A loading lockout system which takes an image of a vessel, recognizes the receiving opening of the vessel, and prevents the loading of material into the vessel until it determines that the discharge footprint of the material storage device is within the receiving opening of the vessel.

Provided is a conveyance system for an object and for conveying the object to a container mounted on a chassis of a trailer. The conveyance system includes a jack device that lifts the chassis from below, and a stage device arranged behind the jack device. The stage device includes a conveyance body on which the object is placed and conveyed, a stage on which the conveyance body travels, a mobile body supporting the stage and capable of movement in a front-back direction of the chassis, and a jack mechanism provided to the mobile body and that raises the stage from below to lift or lower the stage. The mobile body moves forward and the jack mechanism lowers the stage while the jack device raises the chassis, and the conveyance body travels on floor faces of the stage and the container in this state to convey the object to the container.

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 system and method are provided for automated engaging of a truck trailer at a loading dock. Sensors measure a distance and an angle of alignment between the incoming trailer and a wall of the loading dock. An outside lighting system guides a truck driver backing the trailer toward the dock door. A vehicle restraint system fixates the trailer within the loading dock in response to signals from the sensors. An overhead dock door opens once the trailer is successfully fixated by the vehicle restraint system. A dock leveler deploys after the overhead dock door opens. An inside dock light indicates to dock personnel that the trailer is ready to be serviced. Once servicing of the trailer is finished, an automated release of the trailer from the loading dock may be initiated by PLC communication.

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.

A system for positioning a vehicle chassis in which tires are mounted on an axle associated with the chassis is provided. The system includes first and second tire guides spaced apart from one another in which the first and second tire guides are configured to opposedly face one another. The system further includes tire guide sections joined to form each of the first and second tire guides. Each tire guide section is adjustable within a range such that a distance between opposing tire guide sections may be adjusted. The tire guide sections are adjusted based on the position of the tires mounted on the axle associated with the chassis.

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 transportation control system, a transportation device, and a transportation control method related to an automated transportation control method are used to provide automated transportation between platforms which are not interconnected. The transportation control method includes receiving a sensed signal which corresponds to a location of a transportation platform, generating a first motion command according to the sensed signal, transmitting the first motion command to a controller which controls the transportation platform, sensing a location of the transportation platform from different sensing locations to generate the sensed signal, transmitting the sensed signal through a network, and controlling the transportation platform to move by the controller in response to the first motion command.

A system and method are provided for automated engaging of a truck trailer at a loading dock. Sensors measure a distance and an angle of alignment between the incoming trailer and a wall of the loading dock. An outside lighting system guides a truck driver backing the trailer toward the dock door. A vehicle restraint system fixates the trailer within the loading dock in response to signals from the sensors. An overhead dock door opens once the trailer is successfully fixated by the vehicle restraint system. A dock leveler deploys after the overhead dock door opens. An inside dock light indicates to dock personnel that the trailer is ready to be serviced. Once servicing of the trailer is finished, an automated release of the trailer from the loading dock may be initiated by PLC communication.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for engaging, lifting, and moving objects such as wheeled cargo trailers are provided. In one embodiment, a mobile apparatus includes a transport mechanism, a frame, and one or more lift assemblies. The lift assemblies may be adjusted using one or more attached actuators that position the lift assemblies and/or components thereof for engaging and lifting an object. The transport mechanism may be autonomously operated. A vision system may be used to locate and identify objects and/or guide the mobile apparatus into position to engage and lift the objects. An adapter for a pneumatic braking system of a wheeled cargo trailer is also provided. The adapter provides a pneumatic attachment for a pressurized air source that is separate from a glad hands connector attached to the braking system.