Patent ID: 7859566

Claim:
A loose coupleable not-track-bound vehicle train assembly, comprising: (a) a first not-track-bound vehicle operating as a master vehicle, the first vehicle comprising at least one monitor; and (b) at least one second not-track-bound vehicle comprising (i) means for coupling; (ii) means for vehicle/vehicle communication; and (iii) at least one camera disposed on the second vehicle; wherein each one of the first vehicle and the second vehicle has at least one drive and guidance system connected to receive input from an actuator and from one or more user elements, wherein the second vehicle operates as a slave vehicle and is connected to the master vehicle by the means for coupling and the means for vehicle/vehicle communication, wherein the second vehicle is optionally manned, wherein the at least one camera disposed on the second vehicle is functionally connected to send pictures to the at least one monitor of the first vehicle over the means for vehicle/vehicle communication, wherein the drive and guidance system of the second vehicle is connected to receive user input signals from the user elements of the first vehicle so that the second vehicle is remotely controlled from the first vehicle and the first and second vehicles of the not-track-bound vehicle train assembly are operable in a first mode and in a second mode, wherein, in the first mode, the second vehicle is driven and steered in front of the first vehicle so as to move therewith, and wherein, in the second mode, the second vehicle is driven and steered so as to follow the first vehicle so as to move therewith, and wherein the means for vehicle/vehicle communication on the second vehicle is a first transmission module connected to receive picture data from the at least one camera disposed on the second vehicle and to transmit the picture data as a vehicle/vehicle communication to a second transmission module disposed on the first vehicle.