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.

Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn.

Disclosed is a cart (2) for transporting an aircraft engine, comprising a base frame (4) equipped with wheels (6) for riding on a floor; at least two engine arms (14, 16) extending horizontally and movable vertically relative to the base frame, structured and designed for supporting the aircraft engine; and at least two adapter arms (20) extending horizontally at a higher level than the at least two engine arms, structured and designed for supporting an adapter coupled at the top of the aircraft engine. Disclosed is also a method of transporting an aircraft engine to a test cell.

A dolly assembly includes a parent dolly including a support frame that defines a truck-receiving volume. A child dolly includes a support frame that is sized to be received within the truck-receiving volume. The child dolly includes a child dolly carousel. The parent dolly and the child dolly together include a locking assembly including a locking arm that prevents rotation of the child dolly carousel in a locked position.

A walk power mower having a cutting deck supported upon the ground by a front and rear wheel(s). The mower includes a traction drive system incorporating a bidirectional transmission adapted to propel the mower alternatively in both forward and reverse directions. In some embodiments, the mower may include a single bidirectional transmission (e.g., powering only rear wheel(s) or only front wheel(s) of the mower), while in other embodiments, two bidirectional transmissions may be provided to power both the front and the rear wheel(s). In other embodiments, the mower may include a bidirectional transmission powering the rear wheel(s), while the front wheel(s) may be attached to the deck via a caster assembly.

The present disclosure is directed to multi-use mobile robots that cater to both goods delivery and people mobility. These robots allow for seamless and dynamic transition between a rideable personal transport vehicle that may be driven by a user sitting in a removable robot seat, driven by the user standing onboard the vehicle, or driven by a second individual walking behind the multi-use robot. The multi-use robot may also function as an autonomous delivery vehicle, and can provide an option to allow both people and goods to be transported simultaneously. The multi-use robots can also integrate with mobile warehouses and neighborhood storage lockers and mobile warehouses, and provide last-mile handling of goods and supplies.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitoring product placement within a shopping facility. Some embodiments provide an apparatus configured to determine product placement conditions within a shopping facility, comprising: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications; a product monitoring control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled with the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: obtain a composite three-dimensional (3D) scan mapping corresponding to at least a select area of the shopping facility and based on a series of 3D scan data; evaluate the 3D scan mapping to identify multiple product depth distances; and identify, from the evaluation of the 3D scan mapping, when one or more of the multiple product depth distances is greater than a predefined depth distance threshold from the reference offset distance of the product support structure.

A crane for lifting and transporting loads includes a handling element, for supporting and handling the loads, and a chassis for transferring the loads of the crane onto a support surface by a contact arranged in contact with the surface, such as wheels. A drive transmission, such as a drive wheel, moves the crane on the support surface. The drive transmission is capable of translating relative to the chassis to adjust the force exerted by the drive transmission upon the support surface. The crane includes a sensor for detecting the force exerted by the drive transmission upon the support surface; and a control unit configured for adjusting the position of the drive transmission relative to the chassis, based on the detection of the sensor.

A hand-propelled, self-driving, traveling machine that includes a clutch which enables transmission between a wheel and a transmission shaft. The clutch provides a drive state in which the transmission shaft drives the wheel to rotate and an unlocked state in which the wheel is rotatable relative to the transmission shaft. The clutch includes a driving member, combined with the transmission shaft, a movable pin, movable between a locked position in which the clutch is in the drive state and an unlocked position in which the clutch is in the unlocked state, a transmission member connected to the wheel, a movable friction member provided with a limiting slot, where the movable pin is partially disposed in the limiting slot, and a fixed friction member that is fixed to the chassis and that is in a frictional contact with the movable friction member.

Drifting karts in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described that include a front wheel drive train and rear caster wheels that can be dynamically engaged to induce and control drift during a turn. One embodiment of the invention includes a chassis to which a steering column is mounted, where the steering column includes at least one front steerable wheel configured to be driven by an electric motor, a battery housing mounted to the chassis, where the battery housing contains a controller and at least one battery, wiring configured to provide power from the at least one battery to the electric motor, two caster wheels mounted to the chassis, where each caster wheel is configured to rotate around a rotational axis and swivel around a swivel axis, and a hand lever configured to dynamically engage the caster wheels to induce and control drift during a turn.