A mover for a linear motor system includes a magnet subassembly. The mover includes a magnetic structure disposed on at least one side of the magnet subassembly and creating with the magnetic subassembly a resultant magnetic field. The magnetic structure being centered on a detected center of the resultant magnetic field. The mover includes a body structure mounted on or with reference to the magnetic structure to position a physical center of the body structure at approximately the detected center of the resultant magnetic field.

A system for determining the position of a mover as the mover transitions between segments along a track includes a first controller on a first track segment and a second controller on a second track segment. The first and second track segments are adjacent to each other and a junction is located between the two segments. The first and second controllers are in communication with each other and share a locally determined position value with the other controller. Each controller determines a compensated position value as a function of both a locally determined position value and the shared position value received from the other controller. Each controller utilizes the compensated value of the position value as determined on that controller to control operation of the mover while it is present on the corresponding track segment.

A system for determining the position of a mover as the mover transitions between segments along a track includes a first controller on a first track segment and a second controller on a second track segment. The first and second track segments are adjacent to each other and a junction is located between the two segments. The first and second controllers are in communication with each other and share a locally determined position value with the other controller. Each controller determines a compensated position value as a function of both a locally determined position value and the shared position value received from the other controller. Each controller utilizes the compensated value of the position value as determined on that controller to control operation of the mover while it is present on the corresponding track segment.

A method and system for detecting and reporting component failures in a linear drive system may identify failed position sensors, failed position magnets, and failed drive coils in the linear drive system. As a mover travels along a track segment in the linear drive system, signals corresponding to the position of the mover and to the current commanded in each drive coil are stored. Analysis of the stored signals identifies whether one of the position sensors along the track segment, one of the position magnets on the movers, or one of the drive coils, used to propel the movers along the track, has failed.

A method and system for detecting and reporting component failures in a linear drive system may identify failed position sensors, failed position magnets, and failed drive coils in the linear drive system. As a mover travels along a track segment in the linear drive system, signals corresponding to the position of the mover and to the current commanded in each drive coil are stored. Analysis of the stored signals identifies whether one of the position sensors along the track segment, one of the position magnets on the movers, or one of the drive coils, used to propel the movers along the track, has failed.

Disclosed herein are techniques for guiding a vehicle over a flight path. The techniques include receiving guideway data, such as information corresponding to a track segment, generated by one or more guideway sensors associated with a metallic track, and receiving flight path data, such as a set of 3-D space coordinates for the vehicle. The method further includes determining an amount of deviation between one or more coordinates of the flight path data and a position of the vehicle based on the guideway data, and adjusting the position of the vehicle relative to the track segment to minimize the amount of deviation in at least one dimension in the 3-D space.

A vacuum transport tube vehicle for evacuating a vacuum transport tube has a first end, a second end, and a body comprising a piston head. The vehicle has a blade-actuator assembly, comprising a circumferential blade member sealed to the piston head and having a blade perimeter portion defining a first end outer surface forming an annular gap with an inner surface of the vacuum transport tube. The vehicle further includes a plurality of blade segment actuators arranged circumferentially around the piston perimeter portion and configured to actively adjust a radial position of the blade member at the corresponding blade circumferential locations in a manner accommodating non-uniformities in an inner surface profile of the vacuum transport tube, and maintaining the annular gap at a substantially constant and relatively short gap distance during movement of the vehicle through the vacuum transport tube.

The invention relates to a switch (1) of a transport system for a movable transport element (T), where the switch (1) comprises a main track (3) and a secondary track (4) branching off. where the movable transport element (T) can be guided from a transition region (2), in which the secondary track (4) branches off from the main track (3), optionally along the main track (3) or transferred into the secondary track (4), where one or more linear motor sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) are respectively provided at the main track (3) and the secondary track (4) for moving the movable transport element (T), where a normal force is present between the movable transport element (T) and the adjacent linear motor section or the adjacent linear motor sections (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), characterized in that devices for altering the normal force are provided in the transition region. The invention also relates to a transport system comprising such a switch and a transport element for such a transport system.

A magnetic system for an automobile having a body portion and a base portion with a first and second set of electromagnets placed on the base station and the body portion respectively and wherein the body portion is adapted to raise off the base portion when sufficient electricity is supplied to the first and second set of electromagnets. A plurality of slider mechanisms operationally attached to the automobile, each having a groove portion running in the vertical direction, allow the body portion to be raised off the base station.

A magnetic system for an automobile having a body portion and a base portion with a first and second set of electromagnets placed on the base station and the body portion respectively and wherein the body portion is adapted to raise off the base portion when sufficient electricity is supplied to the first and second set of electromagnets. A plurality of slider mechanisms operationally attached to the automobile, each having a groove portion running in the vertical direction, allow the body portion to be raised off the base station.