A transport system includes a main cable, a track assembly, and a conveyance assembly, wherein the track assembly is suspended from the main cable to allow unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly. In another aspect according to the present invention, the track assembly has a track changing assembly that includes a track changing section rotatably coupled to a primary track section for selective alignment of the track changing section to any one of a plurality of exit track sections. A method of conveyance along a suspended track includes suspending a main cable between natural or artificial support structures, suspending a track assembly from the main cable, and mounting a conveyance assembly on the suspended track assembly to provide unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly.

A transport system includes a main cable, a track assembly, and a conveyance assembly, wherein the track assembly is suspended from the main cable to allow unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly. In another aspect according to the present invention, the track assembly has a track changing assembly that includes a track changing section rotatably coupled to a primary track section for selective alignment of the track changing section to any one of a plurality of exit track sections. A method of conveyance along a suspended track includes suspending a main cable between natural or artificial support structures, suspending a track assembly from the main cable, and mounting a conveyance assembly on the suspended track assembly to provide unimpeded translational movement of the conveyance assembly along the track assembly.

An article transport facility includes a transport vehicle and a controller, and the transport vehicle includes: a drive unit; a speed detector configured to detect a traveling speed; and a distance detector configured to detect an inter-vehicle distance, which is a distance to another transport vehicle. The controller is configured to (i) refer to at least one target speed that is set in advance according to the inter-vehicle distance, and (ii) perform an inter-vehicle adjustment control to control the drive unit in such a manner as to cause the traveling speed to approach the at least one target speed, based on the traveling speed and the inter-vehicle distance, the at least one target speed includes an accelerating target speed and a decelerating target speed, and the accelerating target speed is lower than the decelerating target speed for each inter-vehicle distance.

An article transport facility includes a transport vehicle and a controller, and the transport vehicle includes: a drive unit; a speed detector configured to detect a traveling speed; and a distance detector configured to detect an inter-vehicle distance, which is a distance to another transport vehicle. The controller is configured to (i) refer to at least one target speed that is set in advance according to the inter-vehicle distance, and (ii) perform an inter-vehicle adjustment control to control the drive unit in such a manner as to cause the traveling speed to approach the at least one target speed, based on the traveling speed and the inter-vehicle distance, the at least one target speed includes an accelerating target speed and a decelerating target speed, and the accelerating target speed is lower than the decelerating target speed for each inter-vehicle distance.

A control system executes preliminary biasing processing including controlling a guide wheel drive unit to bias a guide wheel in a direction from a first position toward a second position while the guide wheel is at the first position and is in contact with a first-side surface of a branch guide portion from a first side in a width direction before entering a switching area, and allows the guide wheel to pass through the switching area while executing the preliminary biasing processing.

A rail-guided cart system includes a traveling rail and a traveling cart to travel along the traveling rail. The rail-guided cart system includes a measurement sensor and a diagnosis processor. The measurement sensor is fixed with respect to the traveling rail to measure vibration or sound. The diagnosis processor diagnoses a condition of the traveling cart that passed through a measurement point on the traveling rail corresponding to a location of the measurement sensor. based on measurement data measured by the measurement sensor.

A rail-guided cart system includes a traveling rail and a traveling cart to travel along the traveling rail. The rail-guided cart system includes a measurement sensor and a diagnosis processor. The measurement sensor is fixed with respect to the traveling rail to measure vibration or sound. The diagnosis processor diagnoses a condition of the traveling cart that passed through a measurement point on the traveling rail corresponding to a location of the measurement sensor. based on measurement data measured by the measurement sensor.

A rail system including a rail-bound vehicle, which is able to be moved along a rail track, the rail track being made up of rail components, in particular, the rail-bound vehicle having an electric motor, with the aid of which the rail-bound vehicle is able to be driven, in particular moved along the rail track in the rail direction, one or more pole wheel piece assembly/assemblies being situated in a stationary manner, i.e., connected to the rail track, the rail-bound vehicle having a reaction part, which is able to be brought into operative connection with the pole wheel piece assembly, in particular for the purpose of generating a reaction force generated by eddy currents.

A rail system including a rail-bound vehicle, which is able to be moved along a rail track, the rail track being made up of rail components, in particular, the rail-bound vehicle having an electric motor, with the aid of which the rail-bound vehicle is able to be driven, in particular moved along the rail track in the rail direction, one or more pole wheel piece assembly/assemblies being situated in a stationary manner, i.e., connected to the rail track, the rail-bound vehicle having a reaction part, which is able to be brought into operative connection with the pole wheel piece assembly, in particular for the purpose of generating a reaction force generated by eddy currents.

A conveyance system that prevents conveyance carriages from mistakenly entering an area includes a rail extending across a plurality of areas, a FOUP conveyance vehicle that travels along the rail, a conveyance vehicle that has a width and a height at least one of which differs from that of the FOUP conveyance vehicle, an optical sensor that is provided to the FOUP conveyance vehicle, arranged at a position that does not overlap the conveyance vehicle in a traveling direction, and detects an obstacle in front, and a member to be detected that is arranged, in an entry section into a certain area where only the conveyance vehicle is allowed to enter, at a position where the conveyance vehicle is allowed to enter the certain area, the position being detectable by the optical sensor provided to the FOUP conveyance vehicle.