Abstract: A mobile body, a control device, a surrounding object detector, and a monitoring device capable of controlling a safety system of a mobile body having an omnidirectional movement mechanism with a simple configuration are provided. A mobile body according to an embodiment includes drive wheels, a rotational velocity detector, an object detector, a controller, and a changer. The drive wheels are three or more drive wheels that allows the mobile body to move in all directions, and the respective drive wheels are driven independently. The rotational velocity detector detects respective rotational velocities of the drive wheels. The object detector detects an object around the mobile body. The controller decelerates or stops the mobile body when an object is detected in a monitoring area by the object detector. The changer changes a range of the monitoring area on the basis of the respective rotational velocities of the drive wheels detected by the rotational velocity detector.

Abstract: A movable body of an embodiment includes drive wheels, one or more rotational velocity detection units, a movement velocity detection unit, an object detection unit, a movement control unit, a stopping unit, and a changing unit. The drive wheels are three or more drive wheels to be driven independently from each other. The one or more rotational velocity detection units detect rotational velocities of the three or more drive wheels. The movement velocity detection unit detects a movement velocity of the movable body using the respective rotational velocities detected by the one or more rotational velocity detection units. The object detection unit detects an object within a monitoring area around the movable body. The movement control unit moves the movable body in accordance with a movement plan. The stopping unit stops the movable body when the movement velocity detected by the movement velocity detection unit reaches a threshold value of velocity.

Abstract: A mobile body, a control device, a surrounding object detector, and a monitoring device capable of controlling a safety system of a mobile body having an omnidirectional movement mechanism with a simple configuration are provided. A mobile body according to an embodiment includes drive wheels, a rotational velocity detector, an object detector, a controller, and a changer. The drive wheels are three or more drive wheels that allows the mobile body to move in all directions, and the respective drive wheels are driven independently. The rotational velocity detector detects respective rotational velocities of the drive wheels. The object detector detects an object around the mobile body. The controller decelerates or stops the mobile body when an object is detected in a monitoring area by the object detector. The changer changes a range of the monitoring area on the basis of the respective rotational velocities of the drive wheels detected by the rotational velocity detector.

Abstract: In embodiments, a conveying apparatus includes a base, a wheel, a lifter, a lower side distance detection unit, and a control unit. The wheel is connected to the base via a suspension mechanism and is rotatable. The lifter is able to be lifted and lowered with respect to the base in a direction of a conveyance target. The lower side distance detection unit detects a lower side distance between a reference surface of the base and a ground contact surface of the wheel. The control unit controls a lifting/lowering operation of the lifter and rotative driving of the wheel. The control unit causes the lifter to be lifted and lowered based on the lower side distance and to support a part of a weight of the conveyance target, and causes the wheel to be rotatively driven and to convey the conveyance target.

Abstract: In embodiments, a conveying apparatus includes a base, a wheel, a lifter, a lower side distance detection unit, and a control unit. The wheel is connected to the base via a suspension mechanism and is rotatable. The lifter is able to be lifted and lowered with respect to the base in a direction of a conveyance target. The lower side distance detection unit detects a lower side distance between a reference surface of the base and a ground contact surface of the wheel. The control unit controls a lifting/lowering operation of the lifter and rotative driving of the wheel. The control unit causes the lifter to be lifted and lowered based on the lower side distance and to support a part of a weight of the conveyance target, and causes the wheel to be rotatively driven and to convey the conveyance target.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a transport assist apparatus includes a backpack, a straight-move support unit and a drive unit. The straight-move support unit is connected to the backpack and includes a support member configured to be driven so as to make an end of the support member contact a floor surface. The drive unit is connected to the backpack and the straight-move support unit and drives the support member in a direction of moving the end toward the floor surface in accordance with lifting up of at least one of a target person and a target object by a user, or in a direction of moving the end away from the floor surface in accordance with setting down of the at least one of the target person and the target object by the user.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separation system includes a housing at which a gas inlet and a gas outlet are provided; a separation pipe contained in the housing; a separation membrane provided in the separation pipe; and a pump configured to inject a gas into the housing through the gas inlet from an outside of the housing to the gas outlet.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge for supplying liquid to an external device connected therewith is provided with a casing, a partition member movably fitted in the casing, which partitions the casing into a first chamber and a second chamber, an outlet port communicating between the first chamber and the external device and a pressure unit housed in the second chamber, which presses the partition member so as to discharge the liquid out of the outlet port.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell having an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte film put therebetween, a fuel supply unit supplying fuel to the anode and a gas supply unit having a pump, the pump giving negative pressure to the cathode so as to introduce gas containing oxidant to the cathode.

