A refuse vehicle includes a chassis supporting a plurality of wheels and a vehicle body. The vehicle body defines a receptacle for storing refuse. A lifting system is movable between a first position and a second position offset from the first position. A processing unit is in communication with a first sensor having a first field of view and a second sensor having a second field of view. The processing unit activates the second sensor upon receiving an indication, from the first sensor, that an indicator is present within the first field of view. In some embodiments, the indicator is the presence of a positive object, like a waste container. In other embodiments, the indicator is the omission of an object (e.g., no container is detected) within the field of view.

A refuse vehicle includes a chassis supporting a plurality of wheels and a vehicle body. The vehicle body defines a receptacle for storing refuse. A lifting system is movable between a first position and a second position offset from the first position. A processing unit is in communication with a first sensor having a first field of view and a second sensor having a second field of view. The processing unit activates the second sensor upon receiving an indication, from the first sensor, that an indicator is present within the first field of view. In some embodiments, the indicator is the presence of a positive object, like a waste container. In other embodiments, the indicator is the omission of an object (e.g., no container is detected) within the field of view.

A transport vehicle includes at least one rack, a top plate, an arm attached to the top plate and extendable and retractable in a horizontal direction, a rotation mechanism that changes an extension direction of the arm by rotating the top plate with a vertical direction as a rotation axis, and a control unit that controls operation of the rotation mechanism and the arm. The control unit extends and retracts the arm to pull out an object from the at least one rack or a rack installed outside, rotates the top plate on which the pulled-out object is placed, and extends the arm to store the object in the rack when the object has been pulled out from the at least one rack, and extends the arm to store the object in the at least one rack when the object has been pulled out from the rack.

A transport vehicle includes at least one rack, a top plate, an arm attached to the top plate and extendable and retractable in a horizontal direction, a rotation mechanism that changes an extension direction of the arm by rotating the top plate with a vertical direction as a rotation axis, and a control unit that controls operation of the rotation mechanism and the arm. The control unit extends and retracts the arm to pull out an object from the at least one rack or a rack installed outside, rotates the top plate on which the pulled-out object is placed, and extends the arm to store the object in the rack when the object has been pulled out from the at least one rack, and extends the arm to store the object in the at least one rack when the object has been pulled out from the rack.

Compact tool carriers having a loader mounted to a low-profile mainframe are disclosed. In some embodiments, the pivot points of the mainframe about which the loader is pivoted are low relative to the mainframe to reduce the mainframe size and to lower the center of gravity to improve the stability of the compact tool carrier during use.

An automated guided vehicle (AGV) that is configured to operate with a navigation and guidance system includes a base frame structure that supports a material handling apparatus. Casters may be attached at peripheral portions of the base frame structure to movably support the base frame structure away from a ground surface. Drive wheel assemblies may be disposed between two of the casters and configured to propel and steer the AGV. A suspension system may have intersecting swing arms that are pivotally mounted at the base frame structure and independently attach at each of the drive wheel assemblies. The suspension system biases the drive wheel assemblies against the ground surface to maintain friction of the drive wheel assemblies against the ground surface, such as for traversing sloped or uneven surfaces.

An automated guided vehicle (AGV) that is configured to operate with a navigation and guidance system includes a base frame structure that supports a material handling apparatus. Casters may be attached at peripheral portions of the base frame structure to movably support the base frame structure away from a ground surface. Drive wheel assemblies may be disposed between two of the casters and configured to propel and steer the AGV. A suspension system may have intersecting swing arms that are pivotally mounted at the base frame structure and independently attach at each of the drive wheel assemblies. The suspension system biases the drive wheel assemblies against the ground surface to maintain friction of the drive wheel assemblies against the ground surface, such as for traversing sloped or uneven surfaces.

A first work tool arm is rotatably attached to a frame or reference structure, a second work tool arm rotatably attached to the first work tool arm, and a work tool attached to an end of the second work tool arm. An actuator and a spring are each rotatably attached to the second work tool arm and configured such that separate movement of the first work tool arm relative to the frame or reference structure and movement of the second work tool arm and work tool relative to the first work tool arm are achieved with actuation of the actuator.

A first work tool arm is rotatably attached to a frame or reference structure, a second work tool arm rotatably attached to the first work tool arm, and a work tool attached to an end of the second work tool arm. An actuator and a spring are each rotatably attached to the second work tool arm and configured such that separate movement of the first work tool arm relative to the frame or reference structure and movement of the second work tool arm and work tool relative to the first work tool arm are achieved with actuation of the actuator.

Systems and methods for controlling a hoist apparatus on a vehicle to automatically load and unload a container. The vehicle includes a chassis, a hoist apparatus coupled with the chassis, and at least one lift mechanism operative to move the hoist apparatus with respect to the chassis in response to the flow of hydraulic fluid along a fluid flow path. The vehicle also includes at least one valve in fluid communication with the at least one lift mechanism, a control system in electronic communication with the at least one valve, and a transceiver in electronic communication with the control system. The control system is operative to receive, via the transceiver, an initiation signal from a remote control unit. Further, the control system is operative to selectively actuate the at least one valve in response to the initiation signal to move the hoist apparatus.