Machine having automatic transport with scanning and GPS functions

• US 20050131645A1
• Filed: 06/08/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peter John Panopoulos
• Original Assignee: Peter John Panopoulos
• Inventors: Panopoulos, Peter John
• Application Number:
  US10/863,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20050131645A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/214
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/5457 attached to the loading platform or similar
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0244 using reflecting strips
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0282 generated in a local control room
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0212 Driverless passenger transport vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 2201/0216 Vehicle for transporting goods in a warehouse, factory or similar

Abstract

A automatic-transport system with scanning and GPS functions for moving people or objects, on platforms or items placed on an automatic-transport system that can be ejected from it and delivered from one location to another and to return automatically or to proceed to other destination(s) by following GPS coordinates, and or by following a line painted or taped to a floor through forward looking scanners built into the automatic-transport system. The automatic-transport system can arrive at a destination and give an alert when it has arrived. Electromechanical system(s) aboard the unit can drop off contents automatically at destinations and load or unload cargo. The transport unit can proceed from one location to another stored in its memory and or it may be redirected by its circuitry or remotely through a wireless port, or directed by GPS or radio control circuits to a further destination.

Claims

1. A machine having automatic transport capabilities with scanning and GPS functions comprising:

i) an electronically driven or a combustion driven automatic-transport system;

ii) means to travel from one location to another and drop off contents through electromechanical, hydraulic, and or pneumatic means;

iii) electromechanical motors or engines utilizing combustion means that the automatic transport system may move contents from one physical location to another;

iv) means to provide logic circuits with transmitting and receiving RF modulation circuits with an interface to control them, that will enable the automatic-transport system to arrive at a destination and alert a manager or employee or both or other people electronically, or a consumer in consumer models to take further action, or to automatically trigger the a manufacturing cell, or a destination it comes to unload the automated transport system utilizing electromechanical transfer system(s), and or to drop off contents automatically, and logic circuits with memory that will enable the automatic-transport system to remember its path and return back where the automatic transport system came from or to proceed to another destination either by travelling in reverse by following a line through scanning means, or by following GPS coordinates, and or by performing each operation in reverse, or to await for a remote RF modulation signal from a computer or from an employee to be sent back to where it came from or to proceed to another destination;

v) means to provide logic circuits and a manual interface, composed of knobs, buttons, dials, an LCD readout or other interface means to control the operation of the automatic-transport system aboard the automatic-transport system;

vi) means to provide an ignition or a startup procedure procedure that will power-up the automatic-transport system or start the automatic-transport system'"'"'s engines and logic circuits;

vii) means to provide logic circuits and a mode of operation that will enable the automatic-transport system to remain in stand-by mode to receive commands via a RF modulation circuit that will activate the ignition of motors to start them up and to give the transport system commands for its destination(s), and or to lockdown when it reaches the destination(s) docking on a lockdown pin for secure docking;

viii) means to provide logic circuits with transmitting and receiving RF modulation circuits with an interface to control them, that will enable the automatic-transport system to arrive at a destination in commercial and or in consumer models to drop off a payload wagon, and or to optionally lock down the payload wagon on a lockdown pin upon delivery for secure delivery at a designated delivery point, said automatic transport system designed to drop off the payload wagon and lock the wagon automatically to a lockdown pin by docking to it, and logic circuits with memory that will enable the automatic-transport system to remember its path and return back where the automatic transport system came from or to proceed to another destination either by travelling in reverse by following a line through scanning means, or by following GPS coordinates, and or by performing each operation in reverse, or to await for a remote RF modulation signal from a computer or from an employee to be sent back to where it came from or to proceed to another destination; and

or means whereby the automatic transport system can use operational memory that would record speed and steering signals and other operating parameters to drive the automatic transport system via macro(s) to go from one destination to another and to perform operation(s) as desired to deliver and or go to pick up items and return to a location or to proceed to another location.

ix) means to include the design of various models of a wagon-like automated-transport system having at least three (3) or (4) four wheels per platform area for the design of an automated transport system where (1) or two (2) wheels of the automated-transport system will be used for steering the automated-transport system attached to an electromechanical steering system controlled by a circuit designed to follow a line, no matter how it is drawn, in direction “

X or Y”

, forward or reverse, for length “

Z”

through scanners installed on the bottom and or the front/back, bottom, and or side(s) of the unit, and or by employing GPS coordinates and directions with or without the need for employing the use of lines and scanners for avoiding obstacles in the automatic transport system'"'"'s path, and where the other two wheels will be used for stability and to make it mobile;

x) means to include an optional suspension system for wheel(s) of the automatic-transport system or for track(s) of the automatic-transport system (if treads are used in the design), for going over uneven terrain when the automatic-transport system if following GPS coordinates on its path, or for when the automatic-transport system is following a taped line or a painted line on pavement or on flooring or asphalt or on the ground, or even if the automatic transport system has to climb or go up and down steps, over steps, through ditches, or over bumps over a variety of speeds;

xi) means to include an optional paint-spraying mechanism on deluxe models of the automatic-transport system where the automatic-transport system can be programmed to draw a painted line or to dispense and glue a length of waterproof taped line used for scanning on the floor of garages or driveways, or on factory floors, or other environments with components where the automatic transport system can read the painted line(s) and or the taped line(s) through its barcode scanner(s) when it is in operation mode;

xii) means to include logic circuits that will allow people or contents to be moved from one location to a designated area by a user pressing a button on the automatic-transport system to send it in manual mode, or in automatic mode when the unit is filled to capacity a weight sensor will activate the unit to;

a) alert users that the transport system is filled to capacity, and further to prompt users for further instructions, which may further;

b) start the electromechanical or combustion motors that will move the wheels of the unit to follow the taped or pained line on the pavement or the painted line in the direction chosen (to designated area “

X”

, back to loading area “

Y”

, forward or reverse) as chosen in the programming of the automated-transport system to a designated area, for “

