A roll-off tub style container is disclosed with the container having a floor with a forward end, a rearward end, a first side, a second side, an upper side and a lower side. The container has a front wall, a first side wall, a second side wall and a tail gate. The upper side of the floor has a plurality of elongated and horizontally spaced-apart rail members which are welded to the upper side of the floor. The rail members extend between the forward and rearward ends of the floor. In the preferred embodiment, the rail members are angle members which have an inverted V-shaped configuration. Rail members having different cross-sectional configurations may possibly be utilized. The rail members prevent materials in the container from freezing to the floor of the container and also act as slide members when the material in the container is being dumped therefrom.

A detachable modular mobile autonomy module (MAM) for a modular autonomous bot apparatus includes a housing with latching points, an autonomous controller, location circuitry, external sensors monitoring an environment external to the MAM and providing sensor data to the controller, multi-element light panels on the housing driven by the controller; and a modular component power and data bus. The bus has a bottom side modular component electronics interface disposed on the housing that mates to a corresponding interface on another proximately-attached modular component of the bot. The MAM receives sensor data from the external sensors, receives outside sensor data from additional sensors disposed on a mobility unit of the bot, generates steering and propulsion control output signals based on location data from the location circuitry, external sensor data, mobility unit sensor data, and destination information data maintained by the controller, and generates transport and delivery information for the light panels.

A detachable modular mobile autonomy module (MAM) for a modular autonomous bot apparatus includes a housing with latching points, an autonomous controller, location circuitry, external sensors monitoring an environment external to the MAM and providing sensor data to the controller, multi-element light panels on the housing driven by the controller; and a modular component power and data bus. The bus has a bottom side modular component electronics interface disposed on the housing that mates to a corresponding interface on another proximately-attached modular component of the bot. The MAM receives sensor data from the external sensors, receives outside sensor data from additional sensors disposed on a mobility unit of the bot, generates steering and propulsion control output signals based on location data from the location circuitry, external sensor data, mobility unit sensor data, and destination information data maintained by the controller, and generates transport and delivery information for the light panels.

A modular autonomous cart assembly for transporting an item being shipped is described with a sensor-equipped mobility base that carries the item(s), a modular cart handle, a sensor-equipped modular mobile cart autonomy control module detachably attached to the modular handle, all sharing a modular common power and data transport bus. The autonomous controller of the modular control module is programmatically adapted operative to establish a secure connection to a wireless mobile courier node, locate the courier node and the cart assembly, receive sensor data from the base and control module sensors, generate steering and propulsion control commands using the locations and sensor data and send them to a controller on the mobility base so that the assembly can autonomously track and follow the current location of the courier node as the courier node moves and while maintaining a predetermined follow distance from the current location of the courier node.

A modular autonomous cart assembly for transporting an item being shipped is described with a sensor-equipped mobility base that carries the item(s), a modular cart handle, a sensor-equipped modular mobile cart autonomy control module detachably attached to the modular handle, all sharing a modular common power and data transport bus. The autonomous controller of the modular control module is programmatically adapted operative to establish a secure connection to a wireless mobile courier node, locate the courier node and the cart assembly, receive sensor data from the base and control module sensors, generate steering and propulsion control commands using the locations and sensor data and send them to a controller on the mobility base so that the assembly can autonomously track and follow the current location of the courier node as the courier node moves and while maintaining a predetermined follow distance from the current location of the courier node.

A wheel adapter for connecting to a cargo container and providing the cargo container with rolling mobility. The wheel adapter includes an adapter body, one or more wheels rotatable with respect to the adapter body, and a container connector extending from the adapter body for connection to the cargo container. A pusher mechanism engages the adapter body and can be operated to move the adapter body relative to the wheel or wheels in order to vary the vertical placement of the wheel(s) in relation to the container connector. For example, the pusher mechanism can include a wheel-displacement bolt for translationally moving the wheel(s) upward and downward with respect to the container connector, and/or an airbag unit for pivoting the adapter body in relation to the wheel(s) and thus lowering or raising the wheel(s) with respect to the container connector.

A bulk fluid storage container includes a frame assembly having a lower rectangular frame, first and second wheel assemblies extending from opposite ends of the lower rectangular frame, and an upper rectangular frame member arranged in spaced relation to the lower rectangular frame member by a plurality of vertically extending posts. The bulk fluid storage container also includes a fluid storage vessel having first and second end walls held in spaced relation by first and second side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, which defines a fluid storage volume. A baffle assembly having a plurality of baffle plates is disposed in a space relationship in the fluid storage volume. The frame assembly provides an exoskeletal structure which surrounds the fluid storage vessel and is configured to support a second bulk fluid storage container in a vertically stacked relationship.

The present invention is directed to a shipping container configured to charge a plurality of power supplies associated with a plurality of aerosol delivery devices. The shipping container comprises at least one tray comprising at least one first charging interface configured to provide energy to the plurality of power supplies to charge the power supplies. In some embodiments, the at least one first charging interface is configured to wirelessly charge the plurality of power supplies. In other embodiments, the at least one first charging interface is configured to charge the plurality of power supplies via one or more physical connections. In some embodiments, the at least one first charging interface is configured to electrically couple to at least one local power storage unit. In some embodiments, the at least one first charging interface is configured to electrically couple to at least one external power source.

A transport container, featuring a bottom plate with at least two holes for accommodating means of attachment for affixing fixed, track, or swiveling casters, a plate (1) affixed from the inside to the bottom plate for affixing fixed, track, or swiveling casters on the bottom plate of the transport container. The mounting plate (1) features a base plate (2) with a contact surface (1a), which faces the inside of the transport container in its assembled state, for placement onto the transport container. At least two means of insertion (3) are evenly distributed along the perimeter of the base plate (2), which protrude with an insertion area (7) from the contact surface (1a) of the base plate (2) and which each respectively feature an internal thread (5) and/or an external thread for affixing of the fixed, track, and swiveling casters in or on the insertion area (7), wherein the means of insertion (3) are disposed in the holes of the bottom plate.

A modular auxiliary power module is described for a modular autonomous bot apparatus that transports an item being shipped. The modular auxiliary power module includes a base adapter platform, a cargo door, an auxiliary power source, and an output power outlet disposed on the base adapter platform as part of a modular component electronics interface. A top side of the base adapter platform has a cargo support area configured to support the item being shipped. Interlocking alignment interfaces (such as channels or latches) are on the top and bottom of the platform. The cargo door is movably attached to and extending from an edge of the base adapter platform, and the output power outlet is coupled to the auxiliary power source and provides access to power for other components of the modular autonomous bot apparatus from the auxiliary power source.