A transport system has: a vehicle; a contactless traction motor secured to the vehicle; a traction surface engageable by the contactless traction motor; an active suspension system operatively connected to the vehicle and operable to vary a distance between the traction surface and the contactless traction motor; and a controller operable to control the contactless traction motor and the active suspension system to control movements of the vehicle along the traction surface.

A transport system has: a vehicle; a contactless traction motor secured to the vehicle; a traction surface engageable by the contactless traction motor; an active suspension system operatively connected to the vehicle and operable to vary a distance between the traction surface and the contactless traction motor; and a controller operable to control the contactless traction motor and the active suspension system to control movements of the vehicle along the traction surface.

Systems and methods for energy storage and management may be useful for a variety of applications, including launch devices. A system can include a direct current (DC) bus configured to operate within a predetermined range of voltages. The system can also include an array comprising a plurality of ultra-capacitors connected to the DC bus and configured to supply the DC bus with energy. The system can further include an input configured to receive energy from a power grid, wherein the power grid is configured to supply fewer than 250 amps of power. The system can additionally include an output configured to supply more than 250 amps of power. The system can also include a controller configured to control charging and discharging of the array of ultracapacitors and configured to control the DC bus to remain within the predetermined range of voltages.

A linear transmission device with capability of wireless power supply includes a transmission mechanism and a wireless power supply module. The transmission mechanism includes a long shaft part and a moving part. The long shaft part defines an axis. The moving part is disposed on the long shaft part in a manner that the moving part is movable along the axis. The wireless power supply module includes a magnet-providing part disposed on the long shaft part for providing a magnetic field and an induction coil disposed on the moving part. A direction of the magnetic field is parallel to the axis. A normal vector of the induction coil is parallel to the direction of the magnetic field. When the moving part is moved along the axis, a current is induced in the induction coil through variation of the magnetic field.

A linear transmission device with capability of wireless power supply includes a transmission mechanism and a wireless power supply module. The transmission mechanism includes a long shaft part and a moving part. The long shaft part defines an axis. The moving part is disposed on the long shaft part in a manner that the moving part is movable along the axis. The wireless power supply module includes a magnet-providing part disposed on the long shaft part for providing a magnetic field and an induction coil disposed on the moving part. A direction of the magnetic field is parallel to the axis. A normal vector of the induction coil is parallel to the direction of the magnetic field. When the moving part is moved along the axis, a current is induced in the induction coil through variation of the magnetic field.

Warehouse automation and methods of automatically sorting and sequencing items can be implemented to streamline and expedite order fulfillment and store replenishment processes in a cost-effective manner. Some embodiments described herein include: (i) picking or retrieving items from an inventory storage area, (ii) decanting individual items and placing them on carriers of a high-speed sorting and conveyance system, and (iii) final sortation as per customer orders. In some embodiments, the high-speed sorting and conveyance system includes multiple shuttles that each carry an individual item to a designated final order sortation system.

Warehouse automation and methods of automatically sorting and sequencing items can be implemented to streamline and expedite order fulfillment and store replenishment processes in a cost-effective manner. Some embodiments described herein include: (i) picking or retrieving items from an inventory storage area, (ii) decanting individual items and placing them on carriers of a high-speed sorting and conveyance system, and (iii) final sortation as per customer orders. In some embodiments, the high-speed sorting and conveyance system includes multiple shuttles that each carry an individual item to a designated final order sortation system.

In order to allow for more flexible process control of a transport apparatus in the form of a long stator linear motor, in particular in order to at least intermittently increase the maximum achievable speed of a transport unit without changing the energy-related basic conditions (maximum current or maximum voltage) of the transport apparatus, according to the invention, in order to change a magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit during movement of the transport unit along the transport route, a magnetic reluctance of the magnetic circuit is changed and/or a magnetomotive force of the magnetic circuit is changed on the transport unit.

In order to allow for more flexible process control of a transport apparatus in the form of a long stator linear motor, in particular in order to at least intermittently increase the maximum achievable speed of a transport unit without changing the energy-related basic conditions (maximum current or maximum voltage) of the transport apparatus, according to the invention, in order to change a magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit during movement of the transport unit along the transport route, a magnetic reluctance of the magnetic circuit is changed and/or a magnetomotive force of the magnetic circuit is changed on the transport unit.

Aspects of the invention provide a transport system powered by short block Linear Synchronous Motors (LSMs). The use of short blocks allows vehicles to move under precise control even when they are in close proximity to each other. The design allows the vehicles to be propelled and guided while negotiating sharp turns and negotiating merge and diverge switches. A coreless LSM can be used to create propulsive force without attractive force so as to allow a relatively high drag vehicle suspension, such as a vehicle sliding on a smooth surface.