AUTONOMOUS GLADHANDS COUPLING SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS
DRIVE
March 7, 2024
The invention relates to a system () comprising a vehicle (), an arm assembly (), first and second cable portions (), at least one cable actuator (), and an air supply line. The vehicle has a pneumatic source of pressurized air. The arm assembly has an end effector releasably coupled to an end of an axially-extendable arm coupled to the vehicle. The end effector has a gladhand coupling portion. The air supply line can be coupled to the end effector and can 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 of a trailer. After coupling to the gladhand receptacle, the end effector can be disconnected from the arm assembly to allow the remainder of the arm assembly to be stowed.
Discussion in the ATmosphere