An example system includes an aerial vehicle, a sensor, and a winch system. The winch system includes a tether disposed on a spool, a motor operable to apply a torque to the tether, and a payload coupling apparatus coupled to the tether and configured to mechanically couple to a payload. The system also includes a repositioning apparatus configured to reposition the payload coupling apparatus in at least a horizontal direction. A control system is configured to control the aerial vehicle to deploy the payload coupling apparatus by unwinding the tether from the spool; receive, while the aerial vehicle hovers above the payload and from the sensor, data indicative of a position of the payload coupling apparatus in relation to the payload; and reposition, using the repositioning apparatus and based on the data, the payload coupling apparatus in the horizontal direction to mechanically couple to the payload.

An improvement to a semi-autonomous apparatus is described herein. In an apparatus having a gantry subassembly, a tram subassembly movably mounted on the gantry subassembly, and an actuation subassembly mounted on the tram subassembly, the improvement includes a gripper subassembly operatively connected to the actuation subassembly. The movement of the subassemblies is controlled in part by a control system that controls drive systems associated with one or more of the subassemblies. The gantry subassembly includes a bridge member for laterally spanning a selected section of a work site. The tram subassembly includes a tram that travels laterally along to the bridge member. The actuation subassembly includes at least one motion actuator for controlling the movement of the gripper subassembly in a generally vertical direction and may include an additional motion actuator for movement in a generally horizontal direction. The gripper subassembly includes passively actuated grippers for lifting, transporting and placing objects, and particularly, elongate objects such as reinforcing bars used in road and other cementitious surface construction.

A method for lifting a tank car is provided. The method can include positioning a lifting apparatus above a tank car, pulling at least one of the first arm and the second arm outward to place the lifting apparatus in an open configuration, lowering the lifting apparatus in the open configuration to surround a tank of the tank car, connecting the second end of the first arm to a first tank car support, connecting the second and of the second arm to a second tank car support, and raising the lifting apparatus to lift the tank car.

Disclosed are an automatic continuous operation robot for laying large-diameter pipelines and an operating method therefor. The operation robot comprises a platform, a main frame (1), an operation room, a navigation subsystem (1002), a pipe grabbing and conveying subsystem (3), a pipe end face pre-treatment subsystem (4), an on-line measurement subsystem, a pipe supporting subsystem, a welding and welding quality inspection subsystem (5), and a control system. The operating method comprises: first detecting and grabbing a pipe, then performing groove machining on the pipe, fitting the welding end faces of the current pipe and a previous pipe, then putting down the pipe, finely adjusting and fixedly connecting the two pipes, and finally, welding the two pipes. The automatic continuous operation robot for laying large-diameter pipelines has a high degree of automation and high working efficiency, and the laying period is short.

A grabbing device having a plurality of jaws which can be moved between an open position and a closed position to enable the device to grasp an object(s). The technology finds particular application in the forestry industry and moving logs.

An example system includes an aerial vehicle, a sensor, and a winch system. The winch system includes a tether disposed on a spool, a motor operable to apply a torque to the tether, and a payload coupling apparatus coupled to the tether and configured to mechanically couple to a payload. The system also includes a repositioning apparatus configured to reposition the payload coupling apparatus in at least a horizontal direction. A control system is configured to control the aerial vehicle to deploy the payload coupling apparatus by unwinding the tether from the spool; receive, while the aerial vehicle hovers above the payload and from the sensor, data indicative of a position of the payload coupling apparatus in relation to the payload; and reposition, using the repositioning apparatus and based on the data, the payload coupling apparatus in the horizontal direction to mechanically couple to the payload.

Aspects of the present disclosure related to lifting apparatuses and methods for attaching and lifting a load, including for example a lifting apparatus that includes an outer sleeve with first and second openings, an inner unit that has a chamber, a first shear pin, a second shear pin, and an actuation device along with a bar that is positioned within and movable within a track. The bar may also include a projection sized and shaped to engage with a guide in a surface of the outer sleeve. In an unlocked position the first and second shear pins may be disengaged from the first and second openings in the outer sleeve such that the outer sleeve may move relative to the inner unit.

The invention provides a mechanical bar conveying device consisting of a horizontal travel limiting device (1), a vertical axis servo reducer (2), a vertical descent depth detector (3), a vertical axis travelling mechanism (4), a horizontal axis servo reducer (5), a horizontal drive gear (6), a horizontal tow chain (7), a horizontal moving mechanism (8), a manipulator torque detector (9), a safety detection mechanism (10), a main frame (11), a horizontal frame (12), a vertical movement mechanism (16), a tow chain bracket (17), a tow chain (18), a vertical rack-and-pinion mechanism (19), a horizontal linear guide track (20), a vertical beam (21), a claw clamping mechanism (22), a claw ball screw (23), a manipulator servo reducer (24), a manipulator depth detector (25), and a claw and travel limiting combined mechanism (26). The device realizes automatic conveying of bars, and avoids the problems of manual conveying process, such as high environmental temperature, large intensity, low work efficiency and high risk of industrial accidents.

A method for lifting a tank car is provided. The method can include positioning a lifting apparatus above a tank car, pulling at least one of the first arm and the second arm outward to place the lifting apparatus in an open configuration, lowering the lifting apparatus in the open configuration to surround a tank of the tank car, connecting the second end of the first arm to a first tank car support, connecting the second and of the second arm to a second tank car support, and raising the lifting apparatus to lift the tank car.

A tank car lifting apparatus is provided. The lifting apparatus can include a spreader beam, a first arm rotatably connected to the spreader beam, a second arm rotatably connected to the spreader beam, and a synchronizing linkage to synchronize movement of the first arm and the second arm such that the first arm and the second arm move at the same time.