A trailer for lifting and positioning at least one reel thereon. The trailer includes a pair of articulated arms comprising a first elongate member and a second elongate member pivotally mounted to the first elongate member. The first elongate members are generally horizontal and movable relative to the trailer between a retracted position and a rearwardly extended position. The second elongate members are pivotable between a horizontal position in parallel alignment with the first elongate members and an upright position wherein the second elongate members are orthogonal to the first elongate members. The second elongate members are provided with respective jacks to stabilise them with respect to the ground surface. A hoist to lift the reel from the support surface to an effective height greater than an effective height of a deck of the trailer is disposed between the second elongate members.

A system for performing interactions within a physical environment including a robot base, a robot base actuator that moves the robot base relative to the environment, a robot arm mounted to the robot base, the robot arm including an end effector mounted thereon and a tracking system that measures a tracking target position indicative of a position of a target mounted on the robot base. A control system acquires an indication of an end effector destination, determines a tracking target position at least in part using signals from the tracking system, determines a virtual robot base position offset from the robot base and calculates a robot base path extending from the virtual robot base position to the end effector destination, using this to control the robot base actuator to cause the robot base to be moved along the robot base path.

A system for performing interactions within a physical environment including a robot base, a robot base actuator that moves the robot base relative to the environment, a robot arm mounted to the robot base, the robot arm including an end effector mounted thereon and a tracking system that measures a tracking target position indicative of a position of a target mounted on the robot base. A control system acquires an indication of an end effector destination, determines a tracking target position at least in part using signals from the tracking system, determines a virtual robot base position offset from the robot base and calculates a robot base path extending from the virtual robot base position to the end effector destination, using this to control the robot base actuator to cause the robot base to be moved along the robot base path.

A system for performing interactions within a physical environment including a robot base that undergoes movement relative to the environment, a robot arm mounted to the robot base, the robot arm including an end effector mounted thereon and a tracking system that measures a robot base position indicative of a position of the robot base relative to the environment. A control system acquires an indication of an end effector destination, determines a reference robot base position, calculates an end effector path extending to the end effector destination and repeatedly determines a current robot base position using signals from the tracking system, calculates robot arm kinematics using the current robot base position and the end effector path and controls the robot arm to cause the end effector to be moved towards the end effector destination.

A system for performing interactions within a physical environment including a robot base that undergoes movement relative to the environment, a robot arm mounted to the robot base, the robot arm including an end effector mounted thereon and a tracking system that measures a robot base position indicative of a position of the robot base relative to the environment. A control system acquires an indication of an end effector destination, determines a reference robot base position, calculates an end effector path extending to the end effector destination and repeatedly determines a current robot base position using signals from the tracking system, calculates robot arm kinematics using the current robot base position and the end effector path and controls the robot arm to cause the end effector to be moved towards the end effector destination.

A self-loading assembly (10) for a vehicle (12) including a base frame (14) operatively secured to the vehicle (12) and a cargo body (16) operatively adapted to be located on the base frame (14) to be transported by the vehicle (12). The self-loading assembly (10) further includes a loading arm (22) operatively associated with the base frame (14), the loading arm (22) operatively adapted to move relative to the base frame (14) between (i) a transport position in which the cargo body (16) is located on to the base frame (14), and (ii) an offload position wherein the cargo body (16) is offloaded from the base frame (14). The self-loading assembly (10) further includes an actuator assembly (28) operatively adapted to move the loading arm (22) between the transport position and the offload position, the actuator assembly including (i) an arm pivot member (30) on which the loading arm (22) is mounted and about which the loading arm (22) pivots as it moves between the transport position and the offload position, and (ii) a linkage assembly (32) connecting the loading arm (22) with an actuator (34), the linkage assembly (32) adapted to move the loading arm between the transport position and the offload position when the actuator (34) is caused to move between a first position and a second position.

A solar panel dispensing device comprising a hopper and a robotic arm. The hopper includes a base and a frame defining an interior volume and being configured to contain solar panels therein supported in an upright position. The robotic arm is moveable about the hopper in one or more degrees of freedom. The robotic arm includes a solar panel end effector operable to acquire a lead solar panel oriented in the upright orientation. The solar panel end effector includes an interfacing orientation and a release orientation; The robotic arm further includes an arm actuator operable to move the robotic arm and the solar panel end effector between the interfacing orientation and the release orientation. The interfacing orientation and the release orientation of the solar panel end effector correspond respectively to the solar panel being in the upright orientation, and the solar panel being in a presentation orientation.

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 truss transportation trailer has a front assembly and a rearward assembly interconnected by a central elongated beam so that the trusses can be supported in an inverted manner between the assemblies. Each assembly includes an outrigger on each side of the assembly along with a pivotable carrier apparatus. Each carrier apparatus includes a telescopic support with an outer shell being pivoted to the frame of the trailer for movement between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation extending laterally of the trailer. Each carrier apparatus also includes a head mounted on an inner shaft and having a fixed inner bracket and a movable outer bracket driven by a hydraulic motor to clamp trusses between the two brackets. Once in the horizontal orientation, the inner shaft can extend hydraulically from the outer shell to push the discharged trusses away from the trailer and facilitate the departure of the trailer.