A travel unit travels in a curved section in an orientation in which a target wheel comes into contact with a target rail, a guide wheel comes into contact with a guide rail, and a non-target wheel does not come into contact with a non-target rail. The control unit changes the rotational speed of a first wheel and a second wheel in the curved section relative to the rotational speed of the first wheel and the second wheel in a straight section in accordance with the ratio of a second length, which is the length of the target rail along a travel path, to a first length, which is the length of the curved section along the travel path at a center portion in a widthwise direction of the travel path.

A travel unit travels in a curved section in an orientation in which a target wheel comes into contact with a target rail, a guide wheel comes into contact with a guide rail, and a non-target wheel does not come into contact with a non-target rail. The control unit changes the rotational speed of a first wheel and a second wheel in the curved section relative to the rotational speed of the first wheel and the second wheel in a straight section in accordance with the ratio of a second length, which is the length of the target rail along a travel path, to a first length, which is the length of the curved section along the travel path at a center portion in a widthwise direction of the travel path.

A device for the maintenance of an overhead line system of a track has a handling device and a displacement device. The displacement device serves to displace the handling device between a transport position and a working position. In the working position, the handling device reaches the overhead line system and is able to perform maintenance work by way of a tool. At least one sensor serves for controlling and/or monitoring the handling device. The device thus enables a simple, efficient and safe maintenance of the overhead line system.

A device for the maintenance of an overhead line system of a track has a handling device and a displacement device. The displacement device serves to displace the handling device between a transport position and a working position. In the working position, the handling device reaches the overhead line system and is able to perform maintenance work by way of a tool. At least one sensor serves for controlling and/or monitoring the handling device. The device thus enables a simple, efficient and safe maintenance of the overhead line system.

A storage setup and method for robotic delivery and retrieval of crates from shelving blocks are disclosed. At least one shelving block in the setup comprises non-uniformly spaced apart storage surfaces. The storage surfaces are accessible to lift-robots. A computerized control system is configured to differentiate between storage locations based on which crate sizes from at least two different ranges of crate sizes a storage location can store. The storage may be automatically optimized by routing robots to store crates in storage locations sized in correlation with the size of the crate to be stored.

The present disclosure includes systems, devices, and methods for identifying, detecting, and/or tracking rail features. In some aspects, a system includes a camera and a computer having at least one memory, at least one processor configured to receive a plurality of images from the camera, and for each of the images: assigning a location identifier and identifying one or more rail features that correspond to one of a plurality of predetermined rail features. In some systems, the at least one processor is configured to determine a location of each of the one or more identified rail features.

The present disclosure includes systems, devices, and methods for identifying, detecting, and/or tracking rail features. In some aspects, a system includes a camera and a computer having at least one memory, at least one processor configured to receive a plurality of images from the camera, and for each of the images: assigning a location identifier and identifying one or more rail features that correspond to one of a plurality of predetermined rail features. In some systems, the at least one processor is configured to determine a location of each of the one or more identified rail features.

Implementations are described herein for operating rail-mounted robots in hazardous conditions. In various implementations, a rail-mounted robot configured to inspect a plant with an explosion proof area may include: an actuator to propel the rail-mounted robot along a rail; a battery to provide power to the actuator; a charger to draw power from a power terminal integral with the rail while the rail-mounted robot is in motion, and to charge the battery using the drawn power; and logic to localize the rail-mounted robot based on readings from location indicia distributed along the rail.

Implementations are described herein for operating rail-mounted robots in hazardous conditions. In various implementations, a rail-mounted robot configured to inspect a plant with an explosion proof area may include: an actuator to propel the rail-mounted robot along a rail; a battery to provide power to the actuator; a charger to draw power from a power terminal integral with the rail while the rail-mounted robot is in motion, and to charge the battery using the drawn power; and logic to localize the rail-mounted robot based on readings from location indicia distributed along the rail.

A locomotive suited for use as a switcher for road and/or yard work is provided. The switcher comprises a mother unit having an engine for converting fuel into electricity. The mother unit includes two trucks supporting wheels on a plurality of axles, and a plurality of traction motors to provide tractive force to the mother unit's axles. The switcher also includes a slug unit operatively coupled to the mother unit in a manner to transmit electric power, signals and hauling force. The slug unit can include at least one truck, which can be removed from a retired locomotive and at least one traction motor electrically coupled to the mother unit and operatively coupled to the axle(s). Sufficient ballast can be added to equalize weight per axle. The switcher combines the power of a locomotive with more axles with the maneuverability of a locomotive with fewer axles.