US 11,999,206 B2
Autonomous gladhands coupling systems, devices, and methods
Alberto Lacaze, Potomac, MD (US); Karl Murphy, Cocoa Beach, FL (US); Steven Rotundo, Baltimore, MD (US); and Gedaliah Knizhnik, Silver Spring, MD (US)
Assigned to Robotic Research OpCo, LLC, Clarksburg, MD (US)
Appl. No. 18/282,022
Filed by Robotic Research OpCo, LLC, Clarksburg, MD (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 26, 2023, PCT No. PCT/US2023/019970
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 14, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/212044, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 2, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/334,667, filed on Apr. 26, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0075778 A1, Mar. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. B60D 1/64 (2006.01); B60T 17/04 (2006.01); B62D 53/12 (2006.01)
CPC B60D 1/64 (2013.01) [B60T 17/043 (2013.01); B62D 53/125 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
(a) a vehicle comprising a pneumatic source of pressurized air;
(b) a first arm assembly comprising:
(i) at least one axially-extendable arm having a first end coupled to the vehicle and a second end opposite the first end along an axial direction of the arm;
(ii) at least one linear actuator coupled to the at least one axially-extendable arm; and
(iii) a first end effector releasably coupled proximal to the second end of the at least one axially-extendable arm, the first end effector comprising a gladhand coupling portion configured to be coupled to a gladhand receptacle of a trailer;
(c) first and second cable portions extending between the vehicle and a distal portion of the first arm assembly;
(d) at least one cable actuator configured to independently change respective lengths of the first and second cable portions between the vehicle and the distal portion of the first arm assembly; and
(e) an air supply line coupled to the vehicle and the first end effector, the air supply line being configured to deliver pressurized air from the pneumatic source to a braking system of the trailer when the gladhand coupling portion is coupled to the gladhand receptacle.