A main unit and a hose of a cleaner may be connected via a connecting portion constituted by a ball joint. The hose may be wound around a hose holding portion and stored at a front end storage so that it can be held to the main unit in a compact manner.

This vehicle cleaner unit is provided with: a cylinder unit comprising a cylinder which forms a chamber, a discharge port through which the chamber opens to the outside, and a piston which reciprocates inside of the cylinder and discharges from the discharge port a cleaning medium inside of the chamber; a power unit comprising a motor, a power transmission mechanism which transmits rotary motion of the motor to the piston to cause the piston to reciprocate, and a housing which houses the motor and the power transmission mechanism; and a casing which houses the cylinder unit and the power unit. The cylinder unit and the power unit are supported by the casing with rubber members interposed therebetween.

A method for operating an autonomous transportation vehicle fleet with autonomously driven transportation vehicles which identifies a service requirement of at least one transportation vehicle of the transportation vehicle fleet; identifies a service action to be carried out on the transportation vehicle based on the service requirement identified for the transportation vehicle; identifies a suitable service station for performing the service action; autonomously drives the transportation vehicle to the identified service station; and autonomously performs the service action on the transportation vehicle in the service station. A service station for the transportation vehicles of an autonomous transportation vehicle fleet having a second communication module for communication with the transportation vehicles and/or a server of a fleet operator; a second control unit for identifying a service action to be carried out on a transportation vehicle; and at least one service module for autonomously performing a service action on the transportation vehicle.

An extraction and insertion implement and method of retrieving foreign object debris and inserting fasteners in small spaces providing a rigid rod that is held and manipulated between fingers. A resilient bulbous member joins a distal end of the rod. The bulbous member is resilient to compression for positioning within confined spaces and has a bulbous shape to optimize engagement with FOD and fasteners. An adhesive member detachably encapsulates the bulbous member. The bulbous member can be precisely manipulated from the rod to extract and insert FOD and fasteners in small spaces. The adhesive member comprises an adhesive that binds with FOD and fasteners to extract and insert into the small space. The adhesive member may be removed from the bulbous member so that after use, the contaminated adhesive member can be removed and replaced with a new adhesive member. The implement may be used in medical application and various embodiments may detachable affix to a driver.

This vehicle cleaner unit is provided with: a cylinder unit comprising a cylinder which forms a chamber, a discharge port through which the chamber opens to the outside, and a piston which reciprocates inside of the cylinder and discharges from the discharge port a cleaning medium inside of the chamber; a power unit comprising a motor, a power transmission mechanism which transmits rotary motion of the motor to the piston to cause the piston to reciprocate, and a housing which houses the motor and the power transmission mechanism; and a casing which houses the cylinder unit and the power unit. The cylinder unit and the power unit are supported by the casing with rubber members interposed therebetween.

Reversibly switchable (transformable) surface layer changeable from (super)hydrophobic to (super)hydrophilic surface states are described. Methods of decontamination of surfaces exposed to contaminate are provided. The reversibly switchable properties of the surface layer can be controlled by an external stimulus.

A device for perceiving an actual state of an interior of a people mover may include at least one imaging sensor for perceiving the actual state of the interior and an evaluation device that is configured to obtain a target state of the interior. The evaluation device may be configured to compare the actual state with the target state in order to determine a difference between the actual state and the target state, and wherein the evaluation device is configured to generate a signal for informing an operator of the people mover of the actual state based on the difference. An interface may also be included for sending the signal to the operator.

A system for keeping an automated-taxi clean includes a perception-sensor, a communication-device, and a controller-circuit. The perception-sensor is operable to detect an object aboard an automated-taxi. The communication-device is operable to communicate with a present-client of the automated-taxi. The controller-circuit is in communication with the perception-sensor and the communication-device. The controller-circuit is configured to determine that the object was left by a prior-client of the automated-taxi, and operate the communication-device to convey to the present-client a cleaning-request to remove the object from the automated-taxi.

Disclosed are exhaust heat recirculation systems for vehicle wash vacuums, methods for making/using such vacuum exhaust heat recirculation systems, and vehicle wash facilities with a central vacuum system having exhaust recirculation capabilities. A vehicle wash facility includes multiple vehicle stalls, and a vacuum system for removing debris from vehicles at the vehicle stalls. The vacuum system includes vacuum hoses mounted at the vehicle stalls, a central power unit that generates vacuum pressure for operating the hoses, and feeders for connecting the hoses to an inlet manifold of the central power unit. An exhaust heat recirculation system is operatively connected to and evacuates exhaust gases from the central power unit. The vacuum system may include a continuous-belt heater unit that receives the evacuated exhaust gases and repurposes the gas for drying towels, mitter cloth strips, brushes, etc.

A thermal shield system with wireless control capabilities including a multi-layer shield, a housing containing a power source and processor, and a programmable control mechanism, wherein the control mechanism is in communication with the processor to facilitate direct or remote manual programming of time and temperature of the shield system. The multi-layer shield includes a perimeter having a first layer comprised of reflective material, a second layer comprised of a plurality of conductive pads arranged in a plurality of rows within a structural support sheet, a third layer comprised of thermal material, an electrical wire running through and connecting said conductive pads of the second layer, and a surround spanning the perimeter of the shield. The surround of the shield has flexibility to allow folding or rolling for compact storage of said shield and having rigidity to provide structural integrity of said shield. The electrical wire connects each of the plurality of conductive pads in a series to generate consistent and uniform heat while minimizing depletion of the power source.