Abstract: An extendable conveyor includes a support structure, and at least one extendable unit that is supported in a cantilevered manner and that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position nested within the support structure. The extendable unit has at least one support roller for rollingly engaging at least one of another extendable unit and the support structure as the extendable unit is extended or retracted. The conveyor includes a braking device operable to limit rotation of at least one support roller via selective engagement of a braking element with the support roller. The braking device is activatable to disengage the braking element from the support roller in response to actuation of a user input. The braking element is biased to engage the braking element with the support roller when the braking device is deactivated.

Abstract: An extendable conveyor includes a support structure, and at least one extendable unit that is supported in a cantilevered manner and that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position nested within the support structure. The extendable unit has at least one support roller for rollingly engaging at least one of another extendable unit and the support structure as the extendable unit is extended or retracted. The conveyor includes a braking device operable to limit rotation of at least one support roller via selective engagement of a braking element with the support roller. The braking device is activatable to disengage the braking element from the support roller in response to actuation of a user input. The braking element is biased to engage the braking element with the support roller when the braking device is deactivated.

Abstract: An automated material handling system within a transportation craft provides accurate and automatic storage of loads while securely holding the loads even when the structure to which the system is mounted is subject to external forces. Retention systems are provided on the storage positions, transfer machine, and transfer conveyor to substantially impede unwanted motion of the loads while allowing constrained movements of the loads during a storage or retrieval. The transfer machine and storage positions are constructed for cooperatively exchanging loads utilizing a drive mechanism on the transfer machine that is able to selectively engage a driven mechanism located on each of the storage positions.

Abstract: An automated guided vehicle includes a body, at least one driver wheel for propelling the body along a surface, at least one steered wheel for directing the body with respect to the surface and a body-based inertial navigation system. The inertial navigation system senses actual movement of the body in at least three degrees of freedom. Such sensing is accomplished notwithstanding the presence of side slippage of the vehicle. This can be embodied in an automated guided vehicle having a ground track sensor which continuously senses relative movement of the vehicle with respect to the surface being traversed in order to determine an actual velocity vector of the vehicle. The ground track sensor may physically contact the surface in order to sense the relative movement or may be a non-contact sensor. The disclosed navigation system is especially useful with tugger automated guided vehicles.