Z”

length away from the loading area, or by using GPS coordinates or scanning means on the automatic transport system to go to a location or to a series of location(s) either as stored in memory;

downloaded through wireless or wired means;

manually inputted;

or received through wireless means in real time;

or through other means;

xiii) means to provide a custom-designed electronic programmable digital assistant device or wireless remote to be built with logic circuits having built-in GPS programming functionality that will automatically record GPS coordinates over time as it is moved from one location to another once being activated recording and plotting the location where a user travels with it and where the programmable digital assistant or wireless remote device can download GPS coordinates to the automatic-transport system either through wireless means or through a computer port to allow the automatic programming of the automatic-transport system so a path can be automatically downloaded to the automatic-transport system and so the automatic-transport system can then move to follow those coordinates and travel through a manufacturing plant, manufacturing cells, quality control cells, testing cells, painting cells, process cells, packaging cells, warehousing, offices, mail routing, mail rooms, through military establishments, for field operations, for the military, the battlefield, for commercial applications, to deliver construction supplies, intelligence or other operations, to allow the delivery of a person, people, to move items or cargo placed on the platform(s) of the automatic-transport system just like the electronic programmable digital assistant device or wireless remote was walked through an area within a certain programmable settable deviation whereby the GPS device has an interface built-in that will allow a user to depress button(s) to specify a starting location and or a destination location and to include interface controls that will allow a user to direct the automatic-transport system to return back to its start location and or to proceed to other destination(s) as desired in a cylical fashion for repeated pick-up and drop-off operation(s) or to operate in single run operation(s) back to the start location or to other destination(s) whereby the PDA or the wireless remote is further comprised of a programmable digital assistant or a wireless remote designed to record GPS coordinates over time and save them for downloading to the automatic-transport system either through a wired connection or through wireless means whereas a programmable digital assistant or a wireless remote is designed to record GPS coordinates over time and save them for downloading to the automatic-transport system either through a wired connection or through wireless means comprised of a programmable digital assistant or a wireless remote RF transmitter having a transmitting and receiving antenna;

a LCD readout for operational commands and for interfacing with the automatic-transport system;

a record button or interface used to start recording and saving global positioning satellite coordinates over time as the PDA unit or wireless remote travels through an area;

where the PDA or wireless remote is further comprised of interface buttons that allow a user to call up software and use a mechanical or a software-based alphanumeric keypad/keyboard on the LCD to communicate with the automatic-transport system;

pushbutton control interface buttons or other control means that allow a user to enter identification and commands to communicate with the automatic-transport system to assign unique identification to automatic transport system units and to assign frequencies to transport units to allow multiple units to be controlled within the same environment with a programmable digital assistant, through a wireless remote, or through wireless means, through computer(s), or other methods;

an ID program pushbutton or control interface that allows the user to enter into a program mode which allows a user to enter an ID for the automatic transport system;

backward/forward buttons that allow the user to enter the next letter when entering the automatic-transport ID in program mode or to back up and correct a mistake;

a save button that saves the automatic-transport ID number after it is entered in successfully;

a start-automatic-transport-unit button designed to start the automatic-transport system;

a send button that sends the saved GPS coordinates and the path(s) to the automatic-transport unit so that the transport unit can receive data or information to go to its destination(s);

an interface that will allow a user to tell it to cycle and or repeat an operation a certain number or times or until sensor(s) detect that there is no more cargo to be loaded or unloaded at a destination;

an interface that will allow a user to map the transport system to load or unload cargo in rows and columns with or without a space in between each cargo item of “

X”

distance in an orderly fashion in designated areas through assignable GPS coordinates or painted line coordinates that can be selected through the PDA or the wireless remote or through computer means;

an interface that will allow a user to enter cargo data, lift information, destination data, and that will allow a staff person to manually map out destinations and activities that the transport system will perform;

an interface that will allow a user to program the transport unit as to how to load or unload the transport unit, how to turn or rotate the cargo for loading or unloading, or how to overide built in scanning logic to overide normal loading and unloading functions that are built-into the system;

what lift mechanisms to use for what cargo;

what destination(s) to go to and where to return;

what cargo items to select for pick up and or delivery;

what deviations to accept or reject for all modes including;

     1) if an obstacle is found how far should the transport system deviate from its path to try to get around it;

     2) if a cargo item is to be delivered and there is no space for it to be placed in a designated area how far should the robotic transfer mechanisms or the transport system move to try to find a space for it to place the cargo in a free area before calling alerting a staff person, or then choosing to start to place the cargo item in alternative area(s) chosen in memory or returning to the send location as programmed with a message saying operation failed;

further the GPS and or wireless remote allows the transport system to be commanded as to what mode to use and select such as;

     1) painted path control, where the transport system follows a painted line or a taped line and automatically steers, with speed and direction and control and braking set through controls following paint sensitive sensors or scanners for a distance “

X”

to settings and utilize manual steering, manual acceleration, and manual braking whereas the automatic transport system may still have fully automatic steering, braking and acceleration functions with the capability to have manual operation as well;

     3) programmed path;

where global positioning satelite coordinates control steering, speed, and directions and where instructions are received to direct the transport unit on its path from a ROM in the transport system'"'"'s logic circuits;

     4) RF controlled path where steering, speed and direction control is controlled through wireless means either through a staff operator in a manual method in real time by operating a wireless remote or a PDA device or other instrument to control the transport unit or by operating a computer to control or direct the transport unit through RF means;

an interface that will allow a user to enter further data or passwords, an on/off button to power-up the programmable digital assistant or the transport system;

a cancel button to cancel an operation or a command;

a scroll button to scroll through commands designed to operate and interface with the automatic-transport system;

a USB or other computer port to download GPS coordinates to the automatic-transport system;

a battery to power the PDA or the wireless remote;

an AC/DC adapter as alternate power means for providing power to the PDA and or to recharge the unit and also whereas the PDA or the wireless remote system or other control system including the manual control panel on the transport system itself will have an interface and all the logic and circuitry to control and operate and provide means to enable all the control, features and interface functionality to control the automatic transport system to enable and control all features and model variations included in all the claims and the items described in the specification;

xiv) means to include logic circuits to provide programmability where the automatic-transport system can be programmed to recognize when it is in a “

Loading Zone” and

logic means that will enable it to travel a certain distance “

Z”

from a “

Loading Zone”

to go to a “

Destination Zone”

