A transport system comprising linear motor modules utilized both straight and curved track modules, with movers displaced on the track modules by control of power applied to coils of the modules. Curved track modules have modified spline geometries to provide desired acceleration and jerk characteristics. The modified spline geometries may be defined by more than one generators, such as an equation generator and a spline fit between the equation-generated segment and one or more constrained points or locations. The curved track modules may be divided into 180 degree modules, or may be reduced to 90 degree, 45 degree or other fractional arcs to provide for modular assembly, mirror-image geometries and motion profiles, and the like. The system may be adapted to provide improved motion characteristics based on modification of a conventional spline geometry.

Magnetic levitation can be used for transportation purposes. In various embodiments, the vehicle utilizing magnetic levitation can be enclosed within a tube or a tunnel or outside of an enclosed environment. Various cross-sections of vehicles and tubes can be utilized. In various embodiments, the vehicles can be used for personal or mass transportation use. The vehicle can travel in at least two directions with a window at each end of the vehicle.

A current collector monitoring system in one aspect of the present disclosure is provided with: a collected current measurement unit; a collected current state determination unit; an image acquisition unit; an event recognition unit; an event determination unit; and a determination result output unit. When a state of collected current corresponds to an abnormal state, the image acquisition unit acquires an image including, within an angle of view, a collector shoe provided to a current collector.

The present invention discloses an apparatus for freight transportation. The apparatus comprising an electrified rail network, and a freight carrier mounted on the electrified rail network. The freight carrier is adjustable in length and comprises locking pins at opposing sides of the freight carrier. The freight carrier adjusts a location of the locking pins to match a length of the container. An attachment device receives and raises the container towards the carrier so that a connection holes at a top of the container connects to the locking pins under the freight carrier. A drive wheel assembly disposed at the freight carrier provides drive required to facilitate movement of the freight carrier along the rail network. A computing device in communication with the freight carrier is configured to send signal to the freight carrier to navigate the freight carrier to a destination point, thereby automatically delivering containers to the destination point.

A transport system comprising linear motor modules utilized both straight and curved track modules, with movers displaced on the track modules by control of power applied to coils of the modules. Curved track modules have modified spline geometries to provide desired acceleration and jerk characteristics. The modified spline geometries may be defined by more than one generators, such as an equation generator and a spline fit between the equation-generated segment and one or more constrained points or locations. The curved track modules may be divided into 180 degree modules, or may be reduced to 90 degree, 45 degree or other fractional arcs to provide for modular assembly, mirror-image geometries and motion profiles, and the like. The system may be adapted to provide improved motion characteristics based on modification of a conventional spline geometry.

A vehicle system includes an instructing portion that issues open/close instructions for a charging disconnector, a discharging disconnector, and a pair of contactors. A diagnosis start determination portion determines a diagnosis start timing before entering a trolleyless section. A remaining battery capacity checks whether a battery unit has a battery capacity necessary in a trolleyless section travel. A relay operation check portion checks operability of a charging disconnector, the discharging disconnector, and the pair of contactors based on certain open/close states of a plurality of relays depending on the open/close instructions. An abnormality determination portion determines trolleyless section travel is not allowed when the relay operation check portion is incapable of checking operability or necessary remaining battery capacity, the remaining battery capacity check portion, the relay operation check portion, and the abnormality determination portion being operated when the diagnosis start determination portion determines that it is diagnosis start timing.

A vehicle system includes an instructing portion that issues open/close instructions for a charging disconnector, a discharging disconnector, and a pair of contactors. A diagnosis start determination portion determines a diagnosis start timing before entering a trolleyless section. A remaining battery capacity checks whether a battery unit has a battery capacity necessary in a trolleyless section travel. A relay operation check portion checks operability of a charging disconnector, the discharging disconnector, and the pair of contactors based on certain open/close states of a plurality of relays depending on the open/close instructions. An abnormality determination portion determines trolleyless section travel is not allowed when the relay operation check portion is incapable of checking operability or necessary remaining battery capacity, the remaining battery capacity check portion, the relay operation check portion, and the abnormality determination portion being operated when the diagnosis start determination portion determines that it is diagnosis start timing.

Drive coils in sections of a linear motor track that are normally used to electromagnetically propel movers along the track when such movers are nearby can be used to generate a mid-bus voltage for the section when not being used to propel movers. Such drive coils not being used to propel movers are considered idle and available for mid-bus voltage generation. The mid-bus voltage, and a full-bus voltage from which the mid-bus voltage is derived, in turn, can be applied across other drive coils that are near movers with varying polarities and magnitudes to propel movers along the track. Track sensors can be positioned along the track to detect presences or absences of movers with respect to drive coils for determining propulsion of such movers or generation of the mid-bus voltage. Accordingly, power supplies can be used more efficiently by not requiring them to generate mid-bus voltages in addition to full-bus voltages and DC references.

For a long stator linear motor comprising a switch and secure guidance of the transport vehicles in the direction of movement along the transport track, it is provided that the transport vehicle (Tn) is force-guided, at least in sections, in the direction of movement (x) outside the switch (W), and at least one one-sided track section (2d) is provided on the transport track (2), along which a vehicle guide element (7) only on one side of the transport track (2) interacts with the track guide element (6) on the assigned side of the transport track (2) for the mechanical forced guidance in the direction of movement (x), and the forced guidance in the direction of movement (x) in the transverse direction (y) is canceled in the region of the switch (W).

Aspects of the invention provide a transport system powered by short block Linear Synchronous Motors (LSMs). The use of short blocks allows vehicles to move under precise control even when they are in close proximity to each other. The design allows the vehicles to be propelled and guided while negotiating sharp turns and negotiating merge and diverge switches. A coreless LSM can be used to create propulsive force without attractive force so as to allow a relatively high drag vehicle suspension, such as a vehicle sliding on a smooth surface.