Abstract: Provided is a lock releasing method including: moving an arm part of a replacement apparatus in a horizontal direction such that a leading-end part of the arm part is located in a position downward from a mounting position of a battery, where the mounting position is a position in which the battery is mounted in a vehicle; moving the leading-end part upward such that the battery is placed on the leading-end part; and releasing a lock of the battery in the vehicle after the battery is placed on the leading-end part.

Abstract: A battery replacement apparatus of the present disclosure includes: an arm that holds a battery; and an arm moving section that moves the arm. The arm moving section includes: a first lifting portion for moving the arm at least in a vertical direction within an apparatus main body of the battery replacement apparatus; and a second lifting portion for moving the arm in a vertical direction outside the apparatus main body.

Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is, in a traveling device including omnidirectional wheels with suspension, to always maintain the posture of the traveling device main body in a constant state without tilting the main body with respect to a travel floor surface. The traveling device includes a placing part where a cargo is placed, and an omnidirectional wheel provided on the traveling device via a suspension to be vertically movable relative to the traveling device. The traveling device further includes three or more swivel casters fixed to a lower section thereof so as to define a plane, and when the traveling device is on a flat floor surface, the swivel casters are always in contact with the floor surface, and frictional force of the omnidirectional wheel against the floor surface is greater than or equal to force required for traveling drive by the omnidirectional wheel.

Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is, in a traveling device including omnidirectional wheels with suspension, to always maintain the posture of the traveling device main body in a constant state without tilting the main body with respect to a travel floor surface. The traveling device includes a placing part where a cargo is placed, and an omnidirectional wheel provided on the placing part via a suspension to be vertically movable relative to the placing part. The suspension, in an unloaded state in which no cargo is placed, presses the omnidirectional wheel against a travel floor surface, and the suspension includes a stopper that limits a relative distance between the placing part and the omnidirectional wheel so that the relative distance does not become smaller than a distance between the placing part and the omnidirectional wheel in the unloaded state.