An automatic storage and retrieval system includes: a delivery vehicle; a storage container carried by the delivery vehicle; and an unloading station for unloading an item from the storage container while it is being carried by the delivery vehicle. The unloading station includes: an unloading device; and a destination conveyor configured to convey the item to a target destination, wherein the unloading device is configured to move the item through a side opening of the storage container to the destination conveyor.

A method of controlling movement of multi-vehicle includes acquiring a constraint condition under which vehicles move and a calculation cycle for calculating movement routes of the vehicles; acquiring a position of each vehicle; specifying a target position for each vehicle; calculating, based on the position of each vehicle, the target position, and the constraint condition, a movement route for prediction steps of each vehicle; determining, based on the movement routes of the vehicles, a driving condition of each vehicle from a current time to a unit time; and controlling movement of each vehicle. Calculating the movement route including performing optimization calculation based on an evaluation function, evaluation of which becomes higher as a deviation between the vehicle and the target position for each prediction step becomes smaller, and the constraint condition, to calculate the movement route.

A method for processing a query for data stored in a distributed database includes receiving, at an edge device, the query for data stored in the distributed database from a query device. The method includes causing, by the edge device, the query to be stored on a dynamic ledger maintained by the distributed database. The method includes detecting, by the edge device, that summary data has been stored on the dynamic ledger. The method includes generating, by the edge device, an approximate response to the query based on the summary data stored on the dynamic ledger. The method includes transmitting, to the query device, the approximate response.

A method of configuring robot fleets with additive manufacturing capabilities includes receiving a request for a robotic fleet to perform a job and determining a job definition data structure based on the request. The job definition data structure defines a set of tasks to be performed in furtherance of the job. The method includes determining a provisioning configuration for each additive manufacturing system based on the task to which the additive manufacturing system is assigned, the set of 3D printing requirements, the printing instructions, and the status of the additive manufacturing system. The method includes provisioning the additive manufacturing system based on the provisioning configuration and a set of additive manufacturing system provisioning rules that are accessible to an intelligence layer to ensure that provisioned systems comply with the provisioning rules. The method includes deploying the robotic fleet based on the robotic fleet configuration data structure to perform the job.

A modular mobility base for a modular autonomous bot apparatus transporting an item being shipped including a mobile base platform, a component alignment interface, a mobility controller, a propulsion and steering system, and sensors. The component alignment interface provides an alignment channel into which another modular component can be placed and secured on the platform. The mobility controller generates propulsion control signals for controlling speed of the modular mobility base and steering control signals for navigation of the modular mobility base. The propulsion system is connected to the platform and responsive to the propulsion control signal. The steering system is connected to the mobile base platform and is responsive to the steering control signal to cause changes to directional movement of the modular mobility base. The sensors are disposed on the platform provide feedback sensor data to the mobility controller about a condition of the modular mobility base.

A method, a computer program, an apparatus, a transportation vehicle, and a network component for controlling a maneuver within a platoon of transportation vehicles. The method for controlling a maneuver within a platoon of transportation vehicles includes receiving information related to a maneuver for the platoon; determining information on a fuel efficiency of the maneuver based on fuel consumptions for maneuvering from an initial state to a maneuver target state, keeping the maneuver target state, and reverting from the maneuver target state to the initial state; and deciding whether to perform the maneuver based on the information on the fuel efficiency.

Sensor systems for communications between heavy equipment machines during tree felling operations. A system includes a first heavy equipment comprising a first winch and a second heavy equipment comprising a second winch. The system includes a first cable attached to the first winch and a fulcrum roller and a second cable attached to the second winch and the fulcrum roller. The system is such that the first heavy equipment communicates with the second heavy equipment by way of long-range radio signals.

It is possible to manage information on a city area in a centralized manner and reduce a processing load. A management system includes: information acquisition means that is provided in infrastructure of a predetermined city area and acquire information on the city area; service providing means sending instructions to respective mobile bodies for providing a plurality of different conveyance services, each of the mobile bodies including a sensor configured to detect the information on the city area and moving in the city area based on the information detected by the sensor, thereby providing each of the conveyance services; and instruction means for sending an instruction to the service providing means based on the information on the city area acquired by the information acquisition means.

A refuse vehicle comprising a chassis, a body assembly coupled to the chassis, the body assembly defining a refuse compartment, and a thermal event monitoring system comprising a sampling element configured to detect a thermal event associated with the refuse vehicle indicating at least one of a fire or an overheating component and transmit a notification in response to detecting the thermal event.

An automated storage and retrieval system includes a grid-based rail structure and a plurality of remotely operated vehicles arranged to operate on the grid-based rail structure. The automated storage and retrieval system includes a locking device arranged in a zone of the grid-based rail structure where a human and/or a robotic operator is permitted to interact with the remotely operated vehicle or contents of a storage container that the remotely operated vehicle is carrying. The locking device is arranged to lock the remotely operated vehicle against accidental displacement prior to interaction with the human and/or robotic operator, and wherein the locking device being arranged to unlock the remotely operated vehicle once interaction with the human and/or robotic operator is no longer required.