An object-gathering apparatus includes a chassis, a plurality of wheels coupled to the chassis, a receptacle coupled to the chassis, a power supply coupled to the chassis, and a sweep assembly coupled to the chassis. The sweep assembly is configured to transfer objects from a surface into the receptacle by mechanical action on the objects, and without the use of negative pressure or vacuum suction acting on the objects during the transfer, in response to powered rotation of the sweep assembly by the power supply. The wheels can be configured to be manually driven or driven by the power supply. The power supply can include a battery clip affixed to the chassis and accessible from an exterior of the object-gathering apparatus. The sweep assembly can be coupled to a sweep assembly housing that is coupled to the chassis and configured for vertical adjustment relative to the chassis.

A pick-up broom attachment for use with a work vehicle that includes a hood assembly, a bucket portion, and a water spray bar. The hood assembly includes a housing, a rotatable brush of generally cylindrical profile mounted for rotation, and a drive motor coupled to the housing for rotating the rotatable brush. The bucket portion is in coupled engagement behind and with the hood assembly and includes: a collection bin defined by a bottom bucket panel, a pair of side bucket panel members, and a rear bucket wall; an internal water tank located in a cavity in the bucket portion located rearward of the rear bucket wall; and a back panel located rearward of the internal water tank that includes implement interface members for connecting with a work vehicle. The water spray bar is mounted to the housing of the hood for delivering water in front of the hood assembly.

Pavement sweeping apparatuses may include a directionally mobile apparatus frame. At least one pickup unit may be carried by the apparatus frame. At least one actuatable first side edge broom may be carried by the apparatus frame generally on the first side and forward of the at least one pickup unit. At least one actuatable first side curb broom may be carried by the apparatus frame generally on the first side and forward of the at least one pickup unit. At least one actuatable second side edge broom may be carried by the apparatus frame generally on a second side and forward of the at least one pickup unit. At least one actuatable second side curb broom may be carried by the apparatus frame generally on the second side and forward of the at least one pickup unit. Pavement sweeping methods are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a motor-sweeper for cleaning large surfaces such as streets or industrial facilities. In particular it refers to an apparatus for collecting garbage and debris from the ground to apply to a motor-sweeper, wherein the broom for collecting garbage always remains adherent to the ground and the space between the garbage conveyor assembly toward the collecting container and the broom, and between the broom and the container remains uniform despite the wear of the brooms. Thus, the cleaning capability is not lost and the machine efficiency is improved.

A refuse collection system includes a refuse collection robot and a refuse depot. The refuse collection robot includes a chassis, a tractive element coupled to the chassis, a motor coupled to the chassis and the tractive element and configured to drive the tractive element to propel the refuse collection robot, a refuse container coupled to the chassis and defining a first storage volume, and a controller operatively coupled to the motor. The refuse depot includes a centralized storage defining a second storage volume and a refuse actuator configured to transfer refuse from the first storage volume to the second storage volume. The controller is configured to control the motor to propel the refuse collection to a pickup zone associated with a customer in response to receiving a request for refuse collection from a user device associated with the customer.

A refuse collection drone includes a chassis, tractive elements rotatably coupled with and supporting the chassis, a propulsion system including a battery and an electric motor configured to consume electrical energy from the battery, and a bin removably coupled with the chassis and including a cover. The propulsion system is configured to drive one or more of the tractive elements to transport the refuse collection drone to a customer location. The bin defines a storage volume for refuse. The cover is configured to be driven by an actuator between an open position to allow access to the storage volume and a closed position to limit access to the storage volume. A lock is operable between a locked state to limit transition of the cover out of the closed position and an unlocked state to allow transition of the cover out of the closed position and into the open position.

A depot for autonomous land-based refuse drones includes a chassis anchored to a ground surface, a container defining a storage volume for refuse, a collection implement, and refuse actuators. The collection implement is configured to selectively couple with at least one of (i) refuse within a drone storage volume or (ii) a portion of the one of the autonomous land-based refuse drones that defines the drone storage volume. The refuse actuators are operably coupled with the collection implement and configured to drive the collection implement to perform an unloading operation. The unloading operation includes selectively coupling, moving, and de-coupling from at least one of the refuse within the drone storage volume or the portion of the autonomous land-based refuse drone that defines the drone storage volume to unload the refuse from the drone storage volume into the storage volume of the container.

A refuse collection includes one or more memory devices storing instructions thereon, that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to (a) receive a request for refuse collection from a customer, the request including a desired time of the refuse collection, (b) identify, based on the request, a location of a pickup zone associated with the customer, and (c) control, based on the request, the refuse collection robot to autonomously navigate to the location of the pickup zone at the desired time and perform the refuse collection.

A refuse collection system includes one or more memory devices storing instructions thereon, that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to (a) receive a request for refuse collection from a customer, (b) identify, based on the request, a location of a pickup zone associated with the customer, (c) receive location data indicating a current location of the refuse collection robot, (d) generate a route for the refuse collection robot to travel from the current location of the refuse collection robot to the location of the pickup zone, and (e) control the refuse collection robot to follow the route and perform the refuse collection.

A refuse collection system includes one or more memory devices storing instructions thereon, that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to (a) control a refuse collection robot containing a volume of refuse to navigate to a refuse depot, (b) control the refuse depot to remove the volume of refuse from the refuse collection robot, (c) receive a request from a customer for delivery of a package, (d) identify, based on the request, a location of a pickup zone associated with the customer, (e) control the refuse collection robot to receive the package, and (f) control the refuse collection robot to transport the package to the pickup zone.