In a method of operating a motor vehicle driven electrically, at least temporarily, on a roadway, the motor vehicle is moved fully autonomously by a control unit in response to a command for automatic operating mode. After a charging arm of the motor vehicle has been extended, a lateral control of the motor vehicle is executed to bring the extended charging arm into electric contact with a charging line arranged at or on the roadway. As a result, electric energy provided from the charging line to the charging arm is used for charging an energy accumulator of the motor vehicle and/or operating a drive device of the motor vehicle for moving the motor vehicle. A longitudinal control of the motor vehicle is executed to thereby maintain a predefined longitudinal speed of the motor vehicle until a distance of the motor vehicle reaches a predefined minimum distance to a leading vehicle.

An article transport facility includes a traveling portion configured to travel on a traveling rail, a cleaning unit coupled to the traveling portion, a feeding portion configured to supply traveling driving power for the traveling portion and cleaning driving power for the cleaning unit, a power storage device connected between the feeding portion and the cleaning unit, and a power control portion. The power control portion is configured to: charge the power storage device with power corresponding to a driving state of the traveling portion and a position of the traveling portion along the transport path; and discharge the power storage device when power received from the feeding portion is insufficient relative to a total power of the traveling driving power and the cleaning driving power.

A shunt apparatus includes a mounting bracket assembly configured for connection to a vehicle, an actuator connected to the mounting bracket assembly, and a shoe unit connected to the actuator. The actuator is controllable to move the shoe unit to an extended position where a conductive shoe of the shoe unit is positioned to contact a conductive first running surface on which the vehicle travels. The shoe unit includes a resilient biasing assembly that is configured to exert a force on the shoe, to press the shoe against the running surface during movement of the vehicle. Two of the shunt apparatuses may be attached to opposite sides of the vehicle. The shoes of the two shunt apparatuses are electrically connected to one another by an electrical cable. When the shoes are brought into contact with respective running surfaces, the running surfaces are electrically shunted for vehicle signaling purposes or otherwise.

A shunt apparatus includes a mounting bracket assembly configured for connection to a vehicle, an actuator connected to the mounting bracket assembly, and a shoe unit connected to the actuator. The actuator is controllable to move the shoe unit to an extended position where a conductive shoe of the shoe unit is positioned to contact a conductive first running surface on which the vehicle travels. The shoe unit includes a resilient biasing assembly that is configured to exert a force on the shoe, to press the shoe against the running surface during movement of the vehicle. Two of the shunt apparatuses may be attached to opposite sides of the vehicle. The shoes of the two shunt apparatuses are electrically connected to one another by an electrical cable. When the shoes are brought into contact with respective running surfaces, the running surfaces are electrically shunted for vehicle signaling purposes or otherwise.

A system comprises a drone having autonomous drive capability and an assist vehicle (AV) for transporting the drone in an assisted drive mode in which the drone is held at, and transported by, the assist vehicle. Control hardware and software are programmed to determine drone travel over a route having a first route section in which the drone travels autonomously and a second route section in which the drone travels in the assisted drive mode.

A system comprises a drone having autonomous drive capability and an assist vehicle (AV) for transporting the drone in an assisted drive mode in which the drone is held at, and transported by, the assist vehicle. Control hardware and software are programmed to determine drone travel over a route having a first route section in which the drone travels autonomously and a second route section in which the drone travels in the assisted drive mode.

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for inductive positioning of a current collector (14; 24) on a vehicle relative to a stationary current conductor (13; 23; 33; 43; 53). The invention involves transmitting a signal having predetermined phase characteristics using a signal transmitter (37; 47; 57) arranged along the longitudinal direction of the current conductor (13; 23; 33; 43; 53); detecting the transmitted signal using a signal receiver on the vehicle, which signal receiver comprises at least one vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b); detecting the phase characteristics of the signal induced in the at least one vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b), indicating the relative location of the vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b) and the signal transmitter (37; 47; 57) in the transverse direction of the vehicle; and controlling the positioning means (25, 26) in dependence of the received signals.

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for inductive positioning of a current collector (14; 24) on a vehicle relative to a stationary current conductor (13; 23; 33; 43; 53). The invention involves transmitting a signal having predetermined phase characteristics using a signal transmitter (37; 47; 57) arranged along the longitudinal direction of the current conductor (13; 23; 33; 43; 53); detecting the transmitted signal using a signal receiver on the vehicle, which signal receiver comprises at least one vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b); detecting the phase characteristics of the signal induced in the at least one vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b), indicating the relative location of the vertical antenna (30; 40; 50a, 50b) and the signal transmitter (37; 47; 57) in the transverse direction of the vehicle; and controlling the positioning means (25, 26) in dependence of the received signals.

The present disclosure relates to a trolley wire detection device and a trolley wire detection system . The trolley wire is disposed on a guide rail and is disposed along an extending direction of the guide rail; the trolley wire detection device includes a current collector assembly connected to the trolley wire; a power mechanism, slidably disposed on the guide rail; and an engagement assembly disposed between the current collector assembly and the power mechanism, the engagement assembly being configured to provide a preset engagement force to connect the current collector assembly and the power mechanism; wherein the power mechanism is configured to drive the current collector assembly to move along the trolley wire through the engagement assembly, and the current collector assembly is configured to be disengaged from the power mechanism when a resistance generated by the trolley wire is greater than the preset engagement force.

The present disclosure relates to a trolley wire detection device and a trolley wire detection system . The trolley wire is disposed on a guide rail and is disposed along an extending direction of the guide rail; the trolley wire detection device includes a current collector assembly connected to the trolley wire; a power mechanism, slidably disposed on the guide rail; and an engagement assembly disposed between the current collector assembly and the power mechanism, the engagement assembly being configured to provide a preset engagement force to connect the current collector assembly and the power mechanism; wherein the power mechanism is configured to drive the current collector assembly to move along the trolley wire through the engagement assembly, and the current collector assembly is configured to be disengaged from the power mechanism when a resistance generated by the trolley wire is greater than the preset engagement force.