A loading ramp for a tailgate is stored and transported on the inside wall of the tailgate. The loading ramp includes a base section pivotally connected to an inner wall of the tailgate. A ramp section is connected to the base section by a hinge and is movable between a loading position extending from a distal edge of the tailgate to a ground surface and a transport position folded against the base section in a transverse/vertical plane. An alternative loading ramp includes a top section, a top hinge connecting the top section to a distal edge of the tailgate, a bottom section, and an intermediate hinge connecting the bottom section to the top section. The top section and the bottom section are stored with the top section and bottom section parallel to each other and to the tailgate.

A charging system for autonomous transport vehicles including at least one charging contact disposed on each pick floor level of a storage and retrieval system, each of the at least one charging contact being located at a transfer station, at least one power supply configured to supply power to the at least one charging contact, and a controller in communication with the transfer station and being configured to communicate information relating to a transfer of items between the transfer station and a predetermined one of the autonomous transport vehicles and to apply power from the power supply to the at least one charging contact for charging the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle corresponding to the transfer and located at the transfer station, wherein the controller is configured to supply power to the charging contacts simultaneously with the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle exchanging items related to the transfer at the transfer station.

A charging system for autonomous transport vehicles including at least one charging contact disposed on each pick floor level of a storage and retrieval system, each of the at least one charging contact being located at a transfer station, at least one power supply configured to supply power to the at least one charging contact, and a controller in communication with the transfer station and being configured to communicate information relating to a transfer of items between the transfer station and a predetermined one of the autonomous transport vehicles and to apply power from the power supply to the at least one charging contact for charging the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle corresponding to the transfer and located at the transfer station, wherein the controller is configured to supply power to the charging contacts simultaneously with the predetermined autonomous transport vehicle exchanging items related to the transfer at the transfer station.

A method and optical detection equipment for monitoring a container transfer device on lowering a container onto or lifting away from a transport platform. The container, its pin holes' position and the position of the lock pins of the transport platform are determined by the optical detection equipment, which includes a group of optical detection devices measuring obliquely from up the container and the transport platform during lowering or lifting of the container such that positions of the container and the lock pins are determined based on the measurement of the same optical detection devices.

A method and optical detection equipment for monitoring a container transfer device on lowering a container onto or lifting away from a transport platform. The container, its pin holes' position and the position of the lock pins of the transport platform are determined by the optical detection equipment, which includes a group of optical detection devices measuring obliquely from up the container and the transport platform during lowering or lifting of the container such that positions of the container and the lock pins are determined based on the measurement of the same optical detection devices.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a track that guides the delivery vehicles to/from the destination areas, which are positioned along the track. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a track that guides the delivery vehicles to/from the destination areas, which are positioned along the track. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.

An automated truck unloader (10) for unloading/unpacking product, such as boxes or cases, from trailers and containers is disclosed. In one embodiment, a mobile base structure provides a support framework for a drive subassembly, conveyance subassembly, an industrial robot (56), a distance measurement subassembly, and a control subassembly (62). Under the operation of the control subassembly, an industrial robot (56) having a suction cup-based gripper arm selectively removes boxes from the trailer and places the boxes on a powered transportation path (88). The control subassembly (62) coordinates the selective articulated movement of the industrial robot (56) and the activation of the drive subassembly based upon a perception-based robotic manipulation system.

A mobile lift caddy is configured to remove a vehicle from a primary lift while the vehicle is elevated above the workplace floor and then transport the vehicle to another location. The mobile lift caddy is dimensioned to fit between vertical lift posts of the primary lift. A mobility drive arrangement moves the caddy under operator control to and from the workplace location. Caddy lift arms are configured to accept a portion of removable lift pad assemblies at the lift arms of the primary lift, to lift out the lift pad assembly with the vehicle supported on the lift pads.