A transpallet is provided for ground handling of goods stored on a support platform, comprising at least one motorized wheel, an electromechanical parking braking system of the wheel adapted to take on a stop configuration when not energized and a release configuration when energized and an electric power supply assembly adapted to supply electric power to the motorized wheel and to the electromechanical parking braking system. An on-board electronic control unit is arranged for the selective handling of the transpallet movement in a motorized mode of movement, a manual mode of movement or a stop mode, depending on the charge level of the electric power supply assembly.

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.

Various embodiments herein relate to powered pusher devices configured to push wheeled objects from one location to another. Further embodiments relate to wheeled objects such as carts for transporting items from one location to another. Other embodiments relate to platform powered pushers that can be coupled to a family of various wheeled objects.

Hand trucks having a powered lifting assembly are disclosed. In certain aspects, hand trucks having a motor assembly and a battery pack mount arranged to removably receive a battery pack arranged for a portable tool are disclosed. Hand trucks having a pivoting rearward support are also disclosed, with particular arrangements advantageously pivoting the rearward support upwardly as it is configured into the retracted configuration so as to lift wheels of the rearward support above other wheels of the hand truck.

A system for converting an existing hand push wheelbarrow to a powered wheelbarrow by way of a single unit kit that comprises a motorized wheel, a battery, and all other necessary electrical components. The system includes wheel brackets with mounting holes sized to fit most standard wheelbarrows, so that the original passive wheel can be easily removed, and the Kit installed using the same mounting hardware. The larger of the two mounting brackets supports the component case with the battery and the motor controller, and acts as the heat sink for all the heat generating electronics within the case. This enables the entire system to be sealed and waterproof. The Kit is intended to be used in situations where heavy loads need to be transported by wheelbarrow over bumpy ground or up inclines, and motorized assistance to propel the wheelbarrow may be needed.

An electric golf trolley including a battery for powering the trolley; the electric golf trolley having a discharging configuration in which the electric golf trolley may be powered by the battery, and a non-discharging configuration in which powering of the electric golf trolley by the battery is substantially prevented; the electric golf trolley being further configured to transition from a driving arrangement to a storage arrangement; wherein during a transition from the driving arrangement to the storage arrangement the electric golf trolley automatically transitions from the discharging configuration to a non-discharging configuration, and/or wherein during a transition from the storage arrangement to the driving arrangement the electric golf trolley automatically transitions from the non-discharging configuration to a discharging configuration.

A rack includes: a casing; M pairs of supports that are provided inside the casing so as to extend in a depth direction and arrayed at regular intervals in a predetermined direction; and a lock mechanism. The rack can house all returnable containers of one or more prespecified sizes along the respective pairs of supports. The M pairs of supports are arrayed in N rows in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The lock mechanism is configured such that moving first and second shafts that are provided for the respective rows and for the respective tiers, respectively, so as to be movable in the predetermined direction can switch between engagement and disengagement between branches of the first and second shafts and first and second holes, respectively, of the returnable containers.

Disclosed is an electrically motorised wheel, transmission and control module, kit, vehicle and system. The electrically motorised wheel 100 is configured to releasably couple to a non-motorised wheeled vehicle. The electrically motorised wheel 100 includes: a ground engaging assembly 110; a coupling assembly 125 for releasably coupling the electrically motorised wheel to an axle 2000 of the vehicle 2700; and a housing 1902 configured to house: an electric motor 560 operatively coupled to the ground engaging assembly 110; a control system 505 including or coupled to an inertial measurement unit 540, which is stationary within the housing 1902 during motorised rotation of the electrically motorised wheel 100, and a controller 510 configured to control operation of the electric motor 560 based one or more sensor signals received from the inertial measurement unit 540; and a power source 520 electrically connected to the control system 505 and the electric motor 560.

A steerable omni-directional cart is disclosed. The cart includes either a driven wheel or a sphere disposed on a lower surface of the cart platform to provide powered motion to the cart. A mechanical element is provided to allow the direction of the powered motion to be changed by the user to thereby allow the cart to be steered. The power may be provided by a removable and rechargeable battery pack. The battery pack may drive a motor which includes a driven output element in contact with the sphere to provide powered motion. Alternatively, the driven wheel may be a hub driven wheel which is powered by the battery pack.

The wheel assembly includes an arm 51, a wheel 55, a power supply port 60, an electric motor 56 coupled to the wheel 55, and a motor controller 62 for controlling rotation of the electric motor 56. The method of controlling the motion of a motorized object includes defining a target position, sensing a current position of the motorized object and using an output from a processor to control the electric motors to drive the object toward the target position. The golf club storage and transport device 70 includes a body 71 for storing golf clubs and a pair of releasable wheels 75. The device 70 has an assembled configuration and a disassembled configuration.