Patent ID: 8191915

Claim:
A system for assisting in coupling a vehicle to a remote coupling member, the vehicle having at least one steerable wheel, the system comprising: a vehicle coupling member fixedly secured to the vehicle, wherein the coupling member is configured to receive the remote coupling member; a sensing device mounted to the vehicle; a steering system mounted in the vehicle and coupled to the at least one steerable wheel of the vehicle; an adjustable suspension system operable to control a height of the vehicle; at least one sensing element attachable to the remote coupling member; and a controller in communication with the sensing device, the adjustable suspension system, and the steering system, wherein the controller includes a first control logic for receiving a first sensor input signal from the sensing device indicative of the location of the at least one sensing element relative to the vehicle coupling member, a second control logic for receiving a second sensor input signal from the sensing device indicative of the location of the at least one sensing element relative to the vehicle coupling member after the vehicle has moved, a third control logic for determining the location of the vehicle coupling member relative to the remote coupling member by comparing the first input sensor signal to the second input sensor signal, a fourth control logic for sending a steering control signal to the steering control system to steer the vehicle coupling member toward the remote coupling member, and a fifth control logic for sending a suspension control signal to the adjustable suspension system in order to control a height of the vehicle in order to match a height of the vehicle coupling member with a height of the remote coupling member.