Abstract: A mobile cart for serving food and/or beverages is described. According to various implementations, the cart is equipped with a removable mission module. The mission module includes equipment that is used by the cart to perform its designated mission, such as an oven (for a hot food service mission module), a cooling unit (for a cold food service mission module), a beverage dispenser (for a beverage service mission module), a point of sale terminal (for duty-free service mission module), appropriate branding (for a franchising mission), or a custom equipment (for a customized mission). The mission module also includes a processor and a memory. The mission module is removable, and may be one of several mission modules available to the cart. Thus, for each type of mission, there may be a different mission module. This enables the cart to be quickly and easily “customized” for each mission by replacing an unneeded module with a required one.

Abstract: Embodiments of a storage compartment cooling apparatus include a liquid circulation system configured to circulate a liquid coolant having a temperature lower than an ambient temperature. The embodiments also include a centrifugal fan configured to cause a gas to flow in contact with the liquid circulation system and thereby cool the gas. The centrifugal fan is configured to receive the gas from a direction approximately parallel with an axis of rotation of the fan and output the gas to a direction approximately perpendicular with the axis of rotation of the fan. Embodiments of the apparatus also include a duct configured to direct the gas into contact with the liquid circulation system and through the centrifugal fan.

Abstract: A mobile cart for serving food and/or beverages is described. According to various implementations, the cart is equipped with a removable mission module. The mission module includes equipment that is used by the cart to perform its designated mission, such as an oven (for a hot food service mission module), a cooling unit (for a cold food service mission module), a beverage dispenser (for a beverage service mission module), a point of sale terminal (for duty-free service mission module), appropriate branding (for a franchising mission), or a custom equipment (for a customized mission). The mission module also includes a processor and a memory. The mission module is removable, and may be one of several mission modules available to the cart. Thus, for each type of mission, there may be a different mission module. This enables the cart to be quickly and easily “customized” for each mission by replacing an unneeded module with a required one.

Abstract: An extendable and retractable assembly comprising a mounting member attached to a support structure disposed inside an aperture in a wall. The assembly has a telescoping arm with a first and a second end. The first end of the telescoping arm is attached to the mounting member and the second end of the telescoping arm is attached to a rotation member. A control device is connected to the second end of the telescoping arm by the rotation member. When the telescoping arm is extended such that the control device is no longer stowed inside the aperture in the wall, the control device can rotate at least partially around an axis substantially perpendicular to the telescoping arm.