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An aerial work platform apparatus and method for automatically leveling a mobile aerial work platform, including a base frame, a movable platform, a lift mechanism configured to move the platform in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the base frame, a stabilizing assembly including a

An aerial work platform apparatus and method for automatically leveling a mobile aerial work platform, including a base frame, a movable platform, a lift mechanism configured to move the platform in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the base frame, a stabilizing assembly including at least one outrigger leg mounted on the base frame, and a control assembly.

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1. A method for automatically leveling a mobile aerial work platform apparatus comprising the steps of: providing a mobile aerial work platform apparatus including a mobile base, a movable platform, a lift mechanism configured to move the platform in a substantially vertical direction with respect t

1. A method for automatically leveling a mobile aerial work platform apparatus comprising the steps of: providing a mobile aerial work platform apparatus including a mobile base, a movable platform, a lift mechanism configured to move the platform in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the mobile base, a stabilizing assembly including at least one outrigger leg mounted on the mobile base, a plurality of sensors configured to sense an orientation of the mobile base and a condition of the at least one outrigger leg, and a control assembly in communication with the plurality of sensors,receiving by the control assembly a command from an operator to automatically level an orientation of the mobile base of the apparatus, andautomatically adjusting the stabilizing assembly so that an orientation of the mobile base is substantially level, wherein the control assembly is configured to receive input from the sensors and sends output to the stabilizing assembly to perform the automatic adjustment;detecting if the movable platform is in a lowermost position, andpreventing the base frame from being automatically leveled if the movable platform is not in the lowermost position. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one outrigger leg is extendable in a substantially horizontal direction; and further comprising: determining a degree of horizontal extension of the at least one outrigger leg of the stabilizing assembly; andpreventing or terminating the adjustment of the stabilizing assembly if the at least one outrigger leg of the stabilizing assembly is not horizontally extended. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one outrigger leg is extendable in a substantially vertical direction; and wherein the step of adjusting the stabilizing assembly further comprises initially adjusting a length of the at least one outrigger leg to contact the ground surface. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of adjusting the stabilizing assembly further comprises adjusting the length of the at least one outrigger leg, if necessary, to move the mobile base toward a level orientation. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one outrigger leg is extendable in a substantially vertical direction; and wherein the step of adjusting the stabilizing assembly further comprises adjusting the vertical length of the at least one outrigger leg. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one outrigger leg is extendable and retractable in a substantially vertical direction; and wherein the step of adjusting the stabilizing assembly further includes extending or retracting a vertical length of the at least one outrigger leg until the orientation of the base frame is level. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one outrigger leg is extendable in a substantially vertical direction; and wherein the step of adjusting the stabilizing assembly further comprises: lengthening the at least one outrigger leg,sensing any resistance to lengthening of the at least one outrigger leg; andterminating the lengthening of the at least one outrigger leg when resistance is sensed. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one outrigger leg is extendable in a substantially vertical direction; and wherein the step of providing a mobile aerial work platform apparatus includes providing a pressure sensor on a ground-contacting pad of the at least one outrigger leg to sense contact between the at least one outrigger leg and the ground surface; andwherein the step of adjusting the stabilizing assembly further comprises extending the at least one outrigger leg until the pressure sensor senses contact between the at least one outrigger leg and the ground surface. 9. A method for automatically leveling a mobile aerial work platform apparatus comprising the steps of: providing a mobile aerial work platform apparatus including a mobile base, a movable platform, a lift mechanism configured to move the platform in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the mobile base, a stabilizing assembly including at least one outrigger leg mounted on the mobile base, a plurality of sensors configured to sense an orientation of the mobile base and a condition of the at least one outrigger leg, and a control assembly in communication with the plurality of sensors,receiving by the control assembly a command from an operator to automatically level an orientation of the mobile base of the apparatus, andautomatically adjusting the stabilizing assembly so that an orientation of the mobile base is substantially level, wherein the control assembly is configured to receive input from the sensors and sends output to the stabilizing assembly to perform the automatic adjustment;wherein the movable platform has an extended position at a full extension vertical height and a retracted position at a vertical height adjacent to the mobile base, and further comprising:limiting a liftable height of the platform to a reduced intermediate lift height above the mobile base based upon a condition of the stabilizing assembly, the reduced intermediate lift height being vertically higher than the retracted position of the platform and being vertically lower than the extended position of the platform. