Loading, securing, transporting, and/or depositing objects as well as systems, methods, and apparatuses for the same, including those that operate in automated or semi-automated fashion, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a mobile robotic platform is provided. The mobile robotic platform is designed to receive, transport, and deposit objects at desired destinations. In another embodiment, a flat transport surface, e.g., a pallet, is provided. The flat transport surface is designed to facilitate efficient loading, transport, and deposit of objects, e.g., between automated or semi-automated handling systems, in one aspect. In another embodiment, a system for handling objects is provided. The system is designed to support automated or semi-automated loading and/or unloading of objects, e.g., onto or from a mobile robotic platform, and may be implemented in a vehicle, in one aspect.

Loading, securing, transporting, and/or depositing objects as well as systems, methods, and apparatuses for the same, including those that operate in automated or semi-automated fashion, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a mobile robotic platform is provided. The mobile robotic platform is designed to receive, transport, and deposit objects at desired destinations. In another embodiment, a flat transport surface, e.g., a pallet, is provided. The flat transport surface is designed to facilitate efficient loading, transport, and deposit of objects, e.g., between automated or semi-automated handling systems, in one aspect. In another embodiment, a system for handling objects is provided. The system is designed to support automated or semi-automated loading and/or unloading of objects, e.g., onto or from a mobile robotic platform, and may be implemented in a vehicle, in one aspect.

A method for loading a container with packages, using a device having at least one guide. At least one hand element is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the guide, and is provided on the at least one guide. The hand element has a plurality of finger elements. The finger elements have at least two flexible flank elements extending together from one end of the finger element to the opposing end. The at least two flexible flank elements of the finger elements are flexibly connected together via a plurality of webs. The finger elements may be adjusted from at least one curved position into at least one extended position and back. The at least one hand element takes packages one after the other, and deposits the packages into the container in a stack. The hand element is displaced along the guide between the deposit of two successive packages.

An autonomous workhorse vehicle includes a main body including a platform to support a plurality of objects, a tracking sensor to detect a location of the main body relative to a leading vehicle, and an input/output port to receive an identifier of the leading vehicle. The autonomous workhorse vehicle further includes a power source to provide power to propel the main body, a steering actuator designed to adjust an orientation of the main body, and an ECU. The ECU is designed to receive the identifier of the leading vehicle. The ECU is further designed to determine a following time to begin following the leading vehicle. The ECU is further designed to control the power source and the steering actuator to move the main body to follow the leading vehicle at the following time based on the detected location of the main body relative to the leading vehicle.

An autonomous workhorse vehicle includes a main body including a platform to support a plurality of objects, a tracking sensor to detect a location of the main body relative to a leading vehicle, and an input/output port to receive an identifier of the leading vehicle. The autonomous workhorse vehicle further includes a power source to provide power to propel the main body, a steering actuator designed to adjust an orientation of the main body, and an ECU. The ECU is designed to receive the identifier of the leading vehicle. The ECU is further designed to determine a following time to begin following the leading vehicle. The ECU is further designed to control the power source and the steering actuator to move the main body to follow the leading vehicle at the following time based on the detected location of the main body relative to the leading vehicle.

A first control unit outputs, to a work machine including work equipment, a first control signal of moving the work equipment to a position above a loading point before a transport vehicle including a dump body reaches the loading point. A transmission unit transmits, to the transport vehicle, an accessing instruction to travel the transport vehicle such that the dump body is located at the loading point. A second control unit outputs a second control signal of controlling the work machine or the transport vehicle such that a deviation between a waiting position of the work equipment and a position of the dump body when the transport vehicle arrives at the loading point based on the accessing instruction becomes small. The waiting position is a position of the work equipment holding an excavation object and waiting based on the first control signal.

A first control unit outputs, to a work machine including work equipment, a first control signal of moving the work equipment to a position above a loading point before a transport vehicle including a dump body reaches the loading point. A transmission unit transmits, to the transport vehicle, an accessing instruction to travel the transport vehicle such that the dump body is located at the loading point. A second control unit outputs a second control signal of controlling the work machine or the transport vehicle such that a deviation between a waiting position of the work equipment and a position of the dump body when the transport vehicle arrives at the loading point based on the accessing instruction becomes small. The waiting position is a position of the work equipment holding an excavation object and waiting based on the first control signal.

A container measuring system includes a distance image acquiring part and a calculation part. The distance image acquiring part is provided on a working machine for performing a work of loading into a container, and is capable of acquiring a distance image of the container. The calculation part processes the distance image of the container acquired by the distance image acquiring part. The calculation part calculates a three-dimensional position of a flat face part constituting the container on the basis of the distance image of the container. The calculation part calculates three-dimensional information including a three-dimensional position and a three-dimensional shape of the container on the basis of the three-dimensional position of the flat face part.

A container measuring system includes a distance image acquiring part and a calculation part. The distance image acquiring part is provided on a working machine for performing a work of loading into a container, and is capable of acquiring a distance image of the container. The calculation part processes the distance image of the container acquired by the distance image acquiring part. The calculation part calculates a three-dimensional position of a flat face part constituting the container on the basis of the distance image of the container. The calculation part calculates three-dimensional information including a three-dimensional position and a three-dimensional shape of the container on the basis of the three-dimensional position of the flat face part.

The present disclosure envisages a mobile power storage, transport and distribution system (100). The system (100) comprises a plurality of storage container units (200), a plurality of energy storage elements (206), a power station (102), and loading means (111), and transportation means (105). The power station (102) is configured to generate electrical power and charge the plurality of energy storage elements (206). The loading means (111) is configured to load each of the storage container units (200). The transportation means (105) is configured to transport the storage container units (200) from the power station (102) to the power consumption centers (104) in need of power and a discharged storage container units (200) back to the power station (102) for recharging energy storage elements (206).