Methods and systems are provided for operation of a lifting mechanism coupled to a mobility service vehicle. In one example, a method may include, during an engine idle-stop, in response to a request for operation of a lifting mechanism used by mobility devices to access the vehicle, the transmission may be shifted to park, an electronic braking system may be enabled, and the engine may be restarted to provide power for operation of the lifting mechanism.

A dual hinged, diamond-steel plate structured and arranged to swing to cover the gap between a truck or trailer's floor and its lift-gate thereby eliminating the gap in between the trailer floor and lift gate to make loading and unloading the truck trailer a much easier and smoother operation.

A loading/unloading device for delivering an item(s) to be delivered. The loading/unloading device includes an outer nested track; an inner nested track nested within the outer nested track; a curved generally U-shaped guide track nested within the inner nested track; and a movable trolley accommodated and movable along the curved generally U-shaped guide track. A drive motor being is supported by a first end of the curved generally U-shaped guide track for conveying the movable trolley back and forth along the curved generally U-shaped guide track for loading and unloading the item(s) to be delivered. A delivery vehicle, including at least one loading/unloading device for delivering the item(s) to be delivered, is also disclosed.

Embodiments provide shelves, bracket systems, automated picker robots, totes, and other features that may be used with delivery vehicle configurations that have automated cargo areas. A delivery vehicle may include a picking robot that selectively retrieves packages for delivery without requiring substantial human intervention for locating those packages. The cargo area of the delivery vehicle may further comprise a plurality of customizable shelving units that generate custom-sized shelves for packages. The shelves may include a plurality of individually movable shelf brackets having retaining members that pivot between an extended and retracted position to hold the package in place and to enable the picking robot to retrieve the package from the shelf. Another embodiment provides for a tote having a drive mechanism to hold letters so that a letter may be automatically retrieved from the cargo arear and provided at a delivery location.

The trailer generally has a wheeled frame with a coupling at a front end thereof, a moveable component, a power unit driving the movement of the moveable component, the power unit including an electrical motor and a capacitor pack, the capacitor pack being connected for powering the electrical motor, and being connectable to a DC electrical source.

Loading, shifting, and staging objects in automated or semi-automated fashion including systems, methods, and apparatuses for the same. The embodiments hereof enable automated and/or semi-automated loading, shifting, organizing, staging, and accessing of objects in different environments, e.g., those associated with a logistics network operation. For example, one such environment is a vehicle. In one aspect, a loading mechanism is used to load objects into a storage space of the vehicle. In another aspect, a shifting mechanism is used to shift objects in a storage space of the vehicle. In another aspect, a door assembly allows for automated opening and closing of a door into a storage space of a vehicle. In addition, methods of manufacturing and using the same are provided.

Embodiments provide shelves, bracket systems, automated picker robots, totes, and other features that may be used with delivery vehicle configurations that have automated cargo areas. A delivery vehicle may include a picking robot that selectively retrieves packages for delivery without requiring substantial human intervention for locating those packages. The cargo area of the delivery vehicle may further comprise a plurality of customizable shelving units that generate custom-sized shelves for packages. The shelves may include a plurality of individually movable shelf brackets having retaining members that pivot between an extended and retracted position to hold the package in place and to enable the picking robot to retrieve the package from the shelf. Another embodiment provides for a tote having a drive mechanism to hold letters so that a letter may be automatically retrieved from the cargo arear and provided at a delivery location.

A lift for transferring a user to and from a vehicle, the lift including a lift platform for receiving the user, the lift platform being arcuately movable between a first position and a second position; a vertical arm coupled to the lift platform, the vertical arm having a profile that is progressively convex along the entire length of the vertical arm; and a pair of parallel arms extending from the vertical arm, wherein each of the parallel arms is pivotally coupled to a bracket mounted to the vehicle; wherein the vertical arm has a generally U-shaped cross-section that forms a channel configured to receive at least a portion of the pair of parallel arms.

Loading, shifting, and staging objects in automated or semi-automated fashion including systems, methods, and apparatuses for the same. The embodiments hereof enable automated and/or semi-automated loading, shifting, organizing, staging, and accessing of objects in different environments, e.g., those associated with a logistics network operation. For example, one such environment is a vehicle. In one aspect, a loading mechanism is used to load objects into a storage space of the vehicle. In another aspect, a shifting mechanism is used to shift objects in a storage space of the vehicle. In another aspect, a door assembly allows for automated opening and closing of a door into a storage space of a vehicle. In addition, methods of manufacturing and using the same are provided.

Methods and systems are provided for operation of a lifting mechanism coupled to a mobility service vehicle. In one example, a method may include, during an engine idle-stop, in response to a request for operation of a lifting mechanism used by mobility devices to access the vehicle, the transmission may be shifted to park, an electronic braking system may be enabled, and the engine may be restarted to provide power for operation of the lifting mechanism.