A loading system laterally loads and unloads an upper body structure onto a vehicle platform of a motor vehicle. The system includes two loading arms pivotably mounted on lengthwise ends of the vehicle platform. The loading arms jointly swivel between upward and lateral orientations with respect to the vehicle platform and jointly extend and retract. Each loading arm has an engaging portion at a distal end of the respective loading arm to engage a corresponding support portion at a respective lengthwise end of the upper body structure. The loading arms engage and release the upper body structure by swiveling into the lateral orientation and extending and retracting within the lateral orientation. The loading arms mount the engaged upper body structure on top of the vehicle platform by swiveling with the engaged upper body structure into the upward orientation and retracting with the engaged upper body structure within the upward orientation.

A system and method for lifting and moving items includes a vertical post including on its lower end a horizontal extension for removably inserting into the hitch receiver receptacle of an ATV; on the opposite, upper end of the vertical post, a cantilever extends horizontally forward, away from the vehicle; pulleys are attached at each corner of the assembly; and a winch mounted on the ATV proximate the hitch receiver receptacle includes a cable that extends around each pulley and then vertically downward from a pulley at the outermost end of the cantilever portion. The end of the cable may be attached to an item to be lifted, and operation of the winch retracts the cable, lifting the item off the ground, the item then moved by repositioning the ATV.

An assembly of a controller is to be arranged on a hydraulic lifting device, and a mobile control module can remotely operate the controller. Sensor data can be fed to the controller via signal inputs, and a processor of the controller is configured to calculate first information characteristic of a current position of the hydraulic lifting device from the sensor data and from specific data of the hydraulic lifting device stored in a memory. The controller has an operating mode in which parameters for a further position of the hydraulic lifting device and/or for a lifting load can be input at the mobile control module. Second information characteristic of the further position and/or the lifting load is calculated from the parameters, and the stored data is compared with the first information and/or the specific data.

A hitch attachment for dragging logs from a vehicle. The hitch attachment includes a base having a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end of the base is configured to fit within a tow receiver of the vehicle. A vertical frame extends from the base in between the proximal end and the distal end. A log cradle is coupled to the distal end of the base. The log cradle includes a plurality of vertically extending teeth.

An autonomous vehicle includes an autonomously driven vehicle frame with a retractable pivot mechanism disposed on a platform surface of the vehicle frame. Changeable utility pods are configured to attach to and be removed from the vehicle frame by way of the retractable pivot mechanism onboard the frame, and autonomously change the vehicle from a passenger transport to a logistics transport by changing utility pods. A processor provides autonomous vehicle operations that include extending the retractable pivot mechanism from a retracted position recessed in the platform surface of the vehicle frame to an extended position that engages a utility pod conveyor channel. The retractable pivot mechanism engages a conveyor channel disposed on a mating surface of a utility pod, and conveys the utility pod along the conveyor channel to a centered and laterally-aligned position on the vehicle frame by rotating the pod into position once centered over the pivot mechanism.

An autonomous vehicle includes an autonomously driven vehicle frame with a retractable pivot mechanism disposed on a platform surface of the vehicle frame. Changeable utility pods are configured to attach to and be removed from the vehicle frame by way of the retractable pivot mechanism onboard the frame, and autonomously change the vehicle from a passenger transport to a logistics transport by changing utility pods. A processor provides autonomous vehicle operations that include extending the retractable pivot mechanism from a retracted position recessed in the platform surface of the vehicle frame to an extended position that engages a utility pod conveyor channel. The retractable pivot mechanism engages a conveyor channel disposed on a mating surface of a utility pod, and conveys the utility pod along the conveyor channel to a centered and laterally-aligned position on the vehicle frame by rotating the pod into position once centered over the pivot mechanism.

A forestry machine includes a ground propulsion apparatus, a chassis supported by the ground propulsion apparatus, a cab, an engine and a work implement. The chassis includes a front chassis portion and a rear chassis portion. The front chassis portion includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The rear chassis portion has a wood basket supported thereon. The cab is rotatably supported on the front chassis portion by a rotatable connection about a cab rotation axis to be selectively rotated 360 degrees. The engine is integrated into the front chassis portion. At least a part of the engine is disposed below an upper most surface of the upper portion. The work implement is movably attached to the cab. The work implement includes a boom movably attached to the cab, an arm movably attached to the boom, and a work tool attached to the arm.

A forestry machine includes a ground propulsion apparatus, a chassis supported by the ground propulsion apparatus, a cab, an engine and a work implement. The chassis includes a front chassis portion and a rear chassis portion. The front chassis portion includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The rear chassis portion has a wood basket supported thereon. The cab is rotatably supported on the front chassis portion by a rotatable connection about a cab rotation axis to be selectively rotated 360 degrees. The engine is integrated into the front chassis portion. At least a part of the engine is disposed below an upper most surface of the upper portion. The work implement is movably attached to the cab. The work implement includes a boom movably attached to the cab, an arm movably attached to the boom, and a work tool attached to the arm.

A vehicle winch game loader. The device includes a central support including a first pulley connected to an upper end thereof. A rear support is connected to the upper end of the central support. A front support includes a rear end connected to a lower end of the central support and a front end having a second pulley connected thereto. The front support extends in a direction opposite the rear support. A crossbar is connected to the lower end of the central support, wherein the crossbar is oriented perpendicular to the front support. A rear end of the rear support is configured to frictionally engage a rear end of a vehicle when the crossbar and the front support are supported on an upper surface of a front end of the vehicle. The device may be utilized to load game or other objects onto the vehicle using the vehicle's winch.

A mobile robot is provided having a support surface for supporting a plurality of articles and securing material secured to and positioned for operable communication with the robot for securing the plurality of articles on the support surface. A robotic arm member also is provided that is secured to the robot and configured to autonomously gather the articles from a location remote from the mobile robot, place the articles in desired positions on the support surface and autonomously secure, via the securing material, the plurality of articles on the support surface to substantially restrict movement of the articles on the support surface and without requiring any outside intervention or human input to secure the articles.