SHOPPING FACILITY ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND METHODS TO ADDRESS GROUND AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

1 . A system providing enhanced safety, comprising:

a central computer system that is separate and distinct from a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units, wherein each of the plurality of motorized transport units is configured to temporarily and interchangeably engage and disengage with anyone of a plurality of different detachable ground treatment systems each configured to perform a different ground treatment to address a different external ground level condition, and wherein the central computer system comprises:

a transceiver configured to communicate with the motorized transport units located at a shopping facility;

a control circuit coupled with the transceiver; and

a memory coupled to the control circuit and storing computer instructions that when executed by the control circuit cause the control circuit to perform the steps of:

communicate engagement instructions to each of the plurality of motorized transport units to temporarily couple with at least one of the plurality of different detachable ground treatment systems;

communicate separate treatment routing instructions to each of the plurality of motorized transport units to cause the plurality of motorized transport units to transport the respective at least one of the plurality of different detachable ground treatment systems along a respective treatment route in accordance with the respective treatment routing instruction and over at least a portion of one or more external areas that are accessible by the plurality of motorized transport units as the respective ground treatment system performs the respective ground treatment to address at least one respective ground level condition.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit in communicating the treatment routing instructions is configured to communicate first treatment routing instructions to a first motorized transport unit of the plurality of motorized transport units causing the first motorized transport unit to travel over a first portion of a first external area along a defined first treatment route while transporting a first ground treatment system along the surface of the first portion of the first external area as the first ground treatment system performs the first ground treatment to address the at least one respective ground level condition.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

communicate second treatment routing instructions to a second motorized transport unit causing the second motorized transport unit to travel over a second portion of a second external area along a defined second treatment route while transporting a second ground treatment system along the surface of the second portion of the second external area as the second ground treatment system performs the second ground treatment to address the at least a second respective ground level condition.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the control circuit, while the plurality of motorized transport units travel in accordance with the treatment routing instructions, is further configured to:

identify, based on sensor data, an obstacle entering an area that affects an intended route of a first motorized transport unit; and

communicate, to the first motorized transport unit, modifications to the respective treatment routing instructions causing the first motorized transport unit to implement a modified treatment route to avoid the obstacle.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the control circuit in identifying the obstacle is entering the area that affects the intended route of the first motorized transport unit is configured to identify the obstacle is entering an area where snow is intended to be directed by a snow blower system being driven by the first motorized transport unit; and

communicate, to the first motorized transport unit, the modifications to the treatment routing instructions causing the first motorized transport unit to implement the modified treatment route to avoid snow being blown toward the obstacle.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

communicate a disengagement instruct to a first motorized transport unit to disengage from a first ground treatment system configured to provide a first ground treatment;

communicate an additional engagement instruction to the first motorized transport unit to temporarily couple with a second ground treating system configured to provide a second ground treatment that is different than the first ground treatment; and

communicate additional treatment routing instructions to at least the first motorized transport unit causing the first motorized transport unit to transport the second ground treatment system in accordance with the additional treatment routing instructions as the second ground treatment system performs the second ground treatment.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

communicate a disengagement instruct to a first motorized transport unit to disengage from a first ground treating system;

communicate a movable item container engagement instruction to the first motorized transport unit to engage with a movable item container; and

communicate shopping routing instructions to the first motorized transport unit to cause the first motorized transport unit to transport the movable item container through at least portions of the shopping facility.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:

identify, based on sensor data, one or more locations where snow is to be moved;

identify routing between each of two or more motorized transport units of the plurality of motorized transport units and at least one of the one or more locations;

wherein the control circuit in communicating the treatment routing instructions is configured to communicate the treatment routing instructions to each of the at least two or more motorized transport units such that each of the two or more motorized transport units, in implementing the area routing instructions, transports a respective ground treatment system to moved snow to at least one of the one or more locations.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a first motorized transport unit of the plurality of motorized transport units is communicatively coupled with a first ground treatment system of the plurality of ground treatment systems, and the first motorized transport unit is configured to communicate control instructions to a first ground treatment system of the plurality of ground treatment systems causing the first ground treatment system to implement at least one adjustment in preforming the ground treatment in accordance with the control instructions.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the first motorized transport unit in communicating the control instructions to the first ground treatment system is configured to communicate motor control instructions to cause adjustments of one or more motors of the first ground treatment system to aid the first motorized transport unit in transporting the first ground treatment system in accordance with the respective treatment routing instructions.

