Systems, methods, and apparatuses for controlling objects being loaded or unloaded from a storage structure or vehicle, such as a trailer. In example embodiments, a plurality of parcels may be stored in or on a trailer that is attached to a cab of a delivery vehicle. Upon arrival at a deposit location, the trailer loaded with the one or more parcels may be removably secured to a an adjustable platform designed to be raised to a predetermined angle for unloading of the one or more parcels. Once the adjustable platform is raised to the predetermined angle, a plurality of adjustable dividing mechanisms may be configured to pivot, allowing for the movement of a controlled volume of the one or more parcels onto the receiving platform.

A vehicle leveler includes a first portion which has a leading edge and a trailing edge; the trailing edge is disposed further from the driveway than the leading edge. The vehicle leveler also includes a second portion which has a leading edge and a trailing edge; the leading edge of the second portion is attached to the trailing edge of the first portion and the leading edge of the second portion is disposed further from the driveway than the trailing edge of the second portion. The second portion also includes an extension portion. The vehicle leveler also includes opposing side portions which extend the length of and contact the second portion and extension portion, the opposing side portions have a top surface which forms a walkway. A freestanding unitary vehicle wheel guide with a walkway is adjacent to the opposing side portions.

According to a method for transferring a cargo from a cargo receiving portion of a vehicle onto a cargo take-up station, the vehicle is controlled by a vehicle control unit such that the vector of the velocity of the vehicle is modified immediately before, or upon its arrival at the cargo take-up station and the vehicle is oriented by the vehicle control unit and/or by at least one guide system positioned in the region of the cargo take-up station before the arrival of the vehicle at the cargo take-up station, such that the trajectory of the cargo that is moving away from the cargo receiving portion as a result of the modification in the velocity vector, ends at a receiving region of the cargo take-up station.

The present invention provides for a genetically modified host cell capable of producing isopentenol and/or 3-methyl-3-butenol, comprising (a) an increased expression of phosphomevalonate decarboxylase (PMD) (b) an increased expression of a phosphatase capable of converting isopentenol into 3-methyl-3-butenol, (c) optionally the genetically modified host cell does not express, or has a decreased expression of one or more of NudB, phosphomevalonate kinase (PMK), and/or PMD, and (d) optionally one or more further enzymes capable of converting isopentenol and/or 3-methyl-3-butenol into a third compound, such as isoprene.

Loading dock signal light change indicator apparatuses and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include a light sensor that detects a change from illumination of a red signal light to illumination of a green signal light from a loading dock signal light assembly, and that generates one or more detection signals in response to that detected change. The apparatus may additionally include a transmitter that transmits one or more wireless signals in response to the one or more light sensor signals, and a receiver that receives the one or more wireless signals from the transmitter. The apparatus may further include an audio/visual device that generates one or more audio or visual outputs in response to the receiver receiving the one or more wireless signals, wherein the audio/visual device is separate and distinct from the loading dock signal light assembly.

The device includes a first portion which has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the trailing edge is disposed further from the driveway than the leading edge. The embodiment also includes a second portion which has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge of the second portion is removably attached to the trailing edge of the first portion and the leading edge of the second portion is disposed further from the driveway than the trailing edge of the second portion. The second portion also includes an extension portion. The first portion and second portion are separate from each other until they are removably attached by a connection apparatus. The device also includes opposing side portions which extend the length of and contact the second portion and extension portion, the opposing side portions having a top surface which forms a walkway.

A system for moving payloads is described. It uses one or more mobile robots. Each mobile robot comprises a payload bearing platform with a transfer mechanism with multiple degrees of freedom of movement. The system includes one or more stack exchangers having a set of alignment mechanisms, and at least one payload transfer ramp. The mobile robots pass through the stack exchanger and pick up a payload or drop off a payload.

A vehicle leveler includes a first portion having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the trailing edge is disposed further from the driveway than the leading edge. The vehicle leveler also includes a second portion which has a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge of the second portion is removably attached to the trailing edge of the first portion and the leading edge of the second portion is disposed further from the driveway than the trailing edge of the second portion. The second portion also includes an extension portion which extends from the trailing edge of the second portion toward a rear of the leveler and includes a substantially flat section disposed about parallel with the substantially flat driveway. The first portion and second portion are separate from each other until they are removably attached by a connection apparatus.

Enclosure assemblies for managing air flow. Such assemblies include an enclosure and at least one inclined pathway in contact with the enclosure, each pathway including a pair of side wall portions and a top wall portion that collectively extend between spaced apart openings to define an air mass. One opening having a lower boundary and the other opening having an upper boundary, with the lower boundary being at an elevation higher than that of the upper boundary, such that when a temperature differential exists within a given pathway, warmer air will be trapped in an upper portion of the air mass and above the upper boundary, thereby impeding air flow from the enclosure.

A concrete truck or cement tanker truck alignment system with a loading station having a discharge chute, an electronic sensor that sees through dust or an environmental dust shield, and provides location information used to determine a hopper offset. The hopper offset is a measurement of the physical offset between a feed hopper on the truck and the discharge chute. The system may further include an alignment feedback unit that provides feedback based on the hopper offset. The alignment feedback unit may indicate the hopper offset is within an alignment tolerance. The sensor may use radar. The alignment feedback unit may provide auditory or graphical feedback. The graphical feedback may show a discharge icon representing the position of the discharge chute and a hopper icon representing the feed hopper where the location of the hopper icon is relative to the discharge chute based on the hopper offset.