, then proceed to return to the “

Loading Zone”

or to proceed further to another “

Zone”

by following a line that is either painted on the floor or taped on the floor;

xv) means to include logic circuits and scanning means with intelligence that will enable the automatic-transport system to follow painted or taped lines on the floor of a factory, or elsewhere, with the intelligence that will enable the automatic-transport system to choose from a multiplicity of path(s) as according to its directions when coming to a node where there are multiple lines where the automatic-transport system can be directed to make a decision to choose any one of the lines it comes to to follow a route to a particular destination;

xvi) means to allow an automatic-transport system to be constructed that will allow at least one platform cargo area to be moved from one location to another, said platform area constructed in a fashion to allow the receipt of items to be placed upon the automatic-transport system, and or said platform area may be designed in different configurations to allow seating or standing for one or more people to step, stand, and or sit on the platform and be moved from one location to another, including variation(s) where the automatic-transport system can have multiple floors depending on how large the automated transport system platform(s) are made and how sturdy it is made to accommodate the weight of items that will be placed upon the platform area, and whereby models where the platform will be utilized for the loading and unloading of pallets the automatic-transport system will have electromechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic means to load and or drop off the pallets when commanded to do so when the automatic transport system reaches its designated loading or unloading area and whereas the automatic-transport system can go into a “

hold”

mode when it reaches its designated destination and alert the manager, an employee, or other people that it has arrived through wireless communications to a computer via email, or other visual or audible means, and or it can just drop off contents and return back to the loading area automatically, or wait to be sent back by user interaction after entering a security code or to proceed to another destination or area;

xvii) means to allow the automatic-transport system to be used for moving waste, or garbage cans, scrap or recyclable materials, contaminated waste, radioactive materials, chemicals, bio-hazardous waste or other materials, boxes or canisters, or drums, or where items are valuable, whereby special electromechanical holding arms or lockable covers can be utilized that will lock the items securely in the automatic-transport system while it is moving and whereby they will release the items from the automatic-transport system only upon a security code being triggered and whereby prior to such entering of a security code no release of the items can be made and when the security code is entered a further functionality of the system allows a wired or a wireless connection to interface with a company'"'"'s software and or computer system to update warehousing records that items are received and now in stock in the warehouse, while keeping the transported items locked in place within the automatic-transport system until they get to their destination for added security while the automatic-transport system is moving and whereby the security code can be entered automatically by the system once it has traveled to its destination after traveling “

X”

or “

Y”

distance, forward or reverse, travelling a distance of length “

Z”

as it was programmed to do so from its starting point, and whereby the automatic transport unit will unlock its contents after a user, an employee or manager with authority enters a security code either through a manual interface upon the automatic-transport system or through wired or wireless means via a manual interface aboard the automatic transport unit, a PDA link, a computer link, or through a remote control device;

xviii) means to allow the creation of different automatic-transport systems to be made that can scan and follow lines drawn or painted on pavement or asphalt or read tape glued on pavement or asphalt and travel from a start position to an end destination to deliver items or people from one location to another, and or by employing GPS, (global positioning system technology coordinates and trail navigation techniques where one can draw a path precisely how they would like to travel utilizing GPS coordinates mapping);

means to programmably enter and change the speed of the automatic-transport system that can vary at any point in time at which the automatic transport system will travel to destination point(s) through a manual interface upon the automatic-transport system or through a RF modulation circuit controlling the automatic-transport system at any point in time said automatic-transport system also having an optional accelerator on the floor, and an optional steering wheel that can override GPS signal(s), or the scanning of taped-painted lines on a floor, to be used by an operator to vary the speed of the system and to steer the automatic-transport system as one would use as in driving a car in alternate models of the present invention whereby the automatic-transport system could be used in moving people or items by allowing for the construction of models that have an optional cab with optional steering, optional acceleration and optional braking as well as fully automatic models where a driver is not needed where automatic transport systems steer themselves and accelerate and brake automatically with intelligent obstacle avoidance sensor technology and logic for all operations, scanners and sensors required where it should be understood that in fully automated transport system models there is no need of manual acceleration, or manual braking, or manual steering because the automated transport system has automated steering mechanisms, automated acceleration and automated braking and shutdown including fully automated pick up and unloading capabilities;

xix) means to provide an automatic-transport system with an array of sensors and logic circuits that will keep the automatic-transport system centered on top of the painted line or the taped line within a pre-programmed settable deviation to the line and to follow it while the automatic-transport system is moving to its destination(s), and a forward and a reverse looking scanning array of scanning sensors so that scanners can read the lines and always center themselves in towards the middle of the taped or painted line so as not to go off-course while the automatic-transport system is moving towards its destination(s) to keep itself centered on top of the line while the automatic-transport unit is traveling within a certain deviation of “

x”

length from the line(s) the automatic-transport unit is following;

xx) means to provide logic circuits with the functionality to allow the automatic-transport system to make a choice at each destination or at each stop to select from a series of directions it can go to from each stop it makes either through GPS coordinates stored in memory for the next location it will travel to or by following a certain painted or taped line on the floor through scanner means that it is programmed for, and or by performing operations stored in memory and whereby GPS coordinates or choices can be changed on the fly manually by an interface on the built-in automatic-transport system'"'"'s control unit or through wireless means through a computer remotely and whereby the automatic-transport system can be programmed to drop people off going through “

X”

number of nodes or destination(s) and whereby it can be programmed to return to any destination or to proceed to another destination through line scanning means or through GPS coordinate traveling means, or through operational command means that will command the system to travel a certain distance in a given direction and turn as desired not utilizing GPS, or line scanning means;

xxi) means for the automatic-transport system to incrementally control steering in any direction with servo motors in a given direction as controlled by operational commmand means over time at a certain programmable acceleration speed that can be changed at any time with scanning means and go-around intelligence, or wait-intelligence for the path to clear, to avoid obstacles;

xxii) means for the automatic-transport system to provide an audible alert or warning as it is moving to warn employees or the public that it is coming through an area;

xxiii) means for the automatic-transport system to provide a platform with support for moving people or objects from one location to another with optional support structure(s) to accommodate the securing of objects to be placed into or unto the automatic-transport system'"'"'s platforms or further support structures for people to support themselves while traveling on the platforms such as something to hold onto such as a rail, especially when boarding or when the platform is moving, or something to sit on, such as seats, benches, and the like, for extra comfort;

xxiv) means for the automatic-transport system to operate with a wired or wireless communication port that will allow the automatic-transport system to interface to computers through a software interface that will allow accounting records to be updated to provide a date and time and to state specifically what cargo has arrived;

also to provide a date/time stamp of where cargo or people are on the transport system at any time to report status continually; and

also to send an email to managers and or to employees and or other(s) alerting them to them to the fact of the time and date and or as to who or what cargo has arrived when it has arrived at a particular programmed destination; and

or whereby said software or logic will update records when cargo or people have arrived at a certain destination or node in a plant or warehouse or other area as such deliveries occur in an automated fashion;

