A navigation system uses a dead reckoning method to estimate an object's present position relative to one or more prior positions. In some embodiments, the dead reckoning method determines a change in position from the object's heading and speed during an elapsed time interval. In embodiments suitable for use with wheeled objects, the dead reckoning method determines the change in position by measuring the heading and the amount of wheel rotation. Some or all of the components of the navigation system may be disposed within a wheel, such as a wheel of a shopping cart.

An apparatus, system and method for securing wheeled shipping carts within a shipping container. The apparatus, system and method for securing wheeled shipping carts within a shipping container secures the shipping racks across the width of the container and vertically, and then end-to-end inside the length of the container from the fixed end of the container to the doors as the container is loaded. In addition, the system and method secures wheeled shipping carts within a shipping container using a securing apparatus installed within the shipping container to constrain the wheeled shipping carts both vertically and horizontally in location during transport.

A system for monitoring and controlling shopping cart usage comprises a wheel assembly that attaches to a shopping cart. The wheel assembly includes a wheel, a brake that can be activated to inhibit rotation of the wheel, a controller that controls the brake, a VLF receiver, and an RF transceiver. The RF transceiver may, for example, operate in a 2.4 GHz frequency band. In some implementations, the RF transceiver may be used to detect entry of the shopping cart into a checkout area of the store, and the VLF receiver may be used to detect that the shopping cart is exiting the store. The controller may activate the brake if the shopping cart attempts to exit the store without first passing through a checkout area.

Multi-level delivery systems and various apparatus associated therewith are presented. Multi-level delivery systems include a number of integrated, modular and interchangeable compactible elements that may work either alone or in conjunction with other such elements to allow for the deployment of a delivery system having a smaller overall spatial footprint when compared to comparable conventional delivery systems. Apparatus combining to form a delivery system may include one or more of: a compactible container cart, a compactible cart hauler or trailer, a propulsion means, and/or a maneuverability means. These elements or apparatus may be deployed in any combination, either together as an integrated system or with compatible conventional apparatus. In combination, delivery systems maximize space efficiency, and allow for adaption to any environment and scale.

An electric work vehicle includes: a battery accommodating portion that is provided in the vehicle body and accommodates a battery; a first connector provided on the battery accommodating portion; a second connector provided on the battery; and an operating tool for moving the battery and the second connector, and switching from a pre-attachment orientation in which the second connector opposes the first connector to an attachment orientation in which the second connector is joined to the first connector.

In some implementations, a utility cart includes (a) a cargo hold having a cargo bed; (b) an assembly having a wheel arm having a first catch, a handle arm having a second catch, and a wheel; the wheel arm and handle arm coupled together at an angle and adjacent a pivot point; the wheel rotatably coupled to a distal end of the wheel arm; (c) a locking mechanism and a spring member, the locking mechanism having a first locking pin and a second locking pin; and (d) a plurality of bearing wheels disposed below a bottom surface of the cargo bed.

An all-terrain gear cart convertible between manual propulsion and trailering and a towing system for establishing a towing relationship between the cart and a towing vehicle. The towing system has a reverse hook structure with first and second towing hooks and a latch member for selectively retaining an engaging portion of a tow and control handle within the towing hooks. A retaining formation of the latch member can be selectively retained by a receiving latch. The reverse hook structure can be formed with a rack affixed to the towing vehicle, or first and second anterior attachment hooks can selectively hook the reverse hook structure to a preexisting rack of the towing vehicle. The gear cart can have a pivotable tailgate and a selectively extendable cargo bed extension structure. The left, right, and anterior frame sections of the cart can be independently pivotable to facilitate achievement of a flatbed configuration.

A shopping cart basket comprises one or more modular baskets couplable to a bottom basket having a plurality of wheels extending downwardly to allow the shopping cart basket to roll. Each of the modular baskets has a foldable bottom wall that can act as a bottom of a separate basket or can be folded against a side wall of the modular basket. The modular baskets could be used to hold items within a smaller compartment, and can be combined with the bottom basket to form a roll-able shopping cart having a larger compartment. Such a cart is advantageously used in a store, such as a grocery store, a retail shopping mall, or a home improvement store.

A self-propelled cart comprising: a body having a generally rectangular prism shape with a top, bottom, front end, rear end, and two sides, the body further comprising: a battery compartment, and a utility platform comprising a plurality of connecting features for releasable attachment of one or more components to the platform; a rechargeable battery housed in the battery compartment; a controller; four arms having a first end and a second end, each pivotally attached at the first end to the body; four wheels, each connected to the second end of one of the four arms; four arm actuators, each configured to pivot one of the four arms such that each wheel can be moved closer to or further away from the body; and at least two motors powered by the battery, each configured to rotate one of the four wheels, each independently controlled by the controller, whereby the controller can move the cart and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the four wheels; at least one sensor for determining the pitch of the cart in communication with the controller, whereby the controller is able to adjust the height of the cart and the pitch of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arm actuators is disclosed.

A cargo carrier for mounting on a mobile cart, comprising: a base configured to be releasably attached to a top surface of the mobile cart; first and second opposing side walls, each having a bottom edge attached to the base, a top edge, a front side edge running from the bottom edge to the top edge and a rear side edge running from the bottom edge to the top edge; a front end wall, having a bottom edge hingedly connected to the base so as to hinge between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, a first front end wall side edge fits against the front side edge of the first side wall, and a second front end wall side edge fits again the front side edge of the second side wall, to thereby close a front end of the cargo carrier; and in the open position, the front end wall is generally parallel to the base, to thereby open a front end of the cargo carrier; a front end wall lock for releasably locking the front end wall in the closed position; a rear end wall, having a bottom edge hingedly connected to the base so as to hinge between a closed position and an open position, wherein: in the closed position, a first rear end wall side edge fits against the rear side edge of the first side wall, and a second rear end wall side edge fits again the rear side edge of the second side wall, to thereby close a rear end of the cargo carrier; and in the open position, the rear end wall is generally parallel to the base, to thereby open a rear end of the cargo carrier; a rear end wall lock for releasably locking the rear end wall in the closed position; whereby the cargo carrier can be converted between a four-walled bin, for containing objects within its four walls, to an open ended cargo carrier, allowing elongated objects in the cargo carrier to extend beyond the front end wall and/or the rear end wall by hingedly moving the front end wall and/or the rear end wall, respectively, between the closed and open positions is disclosed.