Automated pallet container hybrid

1. An intermodal container comprising:

a base having a defined number of sides, the base being configured to support products during transport, the base including wheels or casters provided on a bottom of the base to enable movement of the base on a horizontal surface, a motor integrated into the base to drive the movement of wheels or casters to move the base along the horizontal surface, and a power storage device integrated into the base to provide means for powering the motor;

a removable cover having a top and a defined number of sides matching the defined number of sides of the base, the removable cover being configured to be releasably secured to the base to define an enclosure in a use position and to be removed in a stored position; and

a controller coupled to the motor and the power storage device, the controller being configured to control the independent movement of the base, the controller further being configured to communicate with and obtain operational parameters from a master controller associated with a facility.

2. The intermodal container of claim 1 , wherein the defined number of sides of the base is four and the defined number of sides of the removable cover is four.

3. The intermodal container of claim 1 , wherein the base further includes at least one void formed therein to enable a conveyance to lift and move the base.

4. The intermodal container of claim 1 , wherein the base further includes an interlocking mechanism integrated into the base to provide connect the base to a vehicle.

5. The intermodal container of claim 1 , wherein the base further includes at least one interlocking device integrated into the base to connect a base to another base.

6. The intermodal container of claim 1 , wherein the base further includes an electromagnetic device integrated into the base to guide motion of the base along a magnetic field provided on the horizontal surface.

7. The intermodal container of claim 1 , wherein the base further includes one or more electromagnetic devices integrated into the base to interact with corresponding magnets in an adjacent surface to power motion of the base.

8. The intermodal container of claim 1 , wherein the base further includes one or more interlocking mechanisms integrated into the base to connect the base to a vehicle.

9. The intermodal container of claim 1 , wherein the base is formed with a perimeter lip and attachment devices to releasably secure the cover to the base.

10. The intermodal container of claim 1 , further comprising a system configured to communicate with the controller to enable tracking of products supported by the base and enclosed by the cover.

11. The intermodal container of claim 10 , wherein the system uses location services to determine a location of the intermodal container.

12. The intermodal container of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control an interlocking system designed to engage or disengage the base from a support surface.

13. The intermodal container of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the base is properly aligned with a lift or a vehicle to permit controlled movement of the intermodal container between the lift and the vehicle.

14. A system of moving products, the system comprising:

an intermodal container including

a base having a defined number of sides, the base being configured to support products during transport, and

a removable cover having a top and a defined number of sides matching the defined number of sides of the base, the removable cover being configured to be releasably secured to the base to define an enclosure; and

a controller configured to identify and monitor a location of the intermodal container, the controller further being configured to communicate with and obtain operational parameters from a master controller associated with a facility, the controller further being configured to operate with a vehicle configured to support and transport the intermodal container,

wherein the vehicle further is configured to operate with a belt conveyor system provided on a platform of a facility, the belt conveyor system including a conveyer belt that moves at a synchronized speed with the vehicle to enable the loading and unloading of the intermodal container.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising at least one hinged flap to bridge a gap between the vehicle and a belt conveyor system when the intermodal container is moved laterally between the vehicle and the belt conveyor system.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one flap is configured to be moved to and from a generally vertical position in which the flap is positioned against the intermodal container and a generally horizontal position in which the flap extends horizontally away from the vehicle.