Cot loading and unloading systems having a fixed rail and methods for pairing with a cot

A method of operating a cot loading and unloading system comprising a fixed rail comprising a track, wherein the fixed rail is operable to be fixed to a floor of a cargo area of a vehicle, a carriage, wherein the carriage is coupled to the track and operable to travel along the fixed rail on the track, and a master controller, the method comprising:

• wirelessly transmitting, by the master controller, a broadcast address to one or more cots;
• receiving, by the master controller, one or more strength signals from one or more cot address signals sent by the one or more cots;
• and
• selecting an individual cot for pairing with the master controller from the one or more cots based on the one or more strength signals.

A system comprising:

• a cot loading and unloading system comprising:
• a fixed rail comprising a track, wherein the fixed rail is operable to be fixed to a floor;
• a carriage comprising at least one load arm, wherein the carriage is coupled to the track and operable to travel along the fixed rail on the track;
• and
• a master controller operable to be communicatively coupled to the fixed rail and the carriage;
• and
• a cot comprising a base and at least one sensor mounted on the base at a position such that the at least one sensor is operable to detect a presence and an absence of the at least one load arm proximate the base.