A system for transporting one or more items is provided. The system includes: a transportation tube disposed at least partially underground or at least partially above ground; a transportation pod to secure items therein for transport; a transportation actuator to propel the transportation pod through the transportation tube, the transportation actuator including at least one cable configured to interface with the transportation pod, the at least one cable being driven by a motor to move the cable and the transportation pod through the transportation tube; a first access point located proximate a first end of the transportation tube; and a second access point located proximate a second end of the transportation tube. Each of the first and second access points includes an opening configured to allow the transportation pod to be received into or removed from the transportation tube.

A track system on which a skater dolly can roll, comprising one or more pairs of rails and one or more rail clamps. Each rail clamp supports one or two pairs of rails. Rails held side-by-side are parallel to each other. Rail clamps can also secure two rails in end-to-end configuration. The distance between rails can be about 5/16 of an inch. The track system can include a skater dolly, the load-bearing wheels of which are angled 20-30 degrees away from vertical to provide clearance past the rail clamps. The skater also has stabilizing wheels that are approximately perpendicular to the load-bearing wheels, and which secure the skater to the rails when the skater is in a non-upright e.g. upside-down orientation. The system can include a motor pulley system that moves the skater along the rails.

A track system on which a skater dolly can roll, comprising one or more pairs of rails and one or more rail clamps. Each rail clamp supports one or two pairs of rails. Rails held side-by-side are parallel to each other. Rail clamps can also secure two rails in end-to-end configuration. The distance between rails can be about 5/16 of an inch. The track system can include a skater dolly, the load-bearing wheels of which are angled 20-30 degrees away from vertical to provide clearance past the rail clamps. The skater also has stabilizing wheels that are approximately perpendicular to the load-bearing wheels, and which secure the skater to the rails when the skater is in a non-upright e.g. upside-down orientation. The system can include a motor pulley system that moves the skater along the rails.

A cable transportation system extends along a track and has two haul cables driven respectively by respective motors and having respective mutually aligned end portions; a vehicle with two clamping devices configured to attach the vehicle to the haul cables; a passenger station at the end sections of the haul cables; two control cams arranged respectively at the end sections of the haul cables; and two actuators configured to bring the control cams into an operating position to open the clamping devices and into a resting position in which they do not interfere with the clamping devices, the control cams being spaced apart by a distance equal to the distance between the clamping devices in such a way that when the clamping device is at the control cam, the clamping device is at the control cam.

A cable transportation system extends along a track and has two haul cables driven respectively by respective motors and having respective mutually aligned end portions; a vehicle with two clamping devices configured to attach the vehicle to the haul cables; a passenger station at the end sections of the haul cables; two control cams arranged respectively at the end sections of the haul cables; and two actuators configured to bring the control cams into an operating position to open the clamping devices and into a resting position in which they do not interfere with the clamping devices, the control cams being spaced apart by a distance equal to the distance between the clamping devices in such a way that when the clamping device is at the control cam, the clamping device is at the control cam.

A cable transportation system for transporting people or goods defines an advancing path extending between two end stations and having a designated length L, and has a hauling cable looped into a closed ring and having a forward branch and a return branch, which extend between the end stations; at least one vehicle configured to be alternately advanced between the two end stations, and selectively and alternately clamped to the forward branch and the return branch of the hauling cable at the end stations; and a drive member for advancing the hauling cable along the advancing path and selectively stopping the hauling cable when the vehicle clamped to the hauling cable is at one end station.

A cable transportation system for transporting people or goods defines an advancing path extending between two end stations and having a designated length L, and has a hauling cable looped into a closed ring and having a forward branch and a return branch, which extend between the end stations; at least one vehicle configured to be alternately advanced between the two end stations, and selectively and alternately clamped to the forward branch and the return branch of the hauling cable at the end stations; and a drive member for advancing the hauling cable along the advancing path and selectively stopping the hauling cable when the vehicle clamped to the hauling cable is at one end station.

The invention relates to a vehicle (1) for transporting people on a sloping track (V) of a cable transport installation, said vehicle comprising a carriage (10) suitable for running on the track (V) while being drawn by at least one traction cable (C1) of the transport installation, a cabin support (120) carried by the carriage (10), an onboard braking device (14) and a shock absorber (13) linked to the onboard braking device and to the cabin support (120), and suitable for transforming the kinetic energy of the cabin support (120) into heat when the cabin support (120) moves relative to the onboard braking device (14) along a shock absorption trajectory in the shock absorption direction, characterized in that the onboard braking device (14) is rigidly connected to the carriage (10) and the vehicle also comprises a slide link (12) between the cabin support (120) and the carriage (10) to guide a movement of the cabin support (120) relative to the carriage (10) along the shock absorption trajectory.

Underground distribution system for the distribution of goods in an urban environment including at least one micro-tunnel forming at least one loop, extending under the foundations of preexisting surface buildings and/or infrastructures, in which goods, the transportation of which is automated, circulate, and a plurality of exchange stations exchanging with the surface, each including a shaft allowing goods to be lowered down to the micro-tunnel and raised back up after they have been transported within the micro-tunnel.

Underground distribution system for the distribution of goods in an urban environment including at least one micro-tunnel forming at least one loop, extending under the foundations of preexisting surface buildings and/or infrastructures, in which goods, the transportation of which is automated, circulate, and a plurality of exchange stations exchanging with the surface, each including a shaft allowing goods to be lowered down to the micro-tunnel and raised back up after they have been transported within the micro-tunnel.