A cart adapted to be attached to and carried by a vehicle with a receiver[define receiver to include attachments], comprising: a cart body; a connector attached to the body; four arms, each pivotably attached at a first end to the body; four wheels, each connected to a second end of one of the four arms; four arm actuators, each configured to pivot one of the four arms such that each wheel can be moved closer to or further away from the body; a controller; and at least two motors, each configured to rotate one wheel, each independently controlled by the controller; wherein the connector is adapted to mechanically engage the receiver; whereby the controller can move the cart and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the wheels; wherein the controller can adjust the height of the cart, the pitch of the cart, and the roll of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arms; and whereby the cart is hitched to the vehicle such that the weight of the cart is born by the vehicle is disclosed.

Apparatuses, components and methods are provided herein useful to provide assistance to customers and/or workers in a shopping facility. In some embodiments, a shopping facility personal assistance system comprises: a plurality of motorized transport units located in and configured to move through a shopping facility space; a plurality of user interface units, each corresponding to a respective motorized transport unit during use of the respective motorized transport unit; and a central computer system having a network interface such that the central computer system wirelessly communicates with one or both of the plurality of motorized transport units and the plurality of user interface units, wherein the central computer system is configured to control movement of the plurality of motorized transport units through the shopping facility space based at least on inputs from the plurality of user interface units.

This application describes systems, devices, computer readable media, and methods for the function and operation of robotic carts. A robotic cart may include a base component configured for the receipt of a payload, a battery unit, and a mobility apparatus. The robotic cart may include a handlebar component coupled with the base component. The handlebar unit may include a sensor unit configured to transmit a hand detection message when the handlebar unit is grasped by one or more hands and to transmit a force direction message indicating a two-dimensional direction associated with a directional force applied by one or more hands. The robotic cart may be configured to map the area around it and to autonomously move the robotic cart along a path to perform a task.

A tactical transport cart manually navigable over both topographic and hydrographic terrains has a frame, a payload support on the frame, a hard point of attachment or connection on the frame or the payload support, a pair of wheels or other terrain-engaging transport propulsion members attached to the frame, a handle structure attached to the frame, at least one motor connected in driving relation to the transport propulsion members, a battery for providing motive power to the motor, and a control device connected between the battery and the motor for controlling supply of motive power to the motor. The frame, transport propulsion members and handle structure are cooperatively dimensioned and configured for movement of the cart over ground surfaces of topographic terrains and for partially and fully submerged movement over water-covered surfaces of hydrographic terrains.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to transporting containers using an autonomous dolly. Some of these embodiments include systems for transporting containers along delivery paths comprising: an autonomous dolly having a microcontroller and a support portion configured to carry a plurality of containers; a mobile device with a microcontroller in communication with the microcontroller of the dolly; and one or more sensors in communication with the mobile device, the one or more sensors and mobile device configured to triangulate the location of the mobile device; wherein the dolly's microcontroller is configured to receive tracking information from the mobile device's microcontroller and to cause the dolly to follow the mobile device along a delivery path defined by movement of the mobile device from a starting point to an ending point.

A motorized, voice-activated ‘smart’ mobile workstation incorporating casters, a base support member, a work surface with height-adjustment feature, a power source for recharging electronic devices held on the mobile workstation, a power cord which plugs into an electrical wall outlet for recharging of mobile workstation, and a battery which extends the operation of the mobile workstation while the mobile workstation is not plugged into an electrical wall outlet. The mobile workstation further includes a motor which gives the mobile workstation rotational energy, smart technology which comprises a computerized ‘brain’ which helps humans communicate with the mobile workstation by giving simple voice commands, which control the directional and elevational movement of the mobile workstation. A remote control apparatus powers on and off the mobile workstation and is also an alternative means for controlling the directional and elevational movement of the mobile workstation. Further included are sensors which include collision avoidance capabilities.

A motorized cart assembly includes a cart that has a basket, a collapsible frame and a plurality of wheels. The basket has a height that is greater than a width of the basket to accommodate tent poles and a tent. The frame includes a pole support for insertably receiving a respective one of the tent poles to vertically orient the respective tent pole. A drive unit is coupled to the cart and the drive unit is in mechanical communication with respective ones of the wheels. The drive unit rotates the respective wheels when the drive unit is turned on thereby facilitating the cart to be self propelled. The drive unit is in wireless communication with a personal electronic device for remotely controlling the drive unit.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for use in monitoring product placement within a shopping facility. Some embodiments provide an apparatus configured to determine product placement conditions within a shopping facility, comprising: a transceiver configured to wirelessly receive communications; a product monitoring control circuit coupled with the transceiver; a memory coupled with the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to: obtain a composite three-dimensional (3D) scan mapping corresponding to at least a select area of the shopping facility and based on a series of 3D scan data; evaluate the 3D scan mapping to identify multiple product depth distances; and identify, from the evaluation of the 3D scan mapping, when one or more of the multiple product depth distances is greater than a predefined depth distance threshold from the reference offset distance of the product support structure.

A container transporter systems, vehicle, and methods are disclosed. The container transporter can be automatically or manually controlled allowing for ease of use in moving a coupled container. The container transporter can be used with virtually any container, such as a refuse container. The automatic movement of the container transporter can assist users with time constrains or physical constraints in moving their refuse for pickup.

A guiding vehicle (100) for an intralogistics system, wherein the guiding vehicle (100) is remote controlled or autonomous and configured to be connected to a self-propelled load bearing cart (200), and guide and control the propulsion of the self-propelled load bearing cart (200) such that the self-propelled load bearing cart (200) can transport a load in the intralogistics system. The guiding vehicle (100) comprising a mechanical connector (170) for mechanically connecting the guiding vehicle (100) to the self-propelled load bearing cart (200) and a connector for transferring data. The guiding vehicle (100) is configured to receive navigation data from the self-propelled load bearing cart (200), using the connector for transferring data, in the form of information concerning the movement of a drive wheel of the self-propelled load bearing cart (200) obtained from at least one motor of the self-propelled load bearing cart (200) or from at least one encoder connected to the drive wheel. And wherein the guiding vehicle (100) is smaller than the self-propelled load bearing cart (200).