The present invention discloses a traction and power supply system and method for an agricultural robot. The system includes a traction control system and a traction platform. The traction control system includes a traction control unit, a range sensor and a network communication interface. The traction platform includes a controlled traction control unit, a network communication interface, an aerial support, a traction rope, a traction motor, and a traction support assembly. The method includes the following steps: a location distribution of aerial supports and a route planning of the traction rope are performed according to the terrain and distribution of crops. When the robot needs to be moves, encounters an obstacle, or needs to return to the start-stop point, an interaction of a request instruction and a response instruction between the traction control unit and the controlled traction control unit is carried out through respective network communication interfaces thereof.

The present invention discloses a traction and power supply system and method for an agricultural robot. The system includes a traction control system and a traction platform. The traction control system includes a traction control unit, a range sensor and a network communication interface. The traction platform includes a controlled traction control unit, a network communication interface, an aerial support, a traction rope, a traction motor, and a traction support assembly. The method includes the following steps: a location distribution of aerial supports and a route planning of the traction rope are performed according to the terrain and distribution of crops. When the robot needs to be moves, encounters an obstacle, or needs to return to the start-stop point, an interaction of a request instruction and a response instruction between the traction control unit and the controlled traction control unit is carried out through respective network communication interfaces thereof.

A transporting apparatus comprises a track (2) and at least one movable element (3) movable along said track (2), said movable element (3) comprising a supporting body (14), said track (2) comprising a first guiding surface (11a) and a further first guiding surface (lib) facing towards said supporting body (14), a second guiding surface (12a) and a further second guiding surface (12b) facing away from said supporting body (14), and a third guiding surface (13a) arranged transversally to said first guiding surface (11a) and said second guiding surface (12a) and a further third guiding surface (13b) arranged transversally to said further first guiding surface (lib) and said further second guiding surface (12b), wherein said movable element (3) comprises a first couple of rollers (15) slidably coupled to said first guiding surface (11a), a further first couple of rollers (16) slidably coupled to said further first guiding surface (lib), a second couple of rollers (17) slidably coupled to said second guiding surface (12a), a further second couple of rollers (18) slidably coupled to said further second guiding surface (12b), a third couple of rollers (19) slidably coupled to said third guiding surface (13a) and a further third couple of rollers (20) slidably coupled to said further third guiding surface (13b).

A transporting apparatus comprises a track (2) and at least one movable element (3) movable along said track (2), said movable element (3) comprising a supporting body (14), said track (2) comprising a first guiding surface (11a) and a further first guiding surface (lib) facing towards said supporting body (14), a second guiding surface (12a) and a further second guiding surface (12b) facing away from said supporting body (14), and a third guiding surface (13a) arranged transversally to said first guiding surface (11a) and said second guiding surface (12a) and a further third guiding surface (13b) arranged transversally to said further first guiding surface (lib) and said further second guiding surface (12b), wherein said movable element (3) comprises a first couple of rollers (15) slidably coupled to said first guiding surface (11a), a further first couple of rollers (16) slidably coupled to said further first guiding surface (lib), a second couple of rollers (17) slidably coupled to said second guiding surface (12a), a further second couple of rollers (18) slidably coupled to said further second guiding surface (12b), a third couple of rollers (19) slidably coupled to said third guiding surface (13a) and a further third couple of rollers (20) slidably coupled to said further third guiding surface (13b).

A traverse actuating and gripping system configured to move a catwalk relative to a support structure. The system includes a body, an upper gripping pad coupled to the body and configured to contact a side of a support member of the support structure, a lower gripping pad coupled to the body and configured to contact an opposing side of the support member, and an actuator coupled to at least one of the gripping pads and configured to move the gripping pads between a gripping position that grips the support member and an open position that spaces one of the gripping pads away from the support member.

A traverse actuating and gripping system configured to move a catwalk relative to a support structure. The system includes a body, an upper gripping pad coupled to the body and configured to contact a side of a support member of the support structure, a lower gripping pad coupled to the body and configured to contact an opposing side of the support member, and an actuator coupled to at least one of the gripping pads and configured to move the gripping pads between a gripping position that grips the support member and an open position that spaces one of the gripping pads away from the support member.

A sample handling device for a laboratory automation system comprising a first carousel with a disc supported on a first axis, a second carousel with a disc supported on a second axis parallel to the first axis, and a transfer element between the first and second carousels is presented. Each disc has recesses distributed radially about the disc perimeter. Each recess receives a tube carrier. The first carousel and the second carousel connect via a passage for transferring sample tube carriers between the first and second carousels. The transfer element is a track switch which when in a rest position partly closes the passage to separate the first carousel from the second carousel. The track switch is swiveled and/or rotated about a third axis parallel to the first axis out of the rest position for transferring a tube carrier from the first carousel to the second carousel via the passage.

Modular transport line system for configuring a transport line of a long stator linear motor. The system includes plural modular transport line components, each having a starting point (An) and an end point (En), wherein the starting point (An) and the end point (En) of each modular transport line component lie on a raster corner point (p.Math.a)(q.Math.a) of an (aa) raster with a prespecified raster length a, wherein p, q are whole numbers. At least one of the plural modular transport line components is a curved transport line component formed by at least three modules.

Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for improving the efficiency of medication distribution within a healthcare facility. In particular, embodiments may provide for dispensing medications needed and medications anticipated to be needed to an authorized medical person for administration to a patient in a healthcare facility. Methods may include receiving an indication of one or more unit dose medications anticipated to be needed by a patient; retrieving the one or more unit dose medications from a unit storage device; loading the one or more unit dose medications onto a transport device; transporting the one or more unit dose medications from the unit storage device to a location proximate the patient; and transferring the one or more unit dose medications from the transport device to a staging area at the location proximate the patient.

Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for improving the efficiency of medication distribution within a healthcare facility. In particular, embodiments may provide for dispensing medications needed and medications anticipated to be needed to an authorized medical person for administration to a patient in a healthcare facility. Methods may include receiving an indication of one or more unit dose medications anticipated to be needed by a patient; retrieving the one or more unit dose medications from a unit storage device; loading the one or more unit dose medications onto a transport device; transporting the one or more unit dose medications from the unit storage device to a location proximate the patient; and transferring the one or more unit dose medications from the transport device to a staging area at the location proximate the patient.