Moving vehicles on and off transport carriages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10620630-B2
Application number	US-201715685317-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2017
Priority date	Aug 24, 2017
Publication date	Apr 14, 2020
Grant date	Apr 14, 2020

Abstract

A method that includes a computer in a vehicle. The method includes: controlling an approach to a pivotable bridge that spans between two transport carriages or between one of the carriages and a vehicle loader; receiving, from a communication device coupled to the bridge or one of the carriages, an indication to cross the bridge; and based on the indication, crossing the bridge.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
controlling, using a computer in a vehicle, an approach to a pivotable bridge that spans between two transport carriages or between one of the carriages and a vehicle loader;
receiving at the computer, from a communication device coupled to the bridge or one of the carriages, an indication to cross the bridge; and
based on the indication, instructing a powertrain and steering system, in the vehicle, to move the vehicle to thereby cross the bridge.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer is programmed to operate the vehicle in a fully autonomous mode.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the two transport carriages are railroad cars.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is carried by a contact region of the bridge.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication device comprises a chipset which transmits the indication, wherein the chipset is configured to communicate using a low-energy, peer-to-peer short-range wireless communication link.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication is received at the computer based on proximity sensor data that indicates contact between the one of the carriages and the bridge in a deployed position.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication further comprises a unique identifier.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining to cross the bridge based on an indication that the bridge is in a deployed position.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: to inventory the vehicle, transmitting a vehicle identifier to a server in communication with the communication device.

10. A computer, comprising:
a processor; and
memory, wherein the memory stores instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor, wherein the instructions comprise to:
control an approach of a vehicle to a pivotable bridge that spans between one of: two transport carriages, or a vehicle loader and one of the carriages;
receive, from a communication device coupled to the bridge or one of the carriages, an indication to cross the bridge; and
based on the indication, instruct a powertrain and steering system, in the vehicle, to move the vehicle thereby crossing the bridge.

11. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise to operate the vehicle in a fully autonomous mode.

12. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the two transport carriages are railroad cars.

13. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the communication device is carried by a contact region of the bridge.

14. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the communication device comprises a chipset which transmits the indication, wherein the chipset is configured to communicate using a low-energy, peer-to-peer short-range wireless communication link.

15. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the indication is received at the computer based on proximity sensor data that indicates contact between the one of the carriages and the bridge in a deployed position.

16. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the indication further comprises a unique identifier.

17. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise to determine to cross the bridge based on an indication that the bridge is in a deployed position.

18. The computer of claim 10 , wherein the instructions further comprise to inventory the vehicle, transmitting a vehicle identifier to a server in communication with the communication device.

19. A system, comprising:
a computer, comprising:
a processor; and
memory, wherein the memory stores instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor, wherein the instructions comprise to:
control an approach of a vehicle to a pivotable bridge that spans between one of: two transport carriages, or a vehicle loader and one of the carriages;
receive, from a first communication device coupled to the bridge or one of the carriages, an indication to cross the bridge; and
based on the indication, instruct a powertrain and steering system, in the vehicle, to move the vehicle thereby crossing the bridge; and

a server programmed to:
determine a location of the vehicle based on communication between the vehicle and a plurality of communication devices which include the first communication device, wherein each of the plurality of communication devices is coupled to a different bridge.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising a vehicle loader comprising one of the plurality of communication devices coupled to a loader bridge thereof, wherein, when the loader bridge is in a deployed position, the loader bridge facilitates the vehicle to be loaded or unloaded from one of the carriages.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Buttolo Pietro
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Huebner Annette Lynn

Classifications

• B60W30/18009

  related to particular drive situations · CPC title

• B60W2720/24

  Direction of travel · CPC title

• B60W10/20

  including control of steering systems · CPC title

• B60W10/04

  including control of propulsion units · CPC title

• B65G69/30 Primary

  Non-permanently installed loading ramps, e.g. transportable · CPC title