A cart adapted to be attached to and carried by a vehicle with a receiver[define receiver to include attachments], comprising: a cart body; a connector attached to the body; four arms, each pivotably attached at a first end to the body; four wheels, each connected to a second end of one of the four arms; four arm actuators, each configured to pivot one of the four arms such that each wheel can be moved closer to or further away from the body; a controller; and at least two motors, each configured to rotate one wheel, each independently controlled by the controller; wherein the connector is adapted to mechanically engage the receiver; whereby the controller can move the cart and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the wheels; wherein the controller can adjust the height of the cart, the pitch of the cart, and the roll of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arms; and whereby the cart is hitched to the vehicle such that the weight of the cart is born by the vehicle is disclosed.

A protective arrangement for an electric vehicle charging system includes a floor unit forming a recess and a linkage disposed in the recess. The linkage is extendable from the recess from a stowed position to an extended position. A cleaning device is disposed to discourage accumulation of debris into the recess and on the linkage when the linkage is in the stowed position.

A system for charging a battery carried by a vehicle may include a charging box for coupling to a vehicle chassis and including interface electrical contacts electrically coupled to the battery. The system may also include a charge coupler including coupler electrical contacts for electrically coupling to the interface electrical contacts from under the vehicle and configured to be coupled to an electrical power supply. The charging box may include an interface activation surface, and the charge coupler may include a housing for enclosing the coupler electrical contacts and including a base for supporting the coupler electrical contacts, a coupler activation surface opposite the base, an opening, and a door configured to open the opening to expose the coupler electrical contacts as the interface activation surface contacts the coupler activation surface and moves the coupler activation surface toward the base.

A method, apparatus, and system for modifying acceleration characteristics of an electric vehicle is disclosed. A persistent input throttle command signal that starts at a first time instant is received at a vehicle control system of a first vehicle that is a first type vehicle. A transformed throttle command signal is generated based on the persistent input throttle signal and a present time at the vehicle control system. An engine operation of the first vehicle is controlled based on the transformed throttle command signal at the vehicle control system. Controlling the engine operation of the first vehicle based on the transformed throttle command signal causes the engine power output of the first vehicle to be associated with a second acceleration performance curve that is associated with a second type vehicle.

A method for the exchange of electrical energy between at least two moving, electrically powered vehicles, comprising the steps: providing a first and a second electrically powered vehicle, having a respective electrical energy store, the energy store of the first and the second vehicle can emit or receive electrical energy, and the first and second vehicles move or are to be moved along a first or second route; changing the first and second routes in such a way that both changed routes coincide along a route section; steering the first and second vehicle along the changed first and second route in such a way that both the vehicles move along the coinciding route section at a distance to one another that is smaller than a predefined maximum distance; and transferring electrical energy from the energy store of the first vehicle to the energy store of the second vehicle.

A robotic work tool system (200) comprising a charging station (210) and a robotic work tool (100) configured to work within a work area (205) being divided into at least one section (405), the robotic work tool comprising a controller (110) for controlling the operation of the robotic work tool (100) to cause the robotic work tool to move along a trajectory, the robotic work tool (100) being configured to determine that a section boundary is encountered, and if so change the trajectory of the robotic work tool (100) to cause the robotic work tool to remain in the section.

A charging station is adapted to charge a robot. The robot has been in communication pairing with the charging station in advance. The charging station includes a body, a charging device, a control device and an alignment device. The charging device is arranged on the body and is adapted to connect to the robot. The control device is in communication connection with the robot and is in electric connection with the charging device and is provided with a sensing unit. The control device is adapted to enable the charging device to charge the robot after the sensing unit senses the robot. The alignment device is connected to the body and is adapted to align the robot with the charging station. Whereby, the robot is charged and position deviation of the robot during charging is prevented or electric shock accidents are prevented.

An inspection robot incudes a robot body, at least two sensors, a drive module, a stability assist device and an actuator. The at least two sensors are positioned to interrogate an inspection surface and are communicatively coupled to the robot body. The drive module includes at least two wheels that engage the inspection surface. The drive module is coupled to the robot body. The stability assist device is coupled to at least one of the robot body or the drive module. The actuator is coupled to the stability assist device at a first end, and coupled to one of the drive module or the robot body at a second end. The actuator is structured to selectively move the stability assist device between a first position and a second position. The first position includes a stored position. The second position includes a deployed position.

A battery management and monitoring system integrated in a battery pack configured for use in electric aircraft. The system includes a sensor suite configured to measure a plurality of battery pack data. The system includes a battery monitoring component configured to detect a first fault in the battery pack and produce a first fault detection response notifying a user of the first fault in the battery pack. The system includes a battery management component configured to detect a second fault in the battery pack and produce a second fault detection response configured to mitigate the second fault in the battery pack. The system includes an interlock component having a first mode and a second mode, configured to enable the battery monitoring component and disable the battery management component when in the first mode and enable the battery management component and disable the battery monitoring component when in the second mode.

A charging system for an autonomous rover includes a charging interface with contacts that interface with the autonomous rover, a rover power source for the autonomous rover, and circuitry operated by the autonomous rover for controlling charging of the rover power source.