Loading platform alignment system and loading/unloading method thereof

An alignment system for loading a wheeled stretcher into an emergency transport vehicle, the alignment system comprising:

• a loading platform configured to fit within the emergency transport vehicle;
• at least one sensor configured to detect a position of the wheeled stretcher relative to at least one of (a) the emergency transport vehicle and (b) a surface adjacent a loading end of the emergency transport vehicle and upon which at least one of the wheeled stretcher and the emergency transport vehicle may be placed;
• a controller;
• and
• at least one actuator configured to have six degrees of freedom movement, the at least actuator responsive to an input signal from the controller and cooperative with the loading platform such that upon receipt by the controller of a signal received from the at least one sensor and determination by the controller that the wheeled stretcher is not in alignment with the loading platform, program instructions executed by the controller cause the at least one actuator to move the loading platform in at least one degree of freedom of the six degrees of freedom in order to substantially align the loading platform with the wheeled stretcher.