Autonomous vehicle with trailer

An autonomous system for transporting an item from a first location to a second location, the autonomous system comprising:

• an autonomous vehicle having a compartment, a vehicle sensor, a vehicle drive mechanism, a vehicle power source, and a vehicle control module for processing data received by the vehicle sensor and for controlling the vehicle drive mechanism to move the autonomous vehicle in the environment according to destination instructions and according to data received by the vehicle sensor;
• and
• a trailer having a hitch for connecting the trailer to the autonomous vehicle, an electrical system, a trailer sensor in communication with the electrical system, a trailer power source in communication with the electrical system, a storage space, and a robotic manipulator in communication with the electrical system for autonomously transferring the item from the storage space into the compartment of the autonomous vehicle,
• wherein the autonomous vehicle and trailer are configured to transport the item to the first location, the trailer is configured to transfer the item to the autonomous vehicle, and the autonomous vehicle is configured to transport the item to the second location.

An autonomous system for transporting an item from a first location to a second location, the autonomous system comprising:

• an autonomous vehicle having a compartment, a vehicle sensor, a vehicle drive mechanism, a vehicle power source, and a vehicle control module for processing data received by the vehicle sensor and for controlling the vehicle drive mechanism to move the autonomous vehicle in the environment according to destination instructions and according to data received by the vehicle sensor;
• and
• a trailer having a hitch for connecting the trailer to the autonomous vehicle, an electrical system, a trailer sensor in communication with the electrical system, a trailer power source in communication with the electrical system, a storage space, a passage formed in a body of the trailer, and a device for moving the item through the passage, wherein the passage communicates between the storage space and the compartment of the autonomous vehicle when the autonomous vehicle is connected to the trailer,
• wherein the autonomous vehicle and trailer are configured to transport the item to the first location, the trailer is configured to transfer the item to the autonomous vehicle, and the autonomous vehicle is configured to transport the item to the second location.