A track system on which a skater dolly can roll, comprising one or more pairs of rails and one or more rail clamps. Each rail clamp supports one or two pairs of rails. Rails held side-by-side are parallel to each other. Rail clamps can also secure two rails in end-to-end configuration. The distance between rails can be about 5/16 of an inch. The track system can include a skater dolly, the load-bearing wheels of which are angled 20-30 degrees away from vertical to provide clearance past the rail clamps. The skater also has stabilizing wheels that are approximately perpendicular to the load-bearing wheels, and which secure the skater to the rails when the skater is in a non-upright e.g. upside-down orientation. The system can include a motor pulley system that moves the skater along the rails.

A device for transporting loads suspended on raised tracks over a ground surface includes a container of materials to be transported, a structure supporting the container, and a movement mechanism for moving along the tracks, having a first motorised wheel and a second motorised wheel, independent of one another and activatable about axes of rotation coaxial with and perpendicular to the two longitudinal sides of the supporting structure. The transport device has a stabilizer with at least a first idle rolling element and at least a second idle rolling element coupled to the supporting structure so as to be arranged on opposite sides with respect to the coaxial axes of rotation of the first motorised wheel and the second motorised wheel, so as to be pivoting about axes parallel to the two longitudinal sides of the supporting structure and the tracks.

A device for transporting loads suspended on raised tracks over a ground surface includes a container of materials to be transported, a structure supporting the container, and a movement mechanism for moving along the tracks, having a first motorised wheel and a second motorised wheel, independent of one another and activatable about axes of rotation coaxial with and perpendicular to the two longitudinal sides of the supporting structure. The transport device has a stabilizer with at least a first idle rolling element and at least a second idle rolling element coupled to the supporting structure so as to be arranged on opposite sides with respect to the coaxial axes of rotation of the first motorised wheel and the second motorised wheel, so as to be pivoting about axes parallel to the two longitudinal sides of the supporting structure and the tracks.

Presented are a transportation system apparatus and method of operation. An exemplary transportation system includes an elevated track and a vehicle coupled with and operable to traverse the elevated track. Additionally, the transportation system includes a first elevated track loop wherein the vehicle is operable at a first speed, a second elevated track loop operable to receive the vehicle merging from the first elevated track loop, wherein the vehicle is operable at a second speed, and an elevated track section operable to receive the vehicle merging from the second elevated track loop, wherein the vehicle is operable at a third speed.

Presented are a transportation system apparatus and method of operation. An exemplary transportation system includes an elevated track and a vehicle coupled with and operable to traverse the elevated track. Additionally, the transportation system includes a first elevated track loop wherein the vehicle is operable at a first speed, a second elevated track loop operable to receive the vehicle merging from the first elevated track loop, wherein the vehicle is operable at a second speed, and an elevated track section operable to receive the vehicle merging from the second elevated track loop, wherein the vehicle is operable at a third speed.

Embodiments related to a rail system for use with a personal rapid transit system are disclosed. In some embodiments, a railway may include a first rail configured to engage and support a bogie of a vehicle and a lift rail may be configured to engage and support the bogie of the vehicle. The lift rail, which may be a lift arm including a short section of rail that is attached at one end to a lift, may be configured to change a position of the lift rail to transition the vehicle between different desired positions. In another embodiment, a railway may include a first pair of main rails intersecting a second pair of main rails, where the second pair of main rails are divided by the first pair of main rails and a portion of the second pair of main rails are configured to hold one or more stationary vehicles.

Embodiments related to a rail system for use with a personal rapid transit system are disclosed. In some embodiments, a railway may include a first rail configured to engage and support a bogie of a vehicle and a lift rail may be configured to engage and support the bogie of the vehicle. The lift rail, which may be a lift arm including a short section of rail that is attached at one end to a lift, may be configured to change a position of the lift rail to transition the vehicle between different desired positions. In another embodiment, a railway may include a first pair of main rails intersecting a second pair of main rails, where the second pair of main rails are divided by the first pair of main rails and a portion of the second pair of main rails are configured to hold one or more stationary vehicles.

A first adjustment member includes a first adjustment traveling face that forms a traveling face continuous with a first body traveling face, and is arranged so that the first adjustment traveling face at least partially protrudes into a second gap. A second adjustment member includes a second adjustment traveling face forming a traveling face continuous with a second body traveling face, and is arranged so that the second adjustment traveling face at least partially protrudes into the second gap. A gap across which the first adjustment member and the second adjustment member oppose each other is a first gap, and an adjustment mechanism capable of changing the position of the first gap in a direction parallel with a travel path is provided.

A first adjustment member includes a first adjustment traveling face that forms a traveling face continuous with a first body traveling face, and is arranged so that the first adjustment traveling face at least partially protrudes into a second gap. A second adjustment member includes a second adjustment traveling face forming a traveling face continuous with a second body traveling face, and is arranged so that the second adjustment traveling face at least partially protrudes into the second gap. A gap across which the first adjustment member and the second adjustment member oppose each other is a first gap, and an adjustment mechanism capable of changing the position of the first gap in a direction parallel with a travel path is provided.

A robotic service device for a robotic picking system grid. The robotic service device can be configured for driving to any location on the grid in order to restart malfunctioning robotic load handling devices or to perform maintenance operations or cleaning in situ. Additionally, the service device may be used to rescue robotic load handling devices operational in the picking system. The robotic service device can include a releasable docking mechanism to enable it to dock and latch on to malfunctioning load handling devices. A deployable, releasable electrical connecting device is shaped to conform to a charging, powering, or battery component of one or more of the load handling devices.