Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, an energy storage device supported by the chassis and configured to provide electrical power to a prime mover, wherein activation of the prime mover selectively drives the refuse vehicle, a body for storing refuse therein supported by the chassis, a first hydraulic pump configured to convert electrical power into hydraulic power, a second first hydraulic pump configured to convert electrical power into hydraulic power, and a motor coupled to at least one of the body or the chassis and configured to drive the first hydraulic pump and drive the second hydraulic pump.

Abstract: An interface device for interfacing a set of wayside systems with a radio transmitter includes a plurality of input ports each having at least one input for receiving a signal representing a state of a corresponding wayside system and first and second parallel data paths coupled to the plurality of input ports. Each data path includes input protection circuitry coupled to the inputs of the input ports for preventing short-circuit and open-circuit conditions from triggering a false input state, a multiplexer for selecting between the input port; and a processor for scanning the input ports with the multiplexer to determine the state of current signals appearing at the inputs. In response to determining the state of the current signals appearing at the inputs, the processor generates a message communicating a current state of the wayside systems for delivery to the radio transmitter.

Abstract: A method for exchanging information within a radio communications system includes establishing communications between radio systems utilizing a carrier sense multiple access mode during a period of lower traffic load on the radio communications system and establishing communications between the radio systems utilizing a time division multiple access mode during a period of higher traffic load on the radio communications system.

Abstract: A technique for optimizing throughput on a communications channel shared by multiple users. A communications channel that must be shared by a large number of devices has the potential of being very inefficient because of collisions or overlapping of transmissions by the various devices. The system combines a carrier sense, multiple access (CSMA) mode with a time division multiple access (TDMA) mode to achieve a channel utilization greater than 90 percent. The remote units send a poll request to a base station using the CSMA mode and receive a poll signal from the base station with a poll sequence. The remote units send their data in their assigned time slot. The remote units do not have to all be in radio contact with each other to maintain synchronization. Each remote unit selects the base station that it wishes to communicate with based on signal strength of various base stations.

Abstract: The specification discloses a meteor burst communication system including at least two spaced apart master stations, in association with a plurality of groups of remote stations spaced at locations remote from the master stations, with each group being associated with one of the master stations. Each of the master stations incudes a radio transmitter for transmitting probing digital radio signals having address portions which are directed from the master station for reflection from meteor trails to the remote stations associated with the master station. Circuitry is provided to vary the length of the address portions transmitted by the master station in dependence upon desired signal-to-noise and timing considerations. Each of the remote stations includes a radio receiver for receiving the reflected probing digital radio signals from the master stations. Each of the remote stations also includes at least one sensor of physical characteristics such as snow depth, rain fall or the like.

Abstract: A meteor burst communication system utilizing a master station and a large number of remote stations. A master station transmits a probing radio signal which, when reflected from a suitably positioned meteor trail, is received by a remote station. The remote station verifies that the received signal is being transmitted by a master station and then decides whether to respond to the probing signal, depending upon an a number of internal factors, including whether it has data available to send and when it last transmitted data to the master station. The master station can also address specific remote stations or transmit messages to all remote stations simultaneously.

Abstract: The specfication discloses a meteor burst communication system including at least two spaced apart master stations, in association with a plurality of groups of remote stations spaced at locations remote from the master stations, with each group being associated with one of the master stations. Each of the master stations includes a radio transmitter for transmitting probing digital radio signals having address portions which are directed from the master station for reflection from meteor trails to the remote stations associated with the master station. Circuitry is provided to vary the length of the address portions transmitted by the master station in dependence upon desired signal-to-noise and timing considerations. Each of the remote stations includes a radio receiver for receiving the reflected probing digital radio signals from the master stations. Each of the remote stations also includes at least one sensor of physical characteristics such as snow depth, rain fall or the like.