An object processing system is disclosed that includes a plurality of track sections, and a plurality of remotely actuatable carriers for controlled movement along at least portions of the plurality of track sections, wherein each of the remotely controllable carriers is adapted to support and transport an object processing bin.

A system (1) for assisting a field operator, in particular a maintenance field operator, by a remote assistant (51) equipped with a viewer (50) comprises a first group of components configured to be connected to a support (10) wearable on the operator's head, including a first video camera (11), a local viewer (13) arranged to be watched by the operator, a first control unit (15) and a first wireless connection interface (19). The system also comprises a handpiece (20) providing a visual sensor (21) such as a video camera or a thermal imaging camera, a serial port (24) for connecting a peripheral device (30) such as an instrument or a sensor or a video source, a second control unit (25) and a second connection interface (26). The connection interfaces (15,25) are configured for mutually changing, locally or through a remote server (99) available through a data network (3), data streams (12,22,32) coming from the video camera (11), from the visual sensor (21) or from the peripheral device (30), respectively, intended to be displayed by the local viewer (13). Moreover, the connection interfaces are configured for exchanging the data streams with the assistants (51) remote viewer (50) through the remote server (99). The system (1) also comprises a scenario-switching device (80) for displaying a same data stream of interest (42) at the same time to the local viewer (13) and to the remote viewer (50), said data stream of interest selected among data streams (12,22,32) related to the scenarios (11′,21′) framed by the video camera (11) and by the visual sensor (21), respectively, and to the data obtained from the peripheral device (30).

A maintenance plan assistance system 100 configured to include: holding, in a storage device 101, remaining life information relating to devices covered by a maintenance plan, and a list of maintenance menus; and a computation device 104 identifying a maintenance effect when each maintenance menu is applied to each of the devices based on the maintenance menus and temporal changes in failure probabilities of each of the devices indicated by the remaining life information, identifying a variable range of a condition-based maintenance implementation timing, the variable range being dependent on the maintenance effect, and determining a maintenance menu including the variable range for a predetermined maintenance timing, and outputting, to a predetermined device, information including the maintenance menu identified by the determination and the condition-based maintenance implementation timing changed to the predetermined maintenance timing.

A method is provided for diagnosing a failure on an aircraft that includes aircraft systems and monitors configured to report effects of failure modes of the aircraft systems. The method includes receiving a fault report that indicates one or more of the monitors that reported the effects of a failure mode in an aircraft system of the aircraft systems, and accessing a fault pattern library that describes relationships between possible failure modes and patterns of those of the monitors configured to report the effects of the possible failure modes. The method also includes diagnosing the failure mode of the aircraft system from the one or more of the monitors that reported, and using the fault pattern library and a greedy selection algorithm, determining a maintenance action for the failure mode; and generating a maintenance message including at least the maintenance action.

A portable device repair machine may be configured to receive portable devices, identify the portable device, diagnose, repair and/or upgrade the portable device, collect payment for the service and return the portable device to the payee. The portable device repair machine may include an audio/video interface for interaction with a portable device user as well as a mechanized connection, inspection, diagnostic and upgrade system. The mechanized connection, inspection, diagnostic and upgrade system may comprise a conveyance mechanism for conveying the portable device among multiple stations such as a physical inspection station, device connection mechanism station, diagnostic, repair and upgrade station, and a physical upgrade station. Various mechanical devices, such as robotic arms may interact with the portable device, based in part on feedback obtained via various image sensors within the portable device repair machine.

The disclosure relates to an automation device of a group of automation devices, comprising: a communication interface configured to communicate with a second automation device of the group of automation devices via a communication network; wherein the communication interface is configured to receive a status message of the second automation device that indicates a state or a change in state of the second automation device; and a light source configured to emit a light signal indicating the state or the change in state of the second automation device in response to the receiving of the status message.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling maintenance of a fuel dispenser. In one exemplary embodiment, a system is provided having a fuel dispenser that includes an electronics module having a data processor, a remote enterprise server in communication with the electronics module, and a remote code processor in communication with the remote enterprise server. The data processor is configured to determine an authorization password based on data characterizing the fuel dispenser, to receive a remote password that is generated by the remote code processor based on the fuel dispenser data, to determine that the remote password matches the authorization password, and to cause the fuel dispenser to enter a maintenance mode.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a discontinuous plurality of track sections on which an automated carrier may be directed to move, and the automated carrier includes a base structure on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a discontinuous plurality of track sections on which an automated carrier may be directed to move, and the automated carrier includes a base structure on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.

A method and apparatus for providing equipment maintenance are disclosed. For example, the method receives data that is captured by at least one sensor deployed at a location, wherein the data is associated with at least one parameter, receives atmospheric data for the location, monitors the at least one parameter of the equipment and the atmospheric data for the location, determines for the at least one parameter, whether an update to a risk measure associated with the equipment is needed, when a deviation from a baseline is detected that is greater than a threshold for a maximum deviation from the baseline, performs the update to the risk measure associated with the equipment, when the update to the risk measure associated with the equipment is needed, and generates a ticket for a remedial action based on the risk measure, when the risk measure triggers the scheduling of the remedial action.