A modular autonomous cart assembly for transporting an item being shipped is described with a sensor-equipped mobility base that carries the item(s), a modular cart handle, a sensor-equipped modular mobile cart autonomy control module detachably attached to the modular handle, all sharing a modular common power and data transport bus. The autonomous controller of the modular control module is programmatically adapted operative to establish a secure connection to a wireless mobile courier node, locate the courier node and the cart assembly, receive sensor data from the base and control module sensors, generate steering and propulsion control commands using the locations and sensor data and send them to a controller on the mobility base so that the assembly can autonomously track and follow the current location of the courier node as the courier node moves and while maintaining a predetermined follow distance from the current location of the courier node.

A modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly is described for transporting an item being shipped. The assembly includes a modular mobility base having propulsion, steering, sensors for collision avoidance, and suspension actuators; a modular auxiliary power module with a power source and cargo door; a modular cargo storage system with folding structural walls and a latching system; and a modular mobile autonomy module that covers the cargo storage system and provides human interaction interfaces, externals sensors, a wireless interface, and an autonomous controller with interfacing circuitry coupled to the human interaction interfaces and sensors on the mobile autonomy module. The assembly has a power and data transport bus that provides a communication and power conduit across the different modular components. A method for on-demand assembly of such a bot apparatus is further described with steps for authenticating the different modular components during assembly.

A modular autonomous bot apparatus assembly is described for transporting an item being shipped. The assembly includes a modular mobility base having propulsion, steering, sensors for collision avoidance, and suspension actuators; a modular auxiliary power module with a power source and cargo door; a modular cargo storage system with folding structural walls and a latching system; and a modular mobile autonomy module that covers the cargo storage system and provides human interaction interfaces, externals sensors, a wireless interface, and an autonomous controller with interfacing circuitry coupled to the human interaction interfaces and sensors on the mobile autonomy module. The assembly has a power and data transport bus that provides a communication and power conduit across the different modular components. A method for on-demand assembly of such a bot apparatus is further described with steps for authenticating the different modular components during assembly.

The invention is directed to a valve stem system (1) for tubeless wheels. The valve stem system (1) includes a valve stem body (2) with a first end (3) and a second end (4), wherein the second end (4) is located in a tire/rim-volume when mounted at the wheel. A first valve (5) is arranged at the second end (4) of the valve stem body (2). The first valve (5) is a self-sealing one-way valve. A second valve (10) is removably mountable at the first end (3) and is, when mounted, at least partially housed in the valve stem body (2). The second valve (10) comprises a valve stem core inserted in the valve stem body (2) and can be added or removed from the valve stem body (2) while pressure is maintained within the tire by the first valve (5). The invention further concerns a probe (30) for a valve stem system, a method to test the amount of sealant in a wheel and a refilling assembly (80) for a wheel.

A modular multiple mobility base assembly apparatus is described for transporting an item being shipped having a base adapter plate and two cooperating and coordinating modular mobility bases that are each coupled to the bottom of the base adapter plate and collectively support the base adapter plate. One of the modular mobility bases operations a master autonomous mobile vehicle, while the other operates as a slave autonomous mobile vehicle that receives propulsion and steering control signals from the master while providing feedback sensor data to the master for use in coordinated and cooperative movement of the assembly apparatus. Each of the modular mobility bases also including respective wireless transceivers through which at least the control signals and sensor data are provided between mobility base units.

A winter tyre is described having a tread band wherein a plurality of blocks configured to obtain optimal performance both on snow-covered roads and on dry and wet roads in specific conditions of use (in particular during acceleration, braking or cornering with high power vehicles). Each of the aforementioned blocks has at least one sipe that defines two adjacent block portions in the respective block, each block portion having a respective surface facing the sipe. The surface has a radially outer portion having a profile which is substantially undulating, a radially inner portion also having a profile which is substantially undulating and an intermediate portion arranged between the radially outer portion and the radially inner portion and having a profile which is substantially rectilinear.

A winter tyre is described having a tread band wherein a plurality of blocks configured to obtain optimal performance both on snow-covered roads and on dry and wet roads in specific conditions of use (in particular during acceleration, braking or cornering with high power vehicles). Each of the aforementioned blocks has at least one sipe that defines two adjacent block portions in the respective block, each block portion having a respective surface facing the sipe. The surface has a radially outer portion having a profile which is substantially undulating, a radially inner portion also having a profile which is substantially undulating and an intermediate portion arranged between the radially outer portion and the radially inner portion and having a profile which is substantially rectilinear.

Disclosed is an anti-puncture shield insert for a wheel. The wheel includes a rim and an inflated tire connected to the edges of the rim. The shield insert is made of a shock-absorbing material. The shield insert is placed at the widest point between the inner sidewalls of the tire. As a hit causes the tire to collapse, the shield insert absorbs the shock taken by the tire and the rim, by staying between inner parts of the tire. The shield insert is floating relative to the tire.

A pneumatic tire comprises a plurality of protrusion portions extending along a tire side surface of a tire side portion in a direction that intersects a tire circumferential direction and a tire radial direction; the plurality of protrusion portions each including an intermediate portion in an extension direction that includes a highest position of projection height from the tire side surface, and tip portions on either side of the intermediate portion in the extension direction that include a lowest position of projection height from the tire side surface, at least the intermediate portion being only disposed inward of a tire maximum width position in the tire radial direction; and a ratio of a total width (SW) to an outer diameter (OD) satisfying the relationship SW/OD≤0.3.

A pneumatic tire includes a band-shaped sound absorbing member bonded along a tire circumferential direction to the tire inner surface in a tread portion; at least one full cover layer covering the entire width of belt layers on the outer circumferential side of the belt layers; and a center cover layer disposed on the outer circumferential side of the full cover layer, the center cover layer locally covering the tire lateral direction center region of the belt layers; a width SW of the band-shaped sound absorbing member and a width BW of the belt layers satisfying a relationship SW/BW=0.3 to 0.8, and a width CW of the center cover layer and the width SW of the band-shaped sound absorbing member satisfying the relationship CW/SW=0.05 to 0.35.