An automated delivery system includes an electric vehicle equipped with an overhead Cartesian Robot in the cargo area, enabling it to extract packages from the cargo area while the vehicle is traveling to its next destination, and deposit them in a staging area in the cabin, so that the driver and/or the optional robotic assistants can drop them off immediately upon arrival. Drivers need not be involved in loading the vehicles, which can be done automatically at a warehouse Load Cell, which may be available continuously, so the vehicle will not be delayed waiting for packages to be loaded into it. Packages may be loaded by the Load Cell before the drivers arrive at the vehicle, so vehicles are ready to go.

An automated delivery system includes an electric vehicle equipped with an overhead Cartesian Robot in the cargo area, enabling it to extract packages from the cargo area while the vehicle is traveling to its next destination, and deposit them in a staging area in the cabin, so that the driver and/or the optional robotic assistants can drop them off immediately upon arrival. Drivers need not be involved in loading the vehicles, which can be done automatically at a warehouse Load Cell, which may be available continuously, so the vehicle will not be delayed waiting for packages to be loaded into it. Packages may be loaded by the Load Cell before the drivers arrive at the vehicle, so vehicles are ready to go.

A work management system includes: a working robot configured to perform work while autonomously traveling on a field; a management facility configured to manage the field and balls; and a management device configured to know a management situation of the balls. A work schedule of the working robot is adjusted depending on a ball management situation known by the management device.

A work management system includes: a working robot configured to perform work while autonomously traveling on a field; a management facility configured to manage the field and balls; and a management device configured to know a management situation of the balls. A work schedule of the working robot is adjusted depending on a ball management situation known by the management device.

Embodiments described herein may relate to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) navigating to a target in order to provide medical support. An illustrative method involves a UAV (a) determining an approximate target location associated with a target, (b) using a first navigation process to navigate the UAV to the approximate target location, where the first navigation process generates flight-control signals based on the approximate target location, (c) making a determination that the UAV is located at the approximate target location, and (d) in response to the determination that the UAV is located at the approximate target location, using a second navigation process to navigate the UAV to the target, wherein the second navigation process generates flight-control signals based on real-time localization of the target.

A method for transporting a plurality of articles with a transportation container that can be carried in a transport container of one of a plurality of robots. The plurality of articles is placed in the transportation container. The transportation container is placed in a pickup location at a first location. A robot is navigated to the first location and the transportation container is autonomously moved from the pickup location to the transport container of the robot. The robot is navigated over an outdoor transportation network to a second location and the transportation container is autonomously moved from the transport container to a recipient location at the second location.

Disclosed is a load handling controller and a method for localizing a load handling vehicle and a load target. A spatial map describing a surrounding of the load handling vehicle is obtained. First sensor signals are received from a first sensor system for generating point clouds of the surrounding of the load handling vehicle and second sensor signals are received from a second sensor system for generating images of the surrounding of the load handling vehicle. The second sensor signals are synchronized in time with the first sensor signals. The load handling vehicle and the load target are localized in the spatial map based on the first sensor signals and the second sensor signals.

Disclosed is a load handling controller and a method for localizing a load handling vehicle and a load target. A spatial map describing a surrounding of the load handling vehicle is obtained. First sensor signals are received from a first sensor system for generating point clouds of the surrounding of the load handling vehicle and second sensor signals are received from a second sensor system for generating images of the surrounding of the load handling vehicle. The second sensor signals are synchronized in time with the first sensor signals. The load handling vehicle and the load target are localized in the spatial map based on the first sensor signals and the second sensor signals.

Disclosed herein are various configurable, multifunctional area management carts that can be used to perform various functions in a large area such as a warehouse or retail building, along with various multifunctional area management systems that incorporate such carts to perform such functions. The cart can have a base comprising wheels operably coupled to the base, and a hitch operably coupled to the base, wherein the hitch is coupleable with the autonomous prime mover. The cart can also comprise an onboard processor associated with the base, wherein the onboard processor is in communication with the central processor, and an interface associated with the base, wherein the interface is in communication with the onboard processor. Certain alternative versions of the cart can also have at least one removable scaffold coupleable with the base, the at least one removable scaffold comprising at least one leg and at least one horizontal structure coupled to the at least one leg, and at least one area management instrument removably coupled to the at least one removable scaffold. Other embodiments relate to methods and systems for tracking and transporting items within a commercial space, including transporting items from a storage area to predetermined locations in a retail area with an autonomous vehicle.

Disclosed herein are various configurable, multifunctional area management carts that can be used to perform various functions in a large area such as a warehouse or retail building, along with various multifunctional area management systems that incorporate such carts to perform such functions. The cart can have a base comprising wheels operably coupled to the base, and a hitch operably coupled to the base, wherein the hitch is coupleable with the autonomous prime mover. The cart can also comprise an onboard processor associated with the base, wherein the onboard processor is in communication with the central processor, and an interface associated with the base, wherein the interface is in communication with the onboard processor. Certain alternative versions of the cart can also have at least one removable scaffold coupleable with the base, the at least one removable scaffold comprising at least one leg and at least one horizontal structure coupled to the at least one leg, and at least one area management instrument removably coupled to the at least one removable scaffold. Other embodiments relate to methods and systems for tracking and transporting items within a commercial space, including transporting items from a storage area to predetermined locations in a retail area with an autonomous vehicle.