Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

An auxiliary material moving assembly operates in conjunction, independently and/or concomitantly with a material moving machine for proficient handling, removal, and management of material such as snow, ice, and/or other materials. The auxiliary material moving assembly is configured to be mounted on a material moving machine. The auxiliary material moving assembly comprises at least one attachment arm, preferably at least two foldable or rotatable attachment arms, and at least one material moving element. The material moving machine includes a snowplow, snow plow-blower, or other material moving machine. Preferably, the auxiliary material moving element comprises one or more snow cutter, snow beater, screw-like auger, auger, ribbon-cutter, rotary fan, impeller, rotary (sweeping) broom, blower, scraper, paddle or other mechanical device that permits handling, removal and management of snow, ice and/or other materials.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitoring product placement within a shopping facility. Some embodiments provide an apparatus configured to determine product placement conditions within a shopping facility, comprising: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications; a product monitoring control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled with the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: obtain a composite three-dimensional (3D) scan mapping corresponding to at least a select area of the shopping facility and based on a series of 3D scan data; evaluate the 3D scan mapping to identify multiple product depth distances; and identify, from the evaluation of the 3D scan mapping, when one or more of the multiple product depth distances is greater than a predefined depth distance threshold from the reference offset distance of the product support structure.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitoring product placement within a shopping facility. Some embodiments provide an apparatus configured to determine product placement conditions within a shopping facility, comprising: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications; a product monitoring control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled with the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: obtain a composite three-dimensional (3D) scan mapping corresponding to at least a select area of the shopping facility and based on a series of 3D scan data; evaluate the 3D scan mapping to identify multiple product depth distances; and identify, from the evaluation of the 3D scan mapping, when one or more of the multiple product depth distances is greater than a predefined depth distance threshold from the reference offset distance of the product support structure.

Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

A system for removing contaminants from a surface, attached to a vehicle movable in a first direction. The system includes a first scraper for removing contaminants from a surface. A first conveyor system includes a continuous track element for conveying the contaminants removed from the surface in a second direction that is not aligned with the first direction. A second scraper removes contaminants from the surface and is positioned between the first conveyor and the vehicle. A second conveyor system is positioned between the vehicle and the second scraper and includes a continuous track element for conveying the contaminants removed from the surface in a third direction that is not aligned with the first direction. An ice and compact breaker is positioned between the first conveyor system and the second conveyor system. The ice and compact breaker includes a plurality of teeth for breaking the contaminants on the surface.

A system for removing contaminants from a surface, attached to a vehicle movable in a first direction. The system includes a first scraper for removing contaminants from a surface. A first conveyor system includes a continuous track element for conveying the contaminants removed from the surface in a second direction that is not aligned with the first direction. A second scraper removes contaminants from the surface and is positioned between the first conveyor and the vehicle. A second conveyor system is positioned between the vehicle and the second scraper and includes a continuous track element for conveying the contaminants removed from the surface in a third direction that is not aligned with the first direction. An ice and compact breaker is positioned between the first conveyor system and the second conveyor system. The ice and compact breaker includes a plurality of teeth for breaking the contaminants on the surface.

An ice removal blade assembly for a vehicle includes: a support member configured to be affixed to a snow plow of the vehicle; a suspension member pivotably connected to the support member, the suspension member being pivotable about a suspension pivot axis; a plurality of blade mounts pivotably connected to the suspension member, the blade mounts being laterally spaced from one another, each blade mount of the plurality of blade mounts being pivotable about a respective blade mount pivot axis, the blade mount pivot axes of the blade mounts extending generally parallel to the suspension pivot axis; and a plurality of removable blade members affixed to respective ones of the blade mounts so as to pivot together therewith about the blade pivot axes. Each removable blade member has a lower cutting edge configured to scrape ice on a ground surface on which the vehicle travels.