xxv) means to allow an automatic-transport device to be developed for home use for the consumer user or for commercial applications that will allow the consumer or the commercial user to keep the automatic-transport system outdoors, or in their garage, or in a secure area at a starting location that as in many suburban settings an automatic-transport system can be utilized to automatically deliver garbage, yard waste and recyclable items to the front of a person'"'"'s driveway, or from their back door or from inside their garage or in a secure area to their alley, so that waste haulers can take the garbage away automatically, said consumer version or commercial version having at least one platform area to load and or unload garbage can(s) upon it with optional electromechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic and or robotic transfer mechanisms to load or unload the garbage can(s) at a destination point, also having alternate version(s) that can deliver and dock a payload wagon at a lockable pin cemented in the ground locking a payload wagon containing garbage can(s) to the docking pin and then allowing the automatic-transport system to return to the garage or the starting storage location outside the home or in a secure area to be activated later to go back to the garbage drop-off area to be loaded again with the empty garbage cans after waste handlers have emptied the garbage;

or to pick up the dockable wagon;

said consumer version to be used in commercial environments and to be modified to accommodate commercial garbage cans and or bins as well;

xxvi) means to allow the development of an automatic-transport device that will have a series of platforms in a consumer version or a commercial version that will allow consumers to place at least one garbage can on each platform unit, each platform unit having a weight sensor to determine if the garbage can is empty whereby users can fill garbage cans in a sequential fashion and whereby the automatic-transport unit can be programmed to take and drop off only the platforms to the garbage destination location when delivering garbage when it senses that the cans have garbage in them by analyzing their weight;

xxvii) means to include logic circuits that allow consumer(s) or commercial user(s) to program the day(s) of the week and the time he or she wants the unit to put the garbage out whereby the automatic-transport system has an internal clock that keeps track of the time(s) and day(s) of the week whereby the automatic-transport system also has logic circuits that enable it to use a radio transmitter that will trigger the garage door opener and open an electronic garage door or an electromechanical door or gate or other secure closure system automatically, with a time delay to wait until the garage door opens completely before the automatic transport system travels out to the front of the driveway or to the alley or in a warehouse so the automatic-transport system can travel outside of the garage or to the designated drop-off area and or to receive input from a garage door or electromechanical door or gate sensor to tell the automatic transport system when the electronic garage door or other door or gate has fully opened that the transport system may move unattended following the line or the tape glued to the pavement or the asphalt driveway to drop off garbage and then return to the garage or to the secure area after dropping off the garbage and go back to its original location lock itself down to a locking pin by docking to it and then sending a signal to close the electronic garage door whereby upon returning if it finds the door closed through its obstacle avoidance sensor(s) it can stop as necessary and send a RF transmission signal to open the electronic door and wait a time “

X”

which can be programmed into memory for the gate or door to open and check the obstacle avoidance sensor again to see if the path is clear and then proceed to go back and dock to its original location and lock itself down to a locking pin by docking to it and then close the electronic door and shut itself down and go into stand by mode or shut completely off as programmed;

xxviii) means to include logic circuits that will allow an automatic-transport system to be developed that will allow it to capture the an electronic garage door opener'"'"'s frequency or an electric door'"'"'s frequency and store the same for later use to open and close the electronic door opener when the automatic-transport unit is activated to go out and deliver the garbage or cargo to the destination location;

xxix) means to include logic circuits that allow the automatic-transport system to see ahead through scanning or sensor means whether travelling forward or in reverse and or if the unit comes into an area where it comes into contact with an obstacle and it cannot proceed to continue to its destination and cannot go around said obstacle to get to its destination through alternate routes, the automatic-transport unit will have the intelligence to trace back its steps and return to its previous location and report a pre-programmed condition message such as;

“

Delivery Not Made, Obstacle In Path, Transport Unit Returned To Previous Send Location”

on its LCD readout on the transport unit and to report the same in email(s) as to when such event occurred to selected individual(s) through transmitting RF modulation circuits through wireless means, and or through wired means;

xxx) means to include logic circuits in the automatic-transport system with the use of weight sensors that can sense which of the platforms in the chain of platforms in the automatic-transport system are empty whereby when the automatic-transport system reaches its destination, if the garbage can is empty it is not ejected, but rather it is taken back to the garage, or to the original loading area and whereby it is proposed that consumers use and fill the first can first, the second can second, the third can third, and so on when filling them in order for proper operation that the automatic-transport whereby the system may sense which cans have garbage in them by analyzing their weight and then drop off garbage cans one next to another when reaching its destination so that it would make things easier for waste haulers, and so things will look neater at the end of the driveway or in the alley, or in a destination area;

xxxi) means to provide an automatic-transport system in various models where one automatic-transport system can have multiple platforms built into it with weight sensors, platforms being of “

X”

length, and “

Y”

width, and also in alternative versions where a chain of platforms can be connected together so that a consumer or a commercial user can add or subtract as many platforms as he or she may require per run depending on how many garbage cans or pallets or platforms he or she wants to move at a time whereby there may be models devised where a chain of platforms are used whereby the automatic-transport system will have the intelligence to sense how many platforms are connected together, and it will release only the items above a certain weight if programmed to do so, or all the items, as desired upon reaching its destination as previously mentioned, and the release mechanisms will work on every platform as programmed, no matter how many or how few platforms are connected together and whereby the automatic-transport system will work to release all items chained together, every item above a certain weight, or every item brought to the destination on every platform and whereby the automatic-transport system can be used to move objects in manufacturing lines from one operation cell to another and the wheels of the automatic-transport system can be modified to be installed on a track, or to be installed in a geared track, or the automatic-transport system can travel from one location to another on the manufacturing floor with rubber tires, or with rubber tracks, or other traction means;

xxxii) means to include logic circuits and functionality and controls in an automatic-transport device to deliver recyclable disposal bins, garbage cans, disposal containers, plastic bags, paper leaf bags, etc., from a loading area to a designated area such as the end of a driveway or to an alley for pick-up by waste haulers triggered for movement after a user manually triggers the automatic-transport system to deliver the garbage for waste removal to the programmed area, and return the automatic-transport system back to its loading area, where the automatic-transport system has the option to either send a remote transmission to open the garage door, or where the user can set the automatic-transport system to be in total manual mode where the user sets the system to make sure he or she opens the garage door and then he or she manually triggers the automatic-transport system to send the garbage out to travel to a destination area and whereas in manual mode the automatic-transport system can be optionally set to always return to the designated loading area after dropping off the “

recyclable disposal bins, garbage cans, disposal containers, plastic bags, paper leaf bags, etc.”

