A vehicle moving device for moving a vehicle from a first location to a second location includes a frame having a first end and a second end. A driving wheel is coupled to the first end of the frame and configured to contact a vehicle wheel at a first wheel location. A holding arm is coupled to the second end of the frame opposite the driving wheel and configured to contact the vehicle wheel at a second wheel location. The holding arm holds the vehicle wheel in contact with the driving wheel as the driving wheel rotates the vehicle wheel.

A platoon of electric pallets (e-pallets) includes a follower e-pallet connected to or in wireless communication with a leader e-pallet. The platoon also includes a sensor suite, road wheels, an electric powertrain system, and a local controller. The sensor suite includes a velocity sensor configured to measure a velocity of the follower e-pallet, an angle sensor configured to measure an azimuth angle between the follower and leader e-pallets, and a length or distance sensor configured to measure a distance therebetween. The local controller executes a method to adaptively move a variable target point (VTP) on the leader pallet in response to the velocity, the azimuth angle, and the length, and to thereafter control a dynamic output state of the electric powertrain system using the VTP.

A riding vehicle includes: a main body portion supporting a wheel; a seat stay erected on the main body portion and configured to be switched between a riding state in which a person rides and a cart state in which a person does not ride; a seat fixed to an upper side of the seat stay; a frame provided on the seat stay and configured to hold luggage in the riding state and the cart state; a steering stay erected on the main body portion at an interval with respect to the seat stay in a traveling direction; and a handle provided on the steering stay, in which the frame, in the cart state, exists in a region closer to the handle as compared with that in the riding state.

A self-propelled cart comprising: a body having a generally rectangular prism shape with a top, bottom, front end, rear end, and two sides, the body further comprising: a battery compartment, and a utility platform comprising a plurality of connecting features for releasable attachment of one or more components to the platform; a rechargeable battery housed in the battery compartment; a controller; four arms having a first end and a second end, each pivotally attached at the first end to the body; four wheels, each connected to the 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; and at least two motors powered by the battery, each configured to rotate one of the four wheels, each independently controlled by the controller, whereby the controller can move the cart and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the four wheels; at least one sensor for determining the pitch of the cart in communication with the controller, whereby the controller is able to adjust the height of the cart and the pitch of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arm actuators is disclosed.

A cargo carrier for mounting on a mobile cart, comprising: a base configured to be releasably attached to a top surface of the mobile cart; first and second opposing side walls, each having a bottom edge attached to the base, a top edge, a front side edge running from the bottom edge to the top edge and a rear side edge running from the bottom edge to the top edge; a front end wall, having a bottom edge hingedly connected to the base so as to hinge between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, a first front end wall side edge fits against the front side edge of the first side wall, and a second front end wall side edge fits again the front side edge of the second side wall, to thereby close a front end of the cargo carrier; and in the open position, the front end wall is generally parallel to the base, to thereby open a front end of the cargo carrier; a front end wall lock for releasably locking the front end wall in the closed position; a rear end wall, having a bottom edge hingedly connected to the base so as to hinge between a closed position and an open position, wherein: in the closed position, a first rear end wall side edge fits against the rear side edge of the first side wall, and a second rear end wall side edge fits again the rear side edge of the second side wall, to thereby close a rear end of the cargo carrier; and in the open position, the rear end wall is generally parallel to the base, to thereby open a rear end of the cargo carrier; a rear end wall lock for releasably locking the rear end wall in the closed position; whereby the cargo carrier can be converted between a four-walled bin, for containing objects within its four walls, to an open ended cargo carrier, allowing elongated objects in the cargo carrier to extend beyond the front end wall and/or the rear end wall by hingedly moving the front end wall and/or the rear end wall, respectively, between the closed and open positions is disclosed.

A system for mounting a stowed component on a self-propelled cart, comprising: the self-propelled cart comprising: a body having a top, bottom, front end, rear end, left side, and right side, and further comprising: a battery compartment, and a platform; a battery housed in the battery compartment; a controller; 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; and at least two motors, each configured to rotate one wheel and each independently controlled by the controller, whereby the controller can move the cart; at least one sensor for determining the position of the component to be mounted on the cart; wherein the controller can adjust the height of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arm actuators and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the wheels; and wherein the cart is configured to approach a location of a component and adjust its orientation to compliment an orientation of the component to thereby facilitate mounting of the component on the cart is disclosed.

A self-docking, motorized cart, comprising: a body comprising a battery compartment and a platform; a battery housed in the battery compartment; a cart docking attachment arm; a controller; 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; wherein the controller adjusts the height of the cart by pivoting one or more of the four arms; and at least two motors, each configured to rotate one of the four wheels, each independently controlled by the controller, whereby the controller can move the cart and control the yaw of the cart by rotating one or more of the four wheels; whereby the cart can be moved into an appropriate position and orientation for connecting the docking arm attachment to a docking station by the controller selectively pivoting the arms and rotating the wheels; and wherein the docking attachment arm comprises connections for electricity or data is disclosed.

A galley cart assembly that includes a cart and a wheel assembly attached to the cart. The wheel assembly includes a plurality of wheels and a drive assembly configured to drive one or more of the plurality of wheels to propel the cart. The wheel assembly also includes a primary brake assembly to lock one or more of the plurality of wheels to prevent movement of the cart. Furthermore, the galley cart assembly includes a controller coupled to the cart and including a processor and a memory. The controller includes a turbulence monitoring system configured to detect a turbulence event. The controller is in communication with the wheel assembly, and is configured to automatically operate the primary brake assembly to lock the cart in position when the turbulence monitoring system detects the turbulence event. In certain configurations, an aircraft includes the galley cart assembly.

A pallet sled includes a base and a pair of tines extending from the base. A load wheel supports outer ends of each of the tines. A wheel supports the base. At least one motor is configured to drive the base wheel or at least one of the load wheels for driving the pallet sled. The motor may be a hub motor inside the base wheel or the load wheel.

A smart self-driving system includes a body, such as a piece of luggage, supported by a plurality of wheel assemblies. At least one wheel assemblies includes a wheel rotating motor configured to rotate a wheel of the wheel assembly to move the luggage in a given direction. At least one wheel assemblies includes a wheel orientation sensor configured to measure the orientation of the wheel. At least one wheel assembly includes a wheel orientation motor configured to orient the wheel in the given direction. The smart self-driving system is configured to move in forward direction that is different than a head direction of the body.