A service trolley for dispensing beverages includes a frame having an upper end opposite a lower end, and a tabletop arranged on the upper end of the frame. The trolley further includes wheels arranged on the lower end of the frame configured to allow the frame to roll on a surface. The trolley includes a beverage dispenser arranged within the frame that includes a multi-serve beverage container for storing a beverage, a dispensing head in communication with the beverage container via a conduit, and a pressurized vessel configured to contain a pressurized gas in communication with the beverage container so as to drive a flow of the beverage from the beverage container to the dispensing head.

A working machine has a frame, a ground engaging propulsion system, a drive arrangement for providing motive power to the ground engaging propulsion system, an operator platform pivotally connected to the frame and moveable between a deployed position for supporting an operator thereon and a stowed position; and a sensor arrangement configured to sense when an external force is applied to the operator platform when said operator platform is in the deployed position. The machine prevents movement of the ground engaging propulsion system when the sensor arrangement does not sense an external force applied to the operator platform when said operator platform is in the deployed positon.

A weight transfer device is disclosed. In an embodiment, a weight transfer device includes a top surface and legs mounted to the top surface. The legs forming a load region and a ramp region of the top surface. A downward force applied to the ramp region causes the top surface to tilt downward toward the ramp region.

Systems and methods are disclosed for foldable containers for manual and robotic use. In one embodiment, an example foldable container may include a first container wall, a second container wall configured to rotate outwards in a first direction with respect to the first container wall, and a bottom container platform configured to rotate outwards in a second direction with respect to the first container wall. The bottom container platform may include an automatic locking mechanism configured to engage with the second container wall when the foldable container is in an unfolded position, where the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. Some embodiments may include a number of wheels. The foldable container may be configured to be transported using (i) the plurality of wheels via manual pushing, and (ii) robotic manipulation to lift and move the foldable container.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for determining item availability are provided. A computer implemented method for determining item availability in a shopping space comprising: receiving a request for an item for purchase from a customer, querying an inventory database to determine whether the item for purchase is in stock, in an event that the item for purchase is not in stock according to the inventory database: determining an out of stock response to present to the customer, in an event that the item for purchase is in stock according the inventory database: instructing a motorized transport unit to travel to a display space in the shopping space corresponding to the item for the purchase, determining whether the item is available in the display space based on information captured by one or more sensors of the motorized transport unit, and in an event that the item for purchase is not available in the display space: determining an item unavailable response to present to the customer.

Provided are a multi-functional perambulator, a multi-functional cradle bed, a multi-functional infanette and a multi-functional baby carriage, wherein same are all mounted with spring clamping slots (80, 3319). Also provided is a novel multi-wheel walking device. Further provided are a smart wrist band and a smart watch, wherein both of same have a real-time payment system, may be used for a user of a perambulator, a cradle bed, a multi-functional infanette and a multi-functional baby carriage to make a payment when shopping in various supermarkets, facilitates shopping for the user, and satisfies the requirements of the user.

Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

An automatic guided vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention moves a trolley including a trolley body, wheels attached to the trolley body, and a section to be connected which is provided on the lower surface of the trolley body. The automatic guided vehicle is provided with: a vehicle body; drive wheels attached to the vehicle body; and a connection mechanism which is connected to the trolley, wherein the connection mechanism includes a connecting section disposed on an upper side of the upper surface of the vehicle body so as to be movable horizontally in a first direction, and includes a drive apparatus which moves the connecting section in the first direction and connects the connecting section to the section to be connected.

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.

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.