at the programmed drop-off site having a distance of “

x”

length from the loading area;

xxxiii) means to include logic circuits for all of the functions mentioned in the objects of the present invention;

xxxiv) means to provide power to drive the automatic-transport system either through a battery strong enough to drive the electronic motors that will drive the motors and the electronics of the automatic-transport system for the weight load(s) the automatic-transport system will be carrying, or combustion engines powerful enough to move the loads they will be carrying;

xxxv) means to provide an automatic-transport system with scanning ability to not only be able to scan lines taped or painted on pavement or asphalt or roads, but to be able to scan bar codes or other symbols that can relate information to the automatic-transport system so that the automatic-transport system will know where it is and display that information on a display panel as programmed, and or so that information may be transmitted through the wireless communication port to a remote computer to tell a computer where the automatic-transport system is so that cargo, or people can be monitored to have arrived at a particular destination and whereas in the GPS models, the automatic-transport system can always tell the display on the automatic transport system map where it is at any point in time, or GPS coordinates can be fed to a remote computer at all times to track where an automatic-transport system is at all times;

xxxvi) means to provide an automatic-transport system further comprised of main components and subcomponents including but not limited to;

electromechanical motors, servo motors, other motors, and or combustion motors used to move people or objects placed on the platforms of the automatic-transport system;

forward looking scanners used to read lines drawn on pavement or flooring so that the automatic-transport system can follow a painted line or a taped line course to destination(s), and to read bar codes to report where the automatic-transport system is at any point in time;

sensor(s) used to detect obstacles in the automatic-transport unit'"'"'s path;

a global positioning coordinate system device that will enable a user to download path data to the automatic-transport system so that the automatic transport system can travel to programmed destination(s);

a steering control system that will be used to steer the automatic-transport system to follow. GPS coordinates as downloaded to the automatic-transport system or to follow taped or painted lines on the pavement or factory or warehouse or office floors through scanning means;

the circuit card(s) employed by the automatic-transport system contain all the logic circuits that have the functionalities contained in the objects of the present invention;

a wireless communication port with with RF modulation transmission and receiving circuitry that allows the automatic-transport system to communicate with remote computers to update accounting records, to send emails to employees, managers, and other people as to the arrival of people, cargo, or items to a designated area through built-in logic and or software, and functionality to receive commands that will control where the automatic-transport system goes for unattended automatic operation via computer control;

said automatic transport system with a built-in user interface allowing a user to manually control the automatic-transport system having data-entry means and or control means and display means to control system go to a certain location by entering a security code as pre-programmed or to change it on the fly;

xxxvii) means providing electromechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic release mechanisms used to hold and lock down cargo or items while they are in transport for security reasons said mechanisms made to release said items upon a security code being entered either automatically when reaching a destination or upon a user or a computer entering a valid security code;

whereas the automatic-transport system has optional support structures built-into the automatic-transport system to accommodate cargo so cargo or items can be supported better or handled more efficiently or to make their handling more secure;

whereas in the case of moving people, support structures can include a holding bar where a person or people can hold on to a rail when the platform is moving, or other support structures such as seating can be provided; and

the locking system consists of a locking pin on the automatic-transport system that mates with and locks with a pin that is cemented in the ground or in the floor of a factory or a garage or a particular destination where the automatic-transport system locks down at when programmed to or when completing a run after making a delivery and returning to a loading area so the automatic-transport system cannot be stolen;

xxxviii) means to load and unload contents into and out of the automatic-transport system through one or more mechanisms designed to load or unload content(s) into and or out of the automatic-transport system comprised of electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic transfer systems with and or without grasping mechanisms to take hold of and or grab onto garbage cans, boxes or other items that are to be loaded or unloaded into or out of the automatic-transport system; and

or an automatic-transport system further comprised of ejecting arms that will push off slidable pallet(s), drums, bins, bags, boxes or other objects off of the automatic-transport system onto the ground or floor; and

or an automatic-transport system further comprised of optional dockable and releasable platform areas that can be locked into place or unlocked and used to place items upon them that can be released, ejected and docked into or out of the automatic-transport system and that can be used to place contents upon them where said platform areas can also be wheeled-pallet(s) that can be placed into or out of the automatic-transport system that can lock in place and dock with the automatic-transport system and released at a designated drop off point whereby once it is dropped off said wheeled pallets are further comprised of lockable wheel systems so as to lock in place to prevent further movement once dropped-off the platform areas from within the automatic-transport system unto a designated delivery point upon disengagement from the automatic-transport system;

xxxix) means to provide an automatic-transport system that will upon receiving an authorized signal allow the loading or release of lockable-and-unlockable-dockable-wheeled-platform areas into or out of the automatic-transport system from any side of the automatic transport system including in front of the automatic-transport system, behind the automatic-transport system, or on the left or the right of the automatic-transport system through electromechanical, pneumatic and or hydraulic means at a designated drop-off or loading point authorized and verified by GPS coordinates or at designated coordinates from following taped or painted line paths;

xl) means to provide an automatic-transport system that will create an authorized signal to drive circuits that will eject and or load items out of or into platform areas of the automatic-transport system from any side of the automatic transport system including in front of the system, behind the system, on the left or the right of the system through electromechanical, pneumatic and or hydraulic means at a designated drop-off or loading point authorized and verified by GPS coordinates or at designated coordinates from following taped or painted line paths;

xli) means providing an automatic-transport system with a logic control system and memory systems with a manual and or a wireless interface system that will allow the automatic-transport system to remember the exact GPS pick up or drop-off point(s) or to memorize the distance from the starting location to the drop off point(s) by following painted or taped lines by scanning means to allow an object to be ejected or dropped off from the automatic-transport system in a cyclic fashion through a subtractive indexing method whereby the automatic transport system;

     1) scans the size of the package it is delivering or picking up,

     2) stores the size of the cargo in its memory,

     3) picks up or drops off cargo at a programmed location,

     4) has the option to return to drop-off or pick up more cargo or pallets as in from a truck de-loading zone,

     5) the automatic-transport system drops-off or grabs another pallet or cargo unit and it returns to the same pick up or drop-off zone by following the same GPS coordinates or a scanned line to return to the same previous drop-off location but it stops and drops off the cargo through automatic transfer mechanisms just short the distance of the first run determined by the size stored in the memory of the package or cargo delivered on the previous run and it can optionally add a space of “

