A distribution head of a gravimetric loading system for spreadable bulk materials with a rotatably driven spreader plate, which is composed of a bottom side base plate, which is connected in the central region with the one end of a drive shaft and on which a number of blades evenly distributed on the circumference and with their blade edges approximately in a radially outward direction is arranged. The blade edges of blades are interrupted in the direction of the central axial drive shaft and thus a ring channel extending in the axial direction and free from structures is formed, which channel forms an additional filling and receiving space for the bulk material to be distributed.

Asynchronous item delivery utilizes a depot and a mobile robot. A method includes (1) receiving a specification by a user of a destination depot and an item, (2) selecting, based on item delivery data and by a depot control system, a drawer from a rack module in a depot that houses drawers, (3) receiving the item from the user via the depot user interface, (4) communicating the item to the drawer within the rack module that houses drawers, communicating, from the depot and to a mobile robot, a message to pick up the item, (5) swapping a first battery on the mobile robot with a second batter charged by the depot, (6) transferring the item from the drawer in the depot to the mobile robot using a depot drawer-swapping module and a mobile robot drawer-swapping module and (7) delivering, by the mobile robot, the item to the destination depot.

A system allowing a wheelchair bound user to embark and disembark a vehicle without assistance. The user requests entry into the vehicle. The vehicle is manually or autonomously driven into a safe position for ingress. The vehicle checks if the area is clear to open the door. The vehicle autonomously opens the door. The vehicle verifies the person is wheelchair bound. If the passenger is wheelchair bound, then: the vehicle verifies if the area is clear to deploy an inclined ramp or lift. The vehicle deploys the inclined ramp or lift. The vehicle waits until the user is on top of the lift and starts lifting the wheelchair bound person. The vehicle waits until the user at the correct height and transitions from the lift/ramp into the securement station inside of the vehicle. The vehicle verifies that the wheelchair is properly positioned for securement. The vehicle secures the wheel chair.

A conveying device according to the present invention includes a first connection mechanism provided on an upper surface, a base member provided on the upper surface, a sliding mechanism that relatively and slidably moves a position of the first connection mechanism on a slide axis relative to the base member, and a traveling mechanism that makes the conveying device travel. The first connection mechanism is connected with a carriage at a predetermined connection position. The sliding mechanism slidably moves the first connection mechanism between the connection position and a predetermined conveyance position spaced away from the connection position on the slide axis in a state in which the first connection mechanism is connected with the carriage. The traveling mechanism makes the conveying device travel in a state in which the first connection mechanism is positioned in the conveyance position.

A dry granular material transfer system and method for transfer of granular material such as sand in a dry state through a hose using pressurized air. On a base platform, a conveyor subsystem moves granular material placed on a lower portion to a higher portion while separating clumped material and allowing rocks and debris to fall away, spreading the granular material in a thin layer for ejection at the highest level. A containment subsystem receives granular material and contains the downward fall of material. A portioning subsystem has a turntable with blow-through chambers which receive granular material and move into line with an air inflow tube and air-material outflow tube, and the air-material mixture is blown through the air-material outflow tube and through a transfer hose.

A train load-out arrangement having a hopper for operatively containing particulate material and includes a discharge chute with a controllable gate or valve via which the material is operatively dischargeable into ore wagons of a rail. The arrangement includes a first track scale arranged on the track distal from the discharge chute, as well as a second track scale arranged on the track directly underneath the discharge chute. Arrangement also includes a controller arranged in signal communication with the gate and track scales and configured to determine a first wagon axle weight-displacement profile via the first track scale and a second wagon axle weight-displacement profile via the second track scale as material is discharged into a wagon, and compare said first and second wagon axle weight-displacement profiles to produce a real-time noise-compensated wagon axle weight-displacement profile.

Asynchronous item delivery utilizes a depot and a mobile robot. A method includes (1) receiving a specification by a user of a destination depot and an item, (2) selecting, based on item delivery data and by a depot control system, a drawer from a rack module in a depot that houses drawers, (3) receiving the item from the user via the depot user interface, (4) communicating the item to the drawer within the rack module that houses drawers, communicating, from the depot and to a mobile robot, a message to pick up the item, (5) swapping a first battery on the mobile robot with a second batter charged by the depot, (6) transferring the item from the drawer in the depot to the mobile robot using a depot drawer-swapping module and a mobile robot drawer-swapping module and (7) delivering, by the mobile robot, the item to the destination depot.

A conveying device according to the present invention includes a first connection mechanism provided on an upper surface, a base member provided on the upper surface, a sliding mechanism that relatively and slidably moves a position of the first connection mechanism on a slide axis relative to the base member, and a traveling mechanism that makes the conveying device travel. The first connection mechanism is connected with a carriage at a predetermined connection position. The sliding mechanism slidably moves the first connection mechanism between the connection position and a predetermined conveyance position spaced away from the connection position on the slide axis in a state in which the first connection mechanism is connected with the carriage. The traveling mechanism makes the conveying device travel in a state in which the first connection mechanism is positioned in the conveyance position.

A distribution head (20) of a gravimetric loading system for spreadable bulk materials with a rotatably driven spreader plate (40), which is composed of a bottom side base plate (53), which is connected in the central region with the one end of a drive shaft (21) and on which a number of blades (33-35) evenly distributed on the circumference and with their blade edges (52) approximately in a radially outward direction is arranged, wherein the blade edges (52) of blades (33-35) are interrupted in the direction of the central axial drive shaft (21) and thus a ring channel (43) extending in the axial direction and free from structures is formed, which channel forms an additional filling and receiving space for the bulk material to be distributed.

A system allowing a wheelchair bound user to embark and disembark a vehicle without assistance. The user requests entry into the vehicle. The vehicle is manually or autonomously driven into a safe position for ingress. The vehicle checks if the area is clear to open the door. The vehicle autonomously opens the door. The vehicle verifies the person is wheelchair bound. If the passenger is wheelchair bound, then: the vehicle verifies if the area is clear to deploy an inclined ramp or lift. The vehicle deploys the inclined ramp or lift. The vehicle waits until the user is on top of the lift and starts lifting the wheelchair bound person. The vehicle waits until the user at the correct height and transitions from the lift/ramp into the securement station inside of the vehicle. The vehicle verifies that the wheelchair is properly positioned for securement. The vehicle secures the wheel chair.