The present disclosure provides various aspects for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing and the methods for their utilization and for making material dispensing element arrays for use of the additive manufacturing device.

An autonomous ground maintenance system comprising a vehicle comprising a chassis supported upon a ground surface by ground support members, a container supported by the chassis, the container defining a discharge outlet operable to disperse treating material held within the container to a target area of the ground surface, a gate adapted to selectively open and close the discharge outlet, a sensor adapted to identify the target area, and an electronic controller supported by the chassis, the controller being in communication with the sensor and the gate. The controller is adapted to position the chassis at a location proximate the target area such that the discharge outlet is capable of delivering the treating material to the target area and energize the gate to open the discharge outlet.

An autonomous ground maintenance system comprising a vehicle comprising a chassis supported upon a ground surface by ground support members, a container supported by the chassis, the container defining a discharge outlet operable to disperse treating material held within the container to a target area of the ground surface, a gate adapted to selectively open and close the discharge outlet, a sensor adapted to identify the target area, and an electronic controller supported by the chassis, the controller being in communication with the sensor and the gate. The controller is adapted to position the chassis at a location proximate the target area such that the discharge outlet is capable of delivering the treating material to the target area and energize the gate to open the discharge outlet.

Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible frame configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and/or a skirt attached to the flexible frame and configured to form an enclosure between the flexible frame and the hopper weldment.

Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible frame configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and/or a skirt attached to the flexible frame and configured to form an enclosure between the flexible frame and the hopper weldment.

An apparatus for smoothing pavement surfaces includes a wheeled frame and a smoothing drum where the smoothing drum is rotatable on a spinning axis mounted on the wheeled frame generally parallel to a pavement surface to be smoothed, and at a non-perpendicular angle to to the direction of travel of the smoothing device.

A method and system for removing material build-up in a mixing chamber of a rotary mixer machine. The system includes one or more actuators coupled to the mixing chamber and to a frame of the rotary mixer machine. Further, the system includes a controller configured to receive an input and activate the one or more actuators in response to the input to induce a forward and backward rocking motion in the mixing chamber to cause a dislodgement of the material build-up from the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber executes the forward and backward rocking motion between a first position and a second position about an axis disposed transversally to a length of the rotary mixer machine.

The invention relates to a planning system and method for operating one or more road milling machines. In that context, material properties of a road are captured and are geographically associated with one or more roads or road segments. Based on the material properties, an expected milling output of a road milling machine is ascertained, in the context of carrying out milling tasks on the road, or an expected wear on the milling tools. An optimized sequence of milling tasks to be carried out is created on the basis of those data. Accordingly, the invention may enable optimized deployment of the one or more road milling machines and of resources necessary for carrying out the road milling tasks. Aspects of the planning system may be remotely implemented for centralized application with respect to each of the road milling machines, or locally implemented for individual road milling machines.

A portable device for transporting asphalt repair materials for use in repairing potholes in asphalt pavements. The device has a body with a hopper compartment for transporting and dispensing asphalt mix materials. Emulsion oils are held and dispensed from a separate emulsion oil tank. An emulsion pump provides emulsion oils to a spray wand. The emulsion oil tank includes an emulsion rejuvenator apparatus which works to prevent separation of the emulsion oils. A control circuit actuates the rejuvenator any time that the emulsion pump is turned on to supply emulsion oils to a spray wand to spray emulsions onto the road repair site.

A portable device for transporting asphalt repair materials for use in repairing potholes in asphalt pavements. The device has a body with a hopper compartment for transporting and dispensing asphalt mix materials. Emulsion oils are held and dispensed from a separate emulsion oil tank. An emulsion pump provides emulsion oils to a spray wand. The emulsion oil tank includes an emulsion rejuvenator apparatus which works to prevent separation of the emulsion oils. A control circuit actuates the rejuvenator any time that the emulsion pump is turned on to supply emulsion oils to a spray wand to spray emulsions onto the road repair site.