X”

length between each cargo placement that it delivers or picks up, and whereby logic is present whereby scanners aboard the transport system scan the area where the transport system will make a delivery to see if there is a space available that will accommodate the pick up or delivery of the cargo and will position the cargo and the transport system to attempt to place the cargo in a space within a certain acceptable programmed deviation whereby if a space is not available the unit will prompt staff for further instructions or proceed for the next instruction such as proceed to the next row and start to deliver and place cargo in new rows as programmed and whereby these operations can keep cycling to deliver cargo pallet after pallet, drum after drum, box after box, etc;

right next to each other with or without spaces between them as set by the variable “

X”

from one location to another automatically through electromechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic, transfer mechanisms and whereby the logic control systems on the automatic-transport system also have the capability to control the automatic-transport system through manual or wireless means to direct where the automatic-transport system goes through GPS coordinates, or by following scanned lines drawn on pavement and logic to direct the automatic transport system for how the pallets are dropped off in formation whether in a line next to each other, or in rows, and also to specify how many in each row, and where the commands can be programmed by staff or managers with passwords;

xlii) means to provide an automatic-transport system with platform loading and unloading section(s) having roller mechanisms and securing mechanisms to allow loading and unloading and securing of cargo unto and off of the automatic-transport system(s) into at least one designated bay built into the automatic-transport system with logic control circuitry that a user can select the parameters of operation through the control panel on the automatic-transport system'"'"'s interface or where the parameters can be changed through wireless means that will allow the automatic-transport system to receive cargo in one or more platform bays in a sequential or in a custom selectively programmed order to fill said bays to fill or unload from “

left”

, “

right”

, “

front”

, and or “

rear”

platform bays as desired utilizing electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic transfer mechanisms with the understanding that various automatic-transport systems may be constructed where there may be one platform bay where cargo may be loaded or unloaded or where there may be other automatic-transport systems developed with a plurality of platform bays for loading and unloading cargo unto and off of the automatic-transport systems;

xliii) means to provide the logic necessary to control the configuration of the loading/unloading and securing/releasing operations of the automatic-transport system entail the prompting and utilization of electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic transfer mechanisms that grasp cargo and pull it unto platform areas sliding it across rollers unto the automatic transport system into platform areas in designated programmably selected holding areas filling each platform bay in a selectively programmed fashion or sequentially bringing each pallet, box, drum, or other item to rest whereby when cargo is loaded a series of primary and secondary barriers arise securing each cargo item or groups of cargo item(s) on each platform bay whereby such barriers are raised after cargo is placed on platform bay(s) after arriving at a loading zone whereby the logic engages a securing phase where first a primary barrier rises to secure one side of cargo item(s) then a secondary barrier rises up from the floor, a certain distance “

X”

from the floor to prevent the cargo for sliding back and forth upon rollers on the platform bay'"'"'s floor of the automatic-transport system'"'"'s floor and a certain distance “

Y”

from within the automatic-transport systems floor plan to rest against the cargo after scanning the cargo whereby the automatic-transport system'"'"'s scanner scans the size of the cargo and loads the size of the package into its memory, either through optical sizing, by reading a barcode, or by receiving data of the cargo through wireless means, or by a user entering data into the automatic transport system manually, to determine the cargo'"'"'s size to position and select the appropriate secondary barrier” and

position it to secure cargo through electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic means to keep and hold cargo in place holding the cargo between the wall of the primary barrier and between the “

secondary barrier” and

whereby further logic is included to provide unloading functions whereby the “

secondary and primary barrier(s)”

are lowered and then the electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic transfer mechanisms can then grasp the cargo and move the cargo out of the automatic-transport system to unload the automatic-transport system once the automatic-transport system has arrived at a drop-off or an unloading zone and is prompted to begin unloading operations either through manual or through wireless means or through pre-programmed instructions or through cycled operations for continual loading and unloading operations or for single run loading and unloading operations;

xliv) means to provide logic controls in an automatic-transport system with an odometer to measure the distance the automatic-transport system travels to correct for GPS coordinates and for when it travels following scanned lines which would be especially useful for cyclic operations that allow users to program only one destination as a destination whereby the automatic-transport system'"'"'s scanner scans the size of the cargo and loads the size of the package into its memory, either through optical sizing, by reading a barcode, or by receiving data of the cargo through wireless means, or by a user entering data into the automatic transport system manually to allow the automatic-transport system to begin at a loading zone, load contents onto the automatic-transport system, scan the cargo system for its size, or otherwise receive cargo size parameters as stated, go to an unloading zone drop-off the contents through electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic transfer mechanisms, retain the size of the cargo it dropped off in its memory along with the distance it traveled from the odometer, return to the loading zone to pick up more cargo, reload, travel to the previous unloading zone from the previous odometer memory information, whereby the automatic-transport system can have the logic built-into the system where through manual, or wireless means the automatic transport system can be programmed in single run or in cyclic loading and unloading operations to stop short of its previous drop-off or unloading zone the distance or size of the cargo that it held in its memory from the previous run and or also a distance “

X”

which can be used for a space to be between the packages or the pallets being dropped off whereby this can be used for drop-off indexing;

xlv) means to provide the logic and the functionality for the automatic-transport system to automatically advance to cargo items in a designated pick-up zone align itself with the cargo, utilize scanners to see if the cargo is aligned with the transfer mechanisms for pick up and pick things up through its electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic robotic transfer mechanisms and load them unto designated platform areas by

     1) scanning ahead in the direction of the pick up zone to determine if there is cargo to be picked up,

     2) choose a lift device or transfer mechanism, then situate and position the robotic electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic transfer mechanisms left or right, above or below, in a position around the cargo and or underneath the cargo to lift, grab, and or move the cargo unto the automatic-transport system'"'"'s platform bay(s), secure the cargo by raising the primary and secondary barriers after loading or if unloading lower said barrier(s),

     3) proceed to the next cargo unit, drum, box, pallet, or other item if the automatic-transport system has multiple platform bays to fill and repeat the process to fill its bays, record loading information into memory and report status as programmed

     4) proceed optionally to a drop-off zone after filling its platform bays and or then release its contents through the electromechanical, pneumatic and or hydraulic transfer mechanisms upon receiving a secure signal or a code to release contents if in secure mode;

xlvi) means to provide an automatic transport system in at least 5 configurations;

     1) a tranport system designed with one or more electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic robotic transfer mechanism(s) aboard the automatic transport system that can load and or unload cargo into and or out of the automatic tranport system in an automated fashion designed for specific types of cargo such as pallets, drums, boxes, etc;

