A motorized shopping trolley has a frame and two wheels which are driven by a drivetrain. A handle for pulling and/or pushing the trolley is provided with a force sensor which detects a force acting on the handle when being pulled or pushed. An inclination sensor detects a slope of the traveling surface and generates a slope signal. A load sensor detects a load weight of the trolley and generates a load signal. A step-detection sensor detects a step in a path of the trolley and generates a corresponding signal. A controller receives all pertinent signal from the sensors and generates a control signal for actuating the drivetrain such that the drivetrain produces a driving force corresponding to the force applied to the handle by a user.

A method of operating a payload-carrying vehicle having two laterally disposed wheels positioned along a central axis is described. The method includes measuring a force applied by a user to the hand truck, where the measured force comprising a direction and a magnitude, and providing torque to each wheel to cause each wheel to rotate in a respective direction as a function of the measured magnitude and direction. The amount of torque provided to each wheel in response to the force from the user is such that the magnitude of measured force applied by the user is not greater than a predetermined threshold value.

A mobile X-ray imaging apparatus has an angle sensor and a movement calculation circuit that controls the driving of drive wheels based on the turning angle of auxiliary wheels relative to a straight moving direction of the base unit when a fine movement switch instructs movement of the base unit in the fine movement mode. The turning angle of auxiliary wheels is detected by a turning angle sensor and the rotation of the pair of drive wheels is controlled by the movement calculation circuit as the auxiliary wheels turns to the straight moving direction.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for shopping cart power assist. A system comprises a pressure sensor device on a handle portion of a shopping cart, a power generator configured to generate power with a rotation of a wheel system of the shopping cart, a power storage device configured to be charged by the power generator, a motor configured to drive the wheel system, and a control circuit. The control circuit being configured to detect for pressure on the handle portion of the shopping cart based on the pressure sensor device, in an event that a forward pressure on the handle portion is below a threshold, cause the power generator to charge the power storage device, and in an event that the forward pressure on the handle portion exceeds the threshold, cause the motor to drive the wheel system to generate forward propulsion for the shopping cart.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein for tracking shopping cart activity. A system for tracking shopping cart activity comprises a shopping cart system comprises a power generator configured to generate power with a rotation of a wheel system of the shopping cart, a power storage device configured to be charged by the power generator, and a system connector configured to couple with a computer system to provide energy information associated with the charging of the power storage, the computer system comprising: a shopping cart connector configured to couple with the system connection to receive the energy information from the shopping cart system, and a control circuit configured to estimate a distance traveled by the shopping cart system based on the energy information.

The invention relates to a medical transport device for dependent persons. The invention also relates to an auxiliary drive for the motorised transportation of such a medical transport device for dependent persons according to the invention. The invention furthermore relates to a method for transporting such a medical transport device for dependent persons according to the invention.

An electrically driven moving vehicle includes a main body on which an article to be transported is loaded, and a handle provided on one side of the main body. A pair of force sensor units are provided in the handle. A force applied by a user is sensed by the pair of force sensor units to control the operation of electric motors. The user can operate the electrically driven moving vehicle while holding a position convenient for the user rather than a specific position of the handle. In addition, the user can conveniently operate the electrically driven moving vehicle with only one hand, without using both hands.

An assisted propulsion system, method and chassis for conveying a payload along a surface are described. A plurality of wheels disposed about the chassis support it on the surface. A drive provides at least assisted propulsion to the chassis along the surface. At least a driving part of the drive is connected to the chassis via a mount having a resiliently sprung link. At least the driving part of the drive has a fixed orientation and is moveable independently of the chassis and the plurality of wheels in a direction towards the surface. The resiliently sprung link is arranged to direct at least the driving part onto the surface during provision of the assisted propulsion. A sensor is arranged to monitor acceleration of the drive and to communicate data on acceleration to a controller, which controls operation of the drive in dependence on the data received from the sensor.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for operating robots in an assisted drive mode are disclosed. An example robot includes a body; at least one motor carried by the body; a handle; at least one strain sensor coupled to the handle; and circuitry to determine a measure of force applied to the handle based on one or more outputs of the at least one strain sensor; and cause the at least one motor to generate an output during the application of force to the handle to cause the robot to move responsive to the force applied to the handle based on the measure.

A power assist system for a wagon is provided. The power assist system provides a rotational force to one or more drive wheels under certain conditions to provide propulsion for the wagon. The power assist wagon preferably includes a drive system for providing the rotational force to the drive wheel, a control system for determining when the drive system should be activated and how much propulsion assist to provide to the drive wheel, and a power system for providing power to the drive system. The power assist wagon may also have a safety cut-off system to preclude the drive system from providing a rotational force to the drive wheel 16 even when the system is in the on mode.