A computing system may obtain, for each vehicle of a plurality of vehicles located within a location area, navigation data that indicates a travel route for the vehicle. Based on the navigation data for the plurality of vehicles, the computing system determines a subset of the plurality of vehicles that are within a threshold distance of each other and have respective travel routes that at least partially overlap. The computing system selects, based on a set of selection parameters, two or more vehicles among the subset of vehicles to form a platoon of vehicles that travel in a coordinated arrangement in proximity to each other during at least a portion of the respective travel routes of the selected vehicles. The computing system can direct the selected vehicles to form the platoon of vehicles.

A computing system may obtain, for each vehicle of a plurality of vehicles located within a location area, navigation data that indicates a travel route for the vehicle. Based on the navigation data for the plurality of vehicles, the computing system determines a subset of the plurality of vehicles that are within a threshold distance of each other and have respective travel routes that at least partially overlap. The computing system selects, based on a set of selection parameters, two or more vehicles among the subset of vehicles to form a platoon of vehicles that travel in a coordinated arrangement in proximity to each other during at least a portion of the respective travel routes of the selected vehicles. The computing system can direct the selected vehicles to form the platoon of vehicles.

An indoor zip coaster has a zip coaster rail suspended above ground and forming a closed loop. At least one trolley located is on the rail, with a rider tethered to the trolley by a harness. The rail has plural sections, with each section of the rail including an incline portion and a decline portion. The trolley traverses the respective incline portion of one of the sections before traversing the respective decline portion of the one section. Each of the stations contains a respective incline portion of rail, a ramp for the rider to climb. The decline portion of rail of the next section extends from one station to the next station. By including stations with inclined portions of rail along the zip coaster path, a longer ride can be obtained. In addition, sensors and gates can be provided at the stations to allow a single rider on each rail section, with multiple riders on the overall zip coaster spread among the sections.

An indoor zip coaster has a zip coaster rail suspended above ground and forming a closed loop. At least one trolley located is on the rail, with a rider tethered to the trolley by a harness. The rail has plural sections, with each section of the rail including an incline portion and a decline portion. The trolley traverses the respective incline portion of one of the sections before traversing the respective decline portion of the one section. Each of the stations contains a respective incline portion of rail, a ramp for the rider to climb. The decline portion of rail of the next section extends from one station to the next station. By including stations with inclined portions of rail along the zip coaster path, a longer ride can be obtained. In addition, sensors and gates can be provided at the stations to allow a single rider on each rail section, with multiple riders on the overall zip coaster spread among the sections.

A method for operating a conveying system is provided. An overhead hoist transport (OHT) vehicle is provided, wherein the OHT vehicle includes a gripping member configured to grip and hold a carrier, and a receiver configured to receive a signal. The signal is transmitted to the receiver of the OHT vehicle. The OHT vehicle is moved toward the carrier, and the carrier is gripped by the gripping member of the OHT vehicle. A lifting force is determined based on a weight of a carrier, a number of workpieces in the carrier, or a vertical distance between the OHT vehicle and the carrier, and the lifting force is applied to the carrier.

Vehicles for use on a railway and their methods of operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a bogie with wheels engaged with opposing tracks extending along a length of a railway the bogie travels along. The vehicle includes at least one sensor configured to sense a position of the bogie and/or wheels relative to the tracks of the railway. A processor of the vehicle uses the sensed position of the bogie and/or wheels relative to the tracks to steer the wheels of the bogie along a desired path on the tracks as the bogie travels along the railway.

Vehicles for use on a railway and their methods of operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a bogie with wheels engaged with opposing tracks extending along a length of a railway the bogie travels along. The vehicle includes at least one sensor configured to sense a position of the bogie and/or wheels relative to the tracks of the railway. A processor of the vehicle uses the sensed position of the bogie and/or wheels relative to the tracks to steer the wheels of the bogie along a desired path on the tracks as the bogie travels along the railway.

An overhead transport system includes a first placement part that can have placed thereon an article held by an article holder in a state where the article is placed thereon, and also articles do not interfere with each other when the article holder and a lift driver are projected; a second placement part that can have placed thereon the article held by the article holder in a state where the article holder and the lift driver have been projected by the second projection length by the lateral extender; and a third placement part arranged below the track and can have placed thereon an article held by the article holder, wherein the first and third placement parts are provided at the same height.

An overhead transport system includes a first placement part that can have placed thereon an article held by an article holder in a state where the article is placed thereon, and also articles do not interfere with each other when the article holder and a lift driver are projected; a second placement part that can have placed thereon the article held by the article holder in a state where the article holder and the lift driver have been projected by the second projection length by the lateral extender; and a third placement part arranged below the track and can have placed thereon an article held by the article holder, wherein the first and third placement parts are provided at the same height.

A rail coaster operates as a cross between a roller coaster and a zip line. A rail may be suspended under a frame by flexible cables or solid brackets. The rail may turn, incline, decline, or twist, but need not twist to still provide a rolling degree of freedom for a rider. An eddy current brake provides proportional braking as a function of speed. A cam-adjustment-axle (eccentric) carries certain wheels to provide finely divided, discrete, but incrementally small adjustments of idler wheel clearances to accommodate variations in the rail, wheel wear, and onsite adjustment of tolerances for curvature, unevenness, and friction. A static universal bracket provides adjustment in four degrees of freedom, three of translation and one of rotation in securing a rail to a supporting frame.