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.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for determining item availability are provided. A computer implemented method for determining item availability in a shopping space comprising: receiving a request for an item for purchase, instructing a motorized transport unit to travel to a display space in the shopping space corresponding to the item for the purchase, determining whether the item is available in the display space based on information captured by one or more sensors of the motorized transport unit, and in an event that the item for purchase is not available in the display space: determining an item unavailable response to present to the customer.

A drive unit includes a support frame, a drive wheel and a prime mover. The support frame is disposed to be pivotable about a pivot axis. The drive wheel is supported by the support frame. The prime mover is supported by the support frame. The prime mover drives the drive wheel. The support frame and at least one member form a pivot unit. The at least one member pivots together with the support frame. The pivot unit has a center of gravity disposed on the opposite side of the pivot axis with respect to the drive wheel.

Detachable adjustable-width motor assemblies. Some embodiments may be configured for retrofitting between two legs of a golf cart. Some embodiments may comprise a motor housing having a first motor disposed within the motor housing, a first drive shaft, and a second motor disposed within the motor housing having a second drive shaft. The assembly may further comprise a first housing mount configured to be connected to the first wheel leg and a second housing mount configured to be connected to the second wheel leg. The first housing mount and/or the second housing mount may be concentrically and/or slideably engaged with the motor housing and configured to adjust the width of the motor assembly. The first drive shaft may be configured to engage with and transmit torque to the first wheel and the second drive shaft may be configured to engage with and transmit torque to the second wheel.

An electrically driven trolley combination for an aircraft cabin with an independently usable, manually movable trolley and an electrical operating apparatus. The trolley has a base section, a main section extending from the base section, and wheels with the trolley supported on a cabin floor by the wheels and manually movable over the cabin floor being pushed or pulled. The electrical operating apparatus can be detachably coupled to the trolley and has a frame, a driveable rolling device on the frame and by which the electrical operating apparatus can be supported on a cabin floor and rolled, a coupling apparatus on the frame for detachably coupling the electrical operating apparatus to the trolley and having an engagement section and a movement section, the engagement section being selectively movable between a first position and a second position by the movement section, an electrical drive device, and a control device.

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.

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.

Systems and methods for sensing the presence of a load carried by a material handling vehicle are provided. The material handling vehicle includes a vehicle body, and a load supporting member configured to support the load. The material handling vehicle further includes a load sensor configured to determine the presence of the load within a defined range of the load supporting member.

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.

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.