Abstract: A method includes positioning a gladhand coupler of a vehicle adjacent a gladhand receptacle of a trailer, delivering pressurized fluid through a pneumatic channel and out a pneumatic port of the gladhand coupler to impinge upon the gladhand receptacle, detecting, with a pressure sensor, back pressure of the delivered fluid reflected off the gladhand receptacle, determine a location of a pneumatic port of the gladhand receptacle based at least in part on one of a detected threshold pressure, detected pressure differential or detected pressure change of the back pressure to enable alignment of the pneumatic port of the gladhand coupler relative to the pneumatic port of the gladhand receptacle and coupling the gladhand coupler to the gladhand receptacle.

Abstract: A method includes mounting an end effector having a gladhand coupler to a robotic arm; moving, with the robotic arm, the end effector proximate a gladhand receptacle of a trailer; transmitting one or more light rays relative to the gladhand receptacle of the trailer; utilizing the one or more light rays as a visual aid to facilitate alignment of the gladhand coupler of the end effector relative to the gladhand receptacle; coupling the gladhand coupler of the end effector to the gladhand receptacle; and releasing the end effector from the robotic arm; wherein one or more steps are performed by a processor coupled to memory.

Abstract: A gladhand coupling tool can be releasably connected to a robotic arm assembly and configured to connect to a gladhand receptacle of a trailer. The gladhand receptacle can be rotatable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a pneumatic port of the gladhand receptacle can face a front surface of the trailer. In the second position, the pneumatic port can be exposed. One of the gladhand coupling tool and the robotic arm assembly includes a rotation member, which can interface with a portion of the gladhand receptacle so as to rotate the gladhand receptacle from the first position to the second position in preparation for connecting the gladhand coupling tool to the gladhand receptacle.

Abstract: A system can comprise a robotic arm assembly, an air supply line, one or more sensors, and a control system. The robotic arm assembly can have an end effector releasably connected to a robotic arm mounted on or part of a vehicle for moving a trailer. The end effector can have a gladhand coupling portion. The air supply line can be coupled to the end effector and can deliver pressurized air 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 robotic arm.

Abstract: Battery powered quadrotors or drones have a limited operation time. To extend operation time, a powered tether can be used. This tether provides power to the drone allowing it to stay up indefinitely. Most tethered drones are captured to the base station. The tether can reel in and out as the drone moves, but the drone can't go higher or further than the maximum length of the tether. If the tether can be automatically disconnected, the drone could fly off for some remote mission, assuming the drone had an onboard power source such as rechargeable batteries. The present invention relates to a self-powered drone tether that comprises a rechargeable drone in flight which is referred to as the rechargeable drone, a drone that carries a powered tether which is referred to as the tether drone, a coupling mechanism between the rechargeable drone and the tether drone, and a base station with a powered tether and tether deployment system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (400) comprising a vehicle (402), an arm assembly (408), first and second cable portions (410a, 410b), at least one cable actuator (406), 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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (400) comprising a vehicle (402), an arm assembly (408), first and second cable portions (410a, 410b), at least one cable actuator (406), 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.

Abstract: Current foot-launched 2-stroke commercial PPG offerings can meet the specified threshold (and in some cases, objective) requirements for flight ceiling, payload capacity and range with little to no modification. We will discuss those in the next section. The APES system enhances the effectiveness and lethality of the PPG-equipped unit by reducing weight of the PPG, increasing reliability and redundancy, reducing pilot workload, and seamlessly integrating with UAV's and UGV's. System improvements in the following areas is assessed: Series hybrid-electric powertrain, Coaxial propellers. Localization, autopilot, and formations, Auto landing and other advanced features, Integration with unmanned systems, and Launch Considerations.

Abstract: Battery powered quadrotors or drones have a limited operation time. To extend operation time, a powered tether can be used. This tether provides power to the drone allowing it to stay up indefinitely. Most tethered drones are captured to the base station. The tether can reel in and out as the drone moves, but the drone can't go higher or further than the maximum length of the tether. If the tether can be automatically disconnected, the drone could fly off for some remote mission, assuming the drone had an onboard power source such as rechargeable batteries. The present invention relates to a self-powered drone tether that comprises a rechargeable drone in flight which is referred to as the rechargeable drone, a drone that carries a powered tether which is referred to as the tether drone, a coupling mechanism between the rechargeable drone and the tether drone, and a base station with a powered tether and tether deployment system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for autonomous, modular, and/or multi-segment vehicle barriers, such as portable vehicle barriers that may be automatically anchored to the ground in response to threat detection.