An article transport facility includes a transport vehicle and a controller, and the transport vehicle includes: a drive unit; a speed detector configured to detect a traveling speed; and a distance detector configured to detect an inter-vehicle distance, which is a distance to another transport vehicle. The controller is configured to (i) refer to at least one target speed that is set in advance according to the inter-vehicle distance, and (ii) perform an inter-vehicle adjustment control to control the drive unit in such a manner as to cause the traveling speed to approach the at least one target speed, based on the traveling speed and the inter-vehicle distance, the at least one target speed includes an accelerating target speed and a decelerating target speed, and the accelerating target speed is lower than the decelerating target speed for each inter-vehicle distance.

An article transport facility includes a transport vehicle and a controller, and the transport vehicle includes: a drive unit; a speed detector configured to detect a traveling speed; and a distance detector configured to detect an inter-vehicle distance, which is a distance to another transport vehicle. The controller is configured to (i) refer to at least one target speed that is set in advance according to the inter-vehicle distance, and (ii) perform an inter-vehicle adjustment control to control the drive unit in such a manner as to cause the traveling speed to approach the at least one target speed, based on the traveling speed and the inter-vehicle distance, the at least one target speed includes an accelerating target speed and a decelerating target speed, and the accelerating target speed is lower than the decelerating target speed for each inter-vehicle distance.

An item repositioning method includes, in response to a request for an item, moving a vehicle along a first route to a location of the item, loading the item in the vehicle using a lift assist device mounted to the vehicle, moving the vehicle along a second route to transport the item to a desired location, and at the desired location, unloading the item from the vehicle using the lift assist device.

An item repositioning method includes, in response to a request for an item, moving a vehicle along a first route to a location of the item, loading the item in the vehicle using a lift assist device mounted to the vehicle, moving the vehicle along a second route to transport the item to a desired location, and at the desired location, unloading the item from the vehicle using the lift assist device.

A hauling and spreading trailer assembly for spreading loose material includes a trailer, which has a tongue that is engageable to a hitch of a tow vehicle. The trailer comprises a fixed bottom in which a plurality of apertures is positioned. A plurality of sidewalls extends substantially perpendicularly from the fixed bottom. A false bottom is slidably engaged to the trailer so that the false bottom is selectively positionable in first and second positions in which at least one of the apertures is at least partially open and the apertures are closed, respectively. A load of flowable material is positionable in the trailer with the false bottom in the second position. The false bottom can be selectively slid to the first position to dispense the flowable material through the at least one aperture, thereby allowing the flowable material to be spread at the trailer is towed.

Methods and apparatus for providing a collapsible cargo box. The cargo box include a left wall having a tongue at the rearmost portion and a tongue at the bottom, a right wall having a tongue at the rearmost portion and a tongue at the bottom, a rear wall having a tongue at the leftmost portion, the rightmost portion and the bottom, a base and a tailgate. The method may include sliding the tongue at the bottom of the left wall into a first groove in the base, sliding the tongue at the bottom of the rear wall into a second groove in the base, sliding the tongue at the bottom of the right wall into a third groove in the base, rotatably coupling the tailgate to the base, coupling the left wall to the rear wall and coupling the right wall to the rear wall.

A conveyance machine that conveys a load, the conveyance machine includes: a traveling unit; a vehicle body arranged above the traveling unit; a vessel provided on the vehicle body; a first detecting unit that detects a loading machine that loads a load on the vessel; and a processing unit that adjusts a position of the vessel according to a detected result of the first detecting unit so as the vessel to be positioned at a loading point where the loading machine performs loading.

A conveyance machine that conveys a load, the conveyance machine includes: a traveling unit; a vehicle body arranged above the traveling unit; a vessel provided on the vehicle body; a first detecting unit that detects a loading machine that loads a load on the vessel; and a processing unit that adjusts a position of the vessel according to a detected result of the first detecting unit so as the vessel to be positioned at a loading point where the loading machine performs loading.

A system for determining a volume of loose material within a container comprises a support arm mountable above the container, an array of one or more sensors mounted to the support arm, wherein each of the one or more sensors is configured to determine a discrete distance measurement between the array and a surface of the loose material or a surface of the container, and at least one processor in communication with the array of one or more sensors, the processor configured to estimate a volume of the loose material in the container from discrete distance measurements determined by the one or more sensors of the array.

A system for determining a volume of loose material within a container comprises a support arm mountable above the container, an array of one or more sensors mounted to the support arm, wherein each of the one or more sensors is configured to determine a discrete distance measurement between the array and a surface of the loose material or a surface of the container, and at least one processor in communication with the array of one or more sensors, the processor configured to estimate a volume of the loose material in the container from discrete distance measurements determined by the one or more sensors of the array.