An article transport facility includes a plurality of transport vehicles. In a combined state in which the plurality of transport vehicles are combined in such a manner as to be adjacent to each other, the plurality of transport vehicles constitute a transport route in which a plurality of transfer sections cooperate to transport articles. While the transport vehicle performs a combining operation with a combination target vehicle that is another transport vehicle that is a combination target, the control unit at least partially disables a surrounding area sensor so as not to detect the combination target vehicle.

A mobile load unit is provided that is configured to receive at least one cargo and to transport it on a drivable surface. At least one electric drive for driving wheels of the load unit is provided. At least one battery provides electrical energy for the drive, which permits a technologically simple and cost-efficient transport of cargoes. The load unit is equipped with at least one control unit having a sensor system for the automated or autonomous control of the load unit during a slow travel.

A vehicle platooning system includes a lead vehicle including a lead powertrain system, a lead steering system, and a lead breaking system, a follower vehicle including a follower powertrain, a follower steering system, a follower braking system, and a follower vehicle control unit wherein the follower powertrain system, the follower steering system, and the follower braking system are each controllable by the vehicle control unit, and a hard connect including a mechanical linkage physically connected between the lead vehicle and the follower vehicle, a sensor unit, and a hard connect control unit configured to control the operation of the follower powertrain system, the follower steering system, and the follower braking system of the follower vehicle based on sensor data provided to the hard connect control unit by the sensor unit.