Autonomous dock

US11691467B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Eaton Intelligent Power Limited · IE

Inventors

• Conor H. Dodd · Kalamazoo, US
• Nathan H. Cox · Portage, US
• Matthew T. Boillat · Scotts, US
• Jon A. Steeby · Manistique, US
• Sujay Sirur · Kalamazoo, US
• Rajeev Verma · Savanuru, IN
• Vishal Vijay Mahulkar · Eden Prairie, US
• Vasilios Tsourapas · Northville, US
• Kevin Snow · Cary, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 24, 2021
• Grant date: Jul 4, 2023
• Expiry date: Aug 28, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B62D13/06
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An autonomous dock system for a vehicle, comprises a control system with instructions comprising steps for receiving a request to implement an autonomous dock routine. A vehicle speed and clutch position are calculated. A clutch position controller is commanded to maintain the calculated clutch position. An actual torque amount is iteratively detected as transferred across the clutch. A vehicle speed-control mechanism is commanded to maintain the calculated vehicle speed, and the actual vehicle speed is iteratively detected. When comparing the commanded vehicle speed to the detected actual vehicle speed indicates that the detected actual vehicle speed is below a speed threshold, and when the actual torque amount transferred across the clutch exceeds a torque threshold, the control system commands an increase in vehicle speed.