Coupling device, automatic towing vehicle, and automatic towing system

A coupling device that couples with a movable vehicle to be towed, comprising:

• a coupling portion that couples with a portion to be coupled to a front portion of the vehicle to be towed;
• a base portion to which an end of the coupling portion is connected;
• and
• a first driving portion that drives the coupling portion,
• wherein the first driving portion drives the coupling portion so as to be changeable among a first state in which a height of the coupling portion is lower than an undersurface of the vehicle to be towed, a second state in which the height of the coupling portion is higher than the undersurface of the vehicle to be towed, and a third state in which the height of the coupling portion is higher than the undersurface of the vehicle to be towed and lower than the height in the second state, and
• wherein, to couple the coupling portion and the vehicle to be towed to each other, with a portion of the coupling portion and the portion to be coupled facing each other, the first driving portion causes the coupling portion to change from the second state to the third state, thereby causing the coupling portion and the portion to be coupled to enter a coupled state of being coupled to each other,
• wherein the coupling portion includes
• an arm portion that has an end connected to the base portion and that is driven by the first driving portion;
• and
• a hook portion that is disposed on another end of the arm portion and that couples with the portion to be coupled, and
• wherein, to couple the coupling portion and the vehicle to be towed to each other, the first driving portion drives the arm portion to be lowered from a state in which the hook portion is positioned above the portion to be coupled, thereby causing the coupling portion to enter the coupled state, wherein
• the arm portion enters a state of standing upright from the base portion in the second state and the third state.