system to the parent vehicle, and a mechanical link element; and
an electric power management system configured to control flow of electric power originating from the high-voltage electric power storage system to the high-voltage DC electrical power bus of the coupling device.
19. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the mechanical link element comprises a high tensile strength cable.
20. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the mechanical link element comprises a flexible mechanical shroud element encasing the high-voltage DC electrical power bus, the flexible mechanical shroud element configured to become a rigid connection when extended to a predetermined length.