A network of tubular track system for transporting items is provided. The network of tubular track system comprises: a first track comprising i) a tubular conduit and ii) an upper rails and lower rails arranged vertically inside of the tubular conduit; one or more nodes connected by the first track; and a self-propelled cart configured to travel along the first track between the one or more nodes and transition between the upper rails and lower rails at the one or more nodes.

System, method, and computer program product for determining a route for a container handling vehicle operating on a rail system of an automatic grid-based storage and retrieval system. The method comprising creating a model of the rail system representing the rail system as a finite set of non-overlapping rectangular first zones in a first direction, and a finite set of non-overlapping rectangular second zones in a second direction, wherein the zones are positioned around grid positions that are not accessible by the container handling vehicle, determining overlap information indicative of one or more regions of the rail system in which there is an overlap between a zone of the finite set of first zones and a zone of the finite set of second zones, determining grid position zone information by, for each grid position determining in which of the finite set of first zones and/or the finite set of second zones the grid position is located, receiving a request for a route for at least one container handling vehicle from a first grid position to a second grid position; and determining the route using the model of the rail system.

System, method, and computer program product for determining a route for a container handling vehicle operating on a rail system of an automatic grid-based storage and retrieval system. The method comprising creating a model of the rail system representing the rail system as a finite set of non-overlapping rectangular first zones in a first direction, and a finite set of non-overlapping rectangular second zones in a second direction, wherein the zones are positioned around grid positions that are not accessible by the container handling vehicle, determining overlap information indicative of one or more regions of the rail system in which there is an overlap between a zone of the finite set of first zones and a zone of the finite set of second zones, determining grid position zone information by, for each grid position determining in which of the finite set of first zones and/or the finite set of second zones the grid position is located, receiving a request for a route for at least one container handling vehicle from a first grid position to a second grid position; and determining the route using the model of the rail system.

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.

The present invention relates to the field of automated transportation systems. Particularly, it relates to a transportation system comprising guide-ways or tracks, vehicle units [100, 100a] with wheel-axle assembly for switching of vehicles from primary [20] to secondary track [22] on changing trajectory to maintain same vertical plane and the method. It comprises of central controller [101], vehicle chassis with main wheels [2W], guide wheels [4iw, 4ow], guide blocks [05, 06], actuator [09]. The chassis [30] has set of contractible axles fixed to wheels [2W] to enables movement from primary [20] to secondary track [22] by withdrawing the wheels [2W] from expanded position [C] to contracted position [C] or vice-versa. The forces required to compress the spring loaded axle axis is derived from inner guide wheels rolling over the edge flange [26] when swung using single linear motor actuator [09] and related electronic controls.

The present invention relates to the field of automated transportation systems. Particularly, it relates to a transportation system comprising guide-ways or tracks, vehicle units [100, 100a] with wheel-axle assembly for switching of vehicles from primary [20] to secondary track [22] on changing trajectory to maintain same vertical plane and the method. It comprises of central controller [101], vehicle chassis with main wheels [2W], guide wheels [4iw, 4ow], guide blocks [05, 06], actuator [09]. The chassis [30] has set of contractible axles fixed to wheels [2W] to enables movement from primary [20] to secondary track [22] by withdrawing the wheels [2W] from expanded position [C] to contracted position [C] or vice-versa. The forces required to compress the spring loaded axle axis is derived from inner guide wheels rolling over the edge flange [26] when swung using single linear motor actuator [09] and related electronic controls.

A mobile power system configured to be transported on a vehicle for supplying temporary electric power to a remote electric power system. The mobile power system includes a plurality of containers configured to be transported on the vehicle. There is a power generator contained in a faraday enclosure in a first container of the plurality of containers; and a power cable configured to be electrically interconnected to the power generator at a first end and configured to be electrically interconnected to the electric power system at a second end. The power cable contained in a faraday enclosure of a second container of the plurality of containers.

A mobile power system configured to be transported on a vehicle for supplying temporary electric power to a remote electric power system. The mobile power system includes a plurality of containers configured to be transported on the vehicle. There is a power generator contained in a faraday enclosure in a first container of the plurality of containers; and a power cable configured to be electrically interconnected to the power generator at a first end and configured to be electrically interconnected to the electric power system at a second end. The power cable contained in a faraday enclosure of a second container of the plurality of containers.

The present disclosure discloses a handling equipment with a three-stage guiding device, where the first stage guiding assembly limiting fits with the inner sides of the changing-over track at the moment of reversing of the handling equipment, so as to adjust a posture of the handling equipment for a first time and reduce the offset angle of an equipment frame relative to the sub rail. Then, the posture of the handling equipment embedded in the sub rail is adjusted for a second time through the second stage guiding assembly, so as to further reduce the offset angle of the equipment frame relative to the sub rail. Finally, the posture of the handling equipment embedded in the sub rail is adjusted for a third time through the third stage guiding assembly, further reducing the offset angle of the equipment frame relative to the sub rail.