11 . A method of providing enhanced safety, comprising:

by a control circuit of an automated central computer system that is separate and distinct from a plurality of self-propelled motorized transport units:

communicating engagement instructions to each of the plurality of motorized transport units to each temporarily couple with at least one of a plurality of different detachable ground treatment systems, wherein each of the plurality of motorized transport units is configured to temporarily and interchangeably engage and disengage with anyone of the plurality of different detachable ground treatment systems each configured to perform a different ground treatment to address a different external ground level condition; and

communicating separate treatment routing instructions to each of the plurality of motorized transport units to cause the plurality of motorized transport units to transport the respective at least one of the plurality of ground treatment systems in accordance with the respective treatment routing instructions and over at least a portion of one or more external areas that are accessible by the plurality of motorized transport units as the respective ground treatment system performs the respective ground treatment to address at least one respective ground level condition.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the communicating the treatment routing instructions comprises communicating first treatment routing instructions to a first motorized transport unit of the plurality of transport units causing the first motorized transport unit to travel over a first portion of a first external area along a defined first treatment route while transporting a first ground treatment system along the surface of the first portion of the first external area as the first ground treatment system performs the first ground treatment to address the at least one respective ground level condition.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

communicating second treatment routing instructions to a second motorized transport unit causing the second motorized transport unit to travel over a second portion of a second external area along a defined second treatment route while transporting a second ground treatment system along the surface of the second portion of the second external area as the second ground treatment system performs the second ground treatment to address the at least a second respective ground level condition.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

identifying, based on sensor data and while the plurality of motorized transport units travel in accordance with the treatment routing instructions, an obstacle entering an area that affects an intended route of a first motorized transport unit; and

communicating, to the first motorized transport unit, modifications to the respective treatment routing instructions causing the first motorized transport unit to implement a modified treatment route to avoid the obstacle.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the identifying the obstacle is entering the area that affects the intended route of the first motorized transport unit comprises identifying the obstacle is entering an area where snow is intended to be directed by a snow blower system being driven by the first motorized transport unit; and

communicating, to the first motorized transport unit, the modifications to the area routing instructions causing the first motorized transport unit to implement the modified route to avoid snow being blown toward the obstacle.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

communicating a disengagement instruct to a first motorized transport unit to disengage from a first ground treatment system configured to provide a first ground treatment;

communicating an additional engagement instruction to the first motorized transport unit to temporarily couple with a second ground treating system configured to provide a second ground treatment that is different than the first ground treatment; and

communicating additional treatment routing instructions to at least the first motorized transport unit causing the first motorized transport unit to transport the second ground treatment system in accordance with the additional treatment routing instructions as the second ground treatment system performs the second ground treatment.

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

communicating a disengagement instruct to a first motorized transport unit to disengage with a first ground treating system;

communicating a movable item container engagement instruction to the first motorized transport unit to engage with a movable item container; and

communicating shopping routing instructions to the first motorized transport unit to cause the first motorized transport unit to transport the movable item container through at least portions of the shopping facility.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

identifying, based on sensor data, one or more locations where snow is to be moved;

identifying routing between each of two or more motorized transport units of the plurality of motorized transport units and at least one of the one or more locations;

wherein the communicating the treatment routing instructions comprises communicating the treatment routing instructions to each of the at least two or more motorized transport units such that each of the two or more motorized transport units, in implementing the area routing instructions, transports a respective ground treatment system to moved snow to at least one of the one or more locations.

19 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

communicating, from a first motorized transport unit of the plurality of motorized transport units, control instructions to a first ground treatment system of the plurality of ground treatment systems, and causing the first ground treatment system to implement at least one adjustment in preforming the ground treatment in accordance with the control instructions.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the communicating the control instructions comprises communicating, from the first motorized transport unit, motor control instructions to the first ground treatment system causing the adjustments of one or more motors of the first ground treatment system to aid the first motorized transport unit in transporting the first ground treatment system in accordance with the respective treatment routing instructions.