     2) a transport system with electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic robotic transfer systems that can be fitted and exchanged manually by staff or users to load or unload different types of cargo such as pallets, drums, boxes, etc;

     3) a transport system with electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic robotic transfer systems designed in a carousel, turret or other type of exchange system built into the transport system whereby logic and mechanisms aboard the transport system will allow the transport system to select a specific robotic transfer mechanism to grasp a cargo item after scanning the cargo as needed;

     4) a transport system where the transport system can follow GPS coordinates or taped line coordinates through scanning means to a destination where it can then exchange electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic robotic transfer mechanism from a designated area either from a carousel exchange system or from another type of system or deployment method and where models have transfer mechanisms built into the transport system further functionality is included whereby there is logic and mechanisms to reset and park the electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic transfer mechanism(s) that they may return securely and be tucked away from the rest of the cargo to a dedicated platform bay area after loading or unloading functions or that they may remove themselves from interfering with cargo areas or other transport functions by moving to a designated area upon the transport system reserved for parking the transfer mechanism(s) after loading and unloading functions have been performed;

xlvii) means to provide an automatic transport system with the logic and circuitry and sensors or scanners for obstacle avoidance whereby object avoidance can be utilized in many ways to determine if there is an object in the automatic transport system'"'"'s path whereby logic can be included to direct the transport system to proceed around an obstacle or to direct the transport system to return to the sending location and report a message to staff on the panel of the transport system or through wireless means to the staff that an obstacle was found in the path and that the transport system returned to send location without completing task(s) whereby a further feature of the obstacle avoidance logic in the transport system can determine where the transport system has to go to park itself in a secure area such as where the transport system would park itself normally and close a garage door or other electromechanical door, gate or other closure mechanism whereby the transport system logic would have the intelligence to know where the coordinates of this location would be through painted lines that it follows, or through GPS coordinates in memory and when approaching said coordinates after loading or unloading operations to park in said location it uses obstacle avoidance sensor(s) to determine whether or not said door is closed and if said door is closed when returning to store and park itself the transport system will use internal logic to automatically momentarily stop and engage RF transmission circuits to open the lockable electronic garage door or other electromechanical door(s), gates, or closure systems and then proceed into the garage or storage location, park in its designated spot, dock and lock unto its locking pin so it cannot be moved, send another RF signal to close the garage door or other electromechanical door, gate or other lockable closure system to seal off the storage area, and then shut down the unit or put itself in standy mode;

xlviii) means to provide an automatic transport system with the logic and circuitry to open electromechanical doors such as electronic garage doors or other electromechanical doors, gates or closure systems through “

Garage Door Logic”

that opens or closes a garage door or other door as needed which is not limited to garage doors, where said door can be any electromechanical door system or any type of closure system where the transport system can be stored and automatically released through logic controls where said programmable logic is utilized to open a garage door or an electromechanical door or other closure system where the transport system may be stored in a storage area upon the automatic transport system being activated for use to allow the transport system to proceed to a destination after a sufficient time delay to allow for the door to open and or to mobilize the automatic transport system to proceed to a destination for loading or unloading operations after receiving optional input from a garage door sensor input which tells the automatic transport system that the path is clear so that the transport system may proceed to its destination whereupon when the automatic transport system completes its journey it may then optionally return to the garage or storage area to its original area and it may send a RF signal and close the electronic garage door, the electromechanical door, other closure system, or gate to secure the transport in its storage area by having the garage door logic open or close the garage door as needed through the built in RF wireless RF transmitter which functions as a garage or door opener or RF transmitter output where it should be noted that object avoidance can be utilized in many ways to determine if there is an object in the automatic transport system'"'"'s path whereby logic can be included to direct the transport system to proceed around an obstacle or to direct the transport system to return to the sending location and report a message to staff on the panel of the transport system or through wireless means to the staff that an obstacle was found in the path and that the transport system returned to send location without completing task(s) where through obstacle avoidance and logic in the transport system it can determine where the transport system has to go to park itself in a secure area such as where it would park itself normally and close a garage door or other electromechanical door, gate or other closure mechanism having the intelligence to know where the coordinates of this location is through painted lines that it follows, or through GPS coordinates in memory and when approaching said coordinates after loading or unloading operations to park in said location it uses obstacle avoidance sensor(s) to determine whether or not said door is closed and if said door is closed when returning to store and park itself the transport system will use internal logic to automatically momentarily stop and engage RF transmission circuits to open the lockable electronic garage door or other electromechanical door(s), gates, or closure systems and then proceed into the garage or storage location, park in its designated spot, dock and lock unto its locking pin so it cannot be moved, send another RF signal to close the garage door or other electromechanical door, gate or other lockable closure system to seal off the storage area, and then shut down the unit or put itself in standy mode;

xlix) means to provide an automatic transport system with optional electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic robotic transfer mechanisms for loading and unloading of cargo that have the functionality to turn and rotate cargo 0-360 degrees in a programmable fashion to load them and to turn the cargo for loading them unto the transport system or to turn and rotate cargo 0-360 degrees when delivering them when placing them or lowering them unto a designated delivery location with stabilizing means to prevent the transport system from tilting when picking up a load whereby the stabilizing means move downward towards the floor or ground as the load is lifted to bear the weight of the cargo as the cargo is turned or rotated 0-360 degrees to position it to place it and to move it unto the transport system stabilizing the load moving with it as the transfer mechanism(s) move to load the cargo unto the transport system;

I) means to provide an automatic transport system with logic, circuitry and mechanisms and directions to deliver or to pick up items from any location reachable by the transport system and or its extendable electromechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic and or robotic transfer mechanisms to include loading, pick-up, and or unloading applications from shelves, from trucks, from railroad cars, from one area to another, from manufacturing cells, for delivering garbage, scrap, materials or supplies, for delivering mail, for delivering people, or for custom applications where the transfer mechanisms can turn cargo items 0-360 degrees to place cargo in any rotational direction upon the platform bay(s) of the transport system or where the transfer mechanism(s) may place each cargo item 0-360 degrees in any rotational direction off of the transport system when making a delivery and whereby when the transfer mechanisms release a cargo item after placing each cargo item in a platform bay they disengage from the cargo item in a manner to release it to either proceed to park themselves and come to rest by securing themselves in a designated platform bay reserved for storing the transfer mechanism or they withdraw in an area reserved to store the transfer mechanism securely so as they will not interfere with further operations of the transport system or they will continue with further loading operations until they are done and then park themselves whereby if a transfer mechanism is engaged in loading or unloading items unto or off of shelves special logic can drive transfer mechanism(s) to move a certain length, width, height or depth within each shelf at a destination and whereby scanners can scan and determine what shelf they are at by counting how high on the “

