Semi-autonomous vehicle providing an auxiliary power supply

A semi-autonomous vehicle couplable to a parent vehicle, including:

• a chassis supported on axles coupled to a plurality of wheels;
• a propulsion system configured to transfer torque to one of the wheels;
• a steering system configured to control direction of travel of the semi-autonomous vehicle;
• a braking system configured to apply braking force to the wheels;
• an energy storage system;
• an extra-vehicle communications system;
• an extra-vehicle sensory system;
• a control system connected to the propulsion system, the steering system, the braking system, the extra-vehicle communications system and the extra-vehicle sensory system;
• and
• a coupling device, the coupling device consisting essentially of a high-voltage DC electrical power bus electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system, the coupling device configured to electrically couple the high-voltage electrical energy storage system to the parent vehicle;
• and
• an electric power management system configured to control flow of electric power originating from the high-voltage electric power storage system to the high-voltage DC electrical power bus of the coupling device.

A semi-autonomous vehicle, including:

• a chassis supported on axles coupled to a plurality of wheels;
• a propulsion system, a steering system, and a braking system;
• an energy storage system;
• an extra-vehicle communications system;
• an extra-vehicle sensory system;
• a control system connected to the propulsion system, the steering system, the braking system, the extra-vehicle communications system and the extra-vehicle sensory system;
• and
• a coupling device for coupling to a parent vehicle, the coupling device comprising a high-voltage DC electrical power bus electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system, the coupling device configured to electrically couple the high-voltage electrical energy storage system to the parent vehicle, and a mechanical link element;
• and
• an electric power management system configured to control flow of electric power originating from the high-voltage electric power storage system to the high-voltage DC electrical power bus of the coupling device.