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one outrigger leg is extendable and retractable in a substantially horizontal direction; and wherein the step of limiting the liftable height of the platform further comprises: detecting whether a variable height command is received from the operator,sensing whether the at least one outrigger leg is not horizontally fully extended from the base frame,if the at least one outrigger leg is not horizontally extended about the base frame and the variable height command from the operator is detected, limiting the liftable height of the movable platform to an intermediate height, the intermediate lift height being less than a full lift height of the platform. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one outrigger leg is extendable and retractable in a substantially horizontal direction; and wherein the step of limiting the liftable height of the platform further comprises: detecting whether a variable height command is received from the operator,sensing whether the at least one outrigger leg is not horizontally fully extended from the base frame, andif the at least one outrigger leg is not horizontally extended from the base frame and the variable height command from the operator is not detected, preventing the control assembly from automatically leveling the mobile base. 12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of: detecting if the movable platform is in a lowermost position, andpreventing the base frame from being automatically leveled if the movable platform is not in the lowermost position. 13. A method for automatically leveling a mobile aerial work platform apparatus comprising the steps of: providing a mobile aerial work platform apparatus including a mobile base, a movable platform, a lift mechanism configured to move the platform in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the mobile base, a stabilizing assembly including at least one outrigger leg mounted on the mobile base and being extendable in a substantially vertical direction, a plurality of sensors configured to sense an orientation of the mobile base and a condition of the at least one outrigger leg, and a control assembly in communication with the plurality of sensors,receiving by the control assembly a command from an operator to automatically level an orientation of the mobile base of the apparatus, andautomatically adjusting the stabilizing assembly so that an orientation of the mobile base is substantially level, wherein the control assembly is configured to receive input from the sensors and sends output to the stabilizing assembly to perform the automatic adjustment;extending the at least one outrigger leg a predetermined amount after the mobile base has been brought into a level orientation by the step of automatically adjusting the stabilizing assembly. 14. A method for automatically leveling a mobile aerial work platform apparatus comprising the steps of: providing a mobile aerial work platform apparatus including a mobile base, a movable platform, a lift mechanism configured to move the platform in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the mobile base, a stabilizing assembly including at least one outrigger leg mounted on the mobile base, a plurality of sensors configured to sense an orientation of the mobile base and a condition of the at least one outrigger leg, and a control assembly in communication with the plurality of sensors,receiving by the control assembly a command from an operator to automatically level an orientation of the mobile base of the apparatus, andautomatically adjusting the stabilizing assembly so that an orientation of the mobile base is substantially level, wherein the control assembly is configured to receive input from the sensors and sends output to the stabilizing assembly to perform the automatic adjustment;limiting a liftable height of the platform above the mobile base based upon a condition of the stabilizing assembly; andwherein the step of limiting the liftable height further comprises the steps of: detecting whether a variable height command is received from the operator; andif the variable height command is received, limiting the lift mechanism from lifting the platform higher than an intermediate lift height, the intermediate lift height being less than a full lift height of the platform. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of limiting the liftable height further comprises, if the variable height command is not received, allowing the lift mechanism to lift the platform to a full lift height of the platform. 16. A method for automatically leveling a mobile aerial work platform apparatus comprising the steps of: providing a mobile aerial work platform apparatus including a mobile base, a movable platform, a lift mechanism configured to move the platform in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the mobile base, a stabilizing assembly including at least one outrigger leg mounted on the mobile base, the at least one outrigger leg is extendable and retractable in a substantially horizontal direction, a plurality of sensors configured to sense an orientation of the mobile base and a condition of the at least one outrigger leg, and a control assembly in communication with the plurality of sensors,receiving by the control assembly a command from an operator to automatically level an orientation of the mobile base of the apparatus, andautomatically adjusting the stabilizing assembly so that an orientation of the mobile base is substantially level, wherein the control assembly is configured to receive input from the sensors and sends output to the stabilizing assembly to perform the automatic adjustment;terminating the adjustment of the stabilizing assembly based upon a condition of the stabilizing assembly; andwherein the step of terminating the adjustment of the stabilizing assembly further comprises: detecting whether a variable height command is received from the operator;sensing whether the at least one outrigger is in a horizontally retracted position; andif the variable height command is received and the at least one outrigger leg is in a horizontally retracted position, enabling the control assembly to perform the automatic leveling of the orientation of the mobile base. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of terminating the adjustment of the stabilizing assembly further comprises: detecting whether a variable height command is received from the operator,sensing whether the at least one outrigger is in a horizontally retracted position; andif the variable height command is not received and the at least one outrigger leg is in a horizontally retracted position, disabling the control assembly from attempting to automatically level the orientation of the mobile base.