Z”

axis or “

height”

they are raised or by optically detecting each shelf as they pass by it through scanning means via a counter that is set to detect shelves as the scanner head is raised on the robotic arm of the transfer mechanism;

Ii) means to provide an automatic transport system with and or without electromechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic and or robotic transfer mechanisms for the delivery of cargo to singular or multiple destination(s) and means to provide for the delivery of cargo to singular or multiple destination(s) with manual and or automatic secure lockable closure means such as electromechanical covers, doors, tie down straps, chains, cables, and or other manual or automatic systems, mechanisms or means that can be used to secure cargo while they are in transport for secure delivery of cargo which can be released through a password entered at the command console of the transport system or entered through wireless RF means, a wireless remote, a password, or through a GPS system or a special interface;

lii) means to allow an automatic transport system and or multiple automatic transport systems to be used and controlled by one or more users in the same facility and controlled by a GPS system or through wireless means and or through computers through a wireless remote or other control system where the automatic transport systems each have their own unique frequency or ID so that they can be independently controlled and programmed and operated to perform their functions;

liii) means to allow an automatic transport system vehicle to be developed with optional electromechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic and or robotic transfer mechanism(s) for the loading or unloading of cargo at destination(s) to operate in some models as a fully automated and programmable unit much like a robotic fork lift but with interchangeable robotic transfer mechanisms that can be exchanged to handle different types of cargo to operate in different selectable modes including following;

     1) a painted path control where the unit steers itself to follow a painted path or a taped line utilizing paint sensitive sensors or scanners;

     2) a manual path control where a driver can overide the automatic driving features of the system by utilizing a manual steering system, a manual braking and a manual acceleration system instead of the fully automatic features provided by GPS control, or by painted Path Control, or by RF control;

     3) Programmed Path;

where GPS coordinates control steering, direction, braking and acceleration are directed from instruction(s) loaded from a ROM;

     4) RF controlled path;

where steering, speed and direction and control is determined through wireless means in real time;

liv) means to provide an automatic transport system with the logic and circuitry and memory functions, date and time circuits input and output circuits for path programs, path recording, barcode information, remote instructions, cargo data, delivery status, updates, RF, manual signals, and memory allocations to include memory locations that include but are not limited to;

a) DATE &

TIME INFORMATION, b) GPS COORDINATES FOR WAREHOUSE &

PATHS, OR MAPPED AREA, c) SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS, d) INDIVIDUAL CARGO DATA, e) BARCODE INFORMATION &

DECODING ROM, f) EPROM WITH PATH PROGRAMS AND GARAGE DOOR LOCATIONS, g) MULTIPLE PACKAGE DELIVERY CODES, h) WAREHOUSE CARGO DATA, i) SECURITY CODES &

DECODING ROM, j) PATH RECORDING DATA, k) DELIVERY STATUS &

UPDATES, I) USER SPACE WITH SPECIAL PROGRAMS, m) INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFT LOGIC INCLUDING INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOCK DOWN MECHANISMS, n) ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS, ETC;

2. A machine having automatic transport capabilities with painted path control, line scanning;

programmed path control, GPS-ROM scanning;

manual path control, operator control;

RF control and GPS functions as claimed in claim 1 further comprising;

i) means to provide logic, circuitry, memory circuits within the automatic transport system, within the remote control unit and or within the programmable digital assistant including interface means to allow one to program the automatic-transport system to perform operational functions described within the scope of the present invention such as loading and unloading specific items into and out of the automatic transport system, and or to allow the automatic-transport system to dock and lock down on a pin cemented on the ground or to dock elsewhere at a designated location, to send an email to designated parties through a wireless or a wired port, to report that it has arrived at a particular destination when it arrives at each location through email or remote control RF signalling means, to unlock a secure cargo upon receiving a code after coming to a certain destination, how to perform requested operation(s) such as;

“

automatically”

or “

prompt user”

for each operation, in what order to perform them and what to do after it performs them such as to dock there, to lock down and shut down, or to proceed to another location or to go to a series of location(s) and perform additional task(s) or to return to the sending location;

ii) means to provide logic and circuitry with intelligence built-into the automatic-transport system'"'"'s circuits whereas the system utilizes forward looking and reverse looking sensor(s) whereby it can see obstacles in its path utilizing an algorithm to deviate from its path in memory to go around said obstacle whereas if the obstacle cannot be overcome to proceed around the obstacle and back to the path, the intelligence built into the circuit will provide directions to the automatic-transport system to send it back to its sending location with a programmable message on its display panel (that can be customized) indicating that there was an obstacle in its path that could not be overcome;

iii) means to provide an automatic-transport system in an array of various different models some comprising a model with a steering mechanism in the front of the automatic-transport system and another steering mechanism in the back of the unit so that the automatic-transport system can be steered to follow either a forward or a reverse path in either direction and go forward by switching to the desired steering system or to follow a reverse path on the fly without having to turn around for the convenience to follow a taped or painted line in reverse or to reverse the automatic-transport system'"'"'s path in a GPS path without having to turn around by just switching from the forward steering system to the opposite reverse steering system and reversing its path direction whereby if it was scanning lines to a destination, it would use its reverse looking scanner sensors to scan for a taped or painted line on the floor or the ground and use the reverse steering system, or whereby if it was using GPS coordinates it would reverse the path in its computer memory and follow the path directions backwards from its location back to its destination;

further if it was using operational memory that would drive the automatic transport system'"'"'s operation via macro(s) then the automatic-transport system would travel forward in reverse using its reverse steering system on its path and follow macro instruction(s) as well and the system would also have the ability to switch back and forth between forward and reverse steering system(s) as it is commanded to do so by the signals it receives;

iv) means to selectively control when and how electromechanical, pneumatic, and or hydraulic electromechanical transfer systems operate to load or unload, secure and hold items, release items, and or to load or to eject items off of platform areas, and or to allow the docking or undocking of lockable and unlockable platform wagon(s) and wheeled pallet(s) and to allow the mechanisms and the automatic-transport system to operate under a variety of modes including automatically as programmed, remotely and or manually under operator intervention upon enterring a security identification code.