Abstract: A fuel cell formed by arranging a plurality of unit cells, wherein each unit cell comprises a membrane electrode assembly arranged such that an electrolyte membrane is clamped between a membrane-like oxidizer electrode and a membrane-like fuel electrode as well as the electrolyte membrane is disposed with the outer periphery thereof protruding from the outer peripheries of the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode, a first separator disposed with an abutment surface abutting on the fuel electrode of the membrane electrode assembly and having a first flow path for supplying fuel, and a second separator disposed with an abutment surface abutting on the oxidizer electrode of the membrane electrode assembly and having a second flow path for supplying an oxidizer.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a cell including an anode flow channel plate having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet the cell generating power by reaction of the fuel with air; a circulation pump; and a check valve between the fuel outlet and the buffer tank shutting off flowing the fuel in a reverse direction, wherein the circulation pump rotate reversely to flow the fuel in the reverse direction and to collect the fuel from the cell through the fuel inlet to the buffer tank, after completion of the generation of the power.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge for supplying liquid to an external device connected therewith is provided with a casing, a partition member movably fitted in the casing, which partitions the casing into a first chamber and a second chamber, an outlet port communicating between the first chamber and the external device and a pressure unit housed in the second chamber, which presses the partition member so as to discharge the liquid out of the outlet port.

Abstract: A fuel cartridge for a fuel cell includes a casing configured to detachably connect to a predetermined position on the cell and having a connecting port communicated with a supply port of the cell, a fuel holding pack belt housed in the casing and including fuel holding packs holding fuels for the cell, respectively, the packs being arranged in a predetermined direction and connected to one another such that the belt can flex along the predetermined direction, and a belt conveying mechanism configured to convey the belt in the casing in the predetermined direction such that the packs pass over the connecting port of the casing. The pack is opened at the connecting port of the casing by a pack opening mechanism and the fuel in the pack is supplied to the supply port of the cell. The cell includes a fuel absorber in the fuel supply port.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separation system includes a gas-liquid separator configured to separate a gas-liquid mixed fluid into a gas and a liquid; a fuel tank connected to the gas-liquid separator; a bag disposed in the fuel tank; a pressurization pump configured to apply a pressure into the bag; and a pressure control unit configured to control an inner pressure of the gas-liquid separator by controlling a discharge pressure of the pressurization pump.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separation system includes a housing at which a gas inlet and a gas outlet are provided; a separation pipe contained in the housing; a separation membrane provided in the separation pipe; and a pump configured to inject a gas into the housing through the gas inlet from an outside of the housing to the gas outlet.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit is provided with a fuel cell for electric power generation, a mixing tank housing a mixture of fuel and exhaust from the fuel cell, a fuel tank housing the fuel, a pump delivering the mixture and air to the fuel cell, a casing housing the fuel cell, the pump and at least one of the fuel tank and the mixing tank and a partition partitioning an interior of the casing into a first compartment housing the fuel cell and a second compartment. The partition is provided with first, second and third flow paths. The first flow path connects the mixing tank to the fuel cell. The second flow path connects the fuel cell to the pump. The third flow path connects the pump to the mixing tank.

Abstract: A fuel cell unit is provided with a fuel cell for electric power generation, a mixing tank housing a mixture of fuel and exhaust from the fuel cell, a fuel tank housing the fuel, a pump delivering the mixture and air to the fuel cell, a casing housing the fuel cell, the pump and at least one of the fuel tank and the mixing tank and a partition partitioning an interior of the casing into a first compartment housing the fuel cell and a second compartment. The partition is provided with first, second and third flow paths. The first flow path connects the mixing tank to the fuel cell. The second flow path connects the fuel cell to the pump. The third flow path connects the pump to the mixing tank.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a cell stack comprising a plurality of power generation cells, each including a first flow channel plate, a second flow channel plate, and a membrane electrode assembly; a first current collector configured to collect a current; a second current collector configured to collect a current; a third current collector configured to collect a current; a fourth current collector configured to collect a current from a downstream region in the second plate; and a controller.

Abstract: A fuel cartridge for a fuel cell includes a casing configured to detachably connect to a predetermined position on the cell and having a connecting port communicated with a supply port of the cell, a fuel holding pack belt housed in the casing and including fuel holding packs holding fuels for the cell, respectively, the packs being arranged in a predetermined direction and connected to one another such that the belt can flex along the predetermined direction, and a belt conveying mechanism configured to convey the belt in the casing in the predetermined direction such that the packs pass over the connecting port of the casing. The pack is opened at the connecting port of the casing by a pack opening mechanism and the fuel in the pack is supplied to the supply port of the cell. The cell includes a fuel absorber in the fuel supply port.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte membrane arranged between the anode and the cathode, a cathode passageway plate for supplying the air to the cathode, including a groove which forms an air passageway together with the cathode, and a hydrophilic member arranged on the inside surface of the groove and being apart from the cathode.