A track switching arrangement for a track-based guided transportation system, wherein the track switching arrangement forms diverging pathways and enables vehicle-side switching of a vehicle in the guided transportation system. The track switching arrangement includes an upstream pathway; two downstream pathways; and a path switching transition region having the diverging pathways between the upstream pathway and the two downstream pathways. Each of the pathways includes track elements configured to interact with one or more respective bearings of the vehicle to provide levitation to the vehicle and/or guidance for the vehicle.

A track switching arrangement for a track-based guided transportation system, wherein the track switching arrangement forms diverging pathways and enables vehicle-side switching of a vehicle in the guided transportation system. The track switching arrangement includes an upstream pathway; two downstream pathways; and a path switching transition region having the diverging pathways between the upstream pathway and the two downstream pathways. Each of the pathways includes track elements configured to interact with one or more respective bearings of the vehicle to provide levitation to the vehicle and/or guidance for the vehicle.

A magnetic wheel driving device and a driving method using the same. The magnetic wheel driving device includes a vehicle body, a guide rail system, at least two magnetic wheel systems and a power system. The guide rail system includes two conductor plates, respectively arranged at two sides of the vehicle body. The at least two magnetic wheel systems are symmetrically arranged at two side walls of the vehicle body. A gap is provided between each magnetic wheel system and the corresponding conductor plate. The power system is configured to drive the at least two magnetic wheel systems to rotate.

A magnetic wheel driving device and a driving method using the same. The magnetic wheel driving device includes a vehicle body, a guide rail system, at least two magnetic wheel systems and a power system. The guide rail system includes two conductor plates, respectively arranged at two sides of the vehicle body. The at least two magnetic wheel systems are symmetrically arranged at two side walls of the vehicle body. A gap is provided between each magnetic wheel system and the corresponding conductor plate. The power system is configured to drive the at least two magnetic wheel systems to rotate.

Systems and methods for loading, transporting, unloading, and sorting electromagnetic shipping containers using magnetized levitation. The system picks up, rotates, levitates, and propels the electromagnetic shipping containers across a receiving and sorting port. The receiving and sorting port is used to receive and sort shipping containers. The receiving and sorting port includes a container crane for handling multiple shipping containers, simultaneously. The container crane has a spreader that picks up multiple electromagnetic shipping containers at once, including ten-wide set of containers. The electromagnetic shipping container has a first and second set of magnets that work to levitate and propel the containers along a magnetized rail. The magnets repel the force from the magnetized rail, thereby levitating the electromagnetic shipping container. A sortation hub rotates and groups containers according to delivery needs. A surplus yard holds shipping containers during the sorting process. A modular chassis can attach to the shipping containers.

A switch is presented for a magnetically suspended or at least guided vehicle. The switch comprises a fork from a first track segment to a second and third track segment. An elongate conductive module, for example a conductive wire is provided along at least the first track segment and optionally along the second and third track segment. The conductive module comprises conductor segments that guide a current with a directional component substantially parallel the length of the track, at a first surface of the track. With an electromagnet provided on a carriage having a pole directed to the first surface of the track, a Lorentz force may be provided for urging the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the length of the track. This allows a carriage moving along the first track segment to be urged towards the second or third track segment at the other side of the fork.

A switch is presented for a magnetically suspended or at least guided vehicle. The switch comprises a fork from a first track segment to a second and third track segment. An elongate conductive module, for example a conductive wire is provided along at least the first track segment and optionally along the second and third track segment. The conductive module comprises conductor segments that guide a current with a directional component substantially parallel the length of the track, at a first surface of the track. With an electromagnet provided on a carriage having a pole directed to the first surface of the track, a Lorentz force may be provided for urging the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the length of the track. This allows a carriage moving along the first track segment to be urged towards the second or third track segment at the other side of the fork.

A disclosed method extends a support system for a maglev vehicle, the support system having at least a first landing gear assembly and a second landing gear assembly. The method includes the steps of determining a weight-on-wheels status for each of the first and the second landing gear assemblies and determining a distance from each of the first and second landing gear assemblies to a support surface. First and second extension speeds are determined for each of the first and second landing gear assemblies, respectively. The first landing gear assembly is extended at the first extension speed until the first landing gear assembly reaches a weight-on-wheels condition, and the second landing gear assembly is extended at the second extension speed until the second landing gear assembly reaches the weight-on-wheels condition.

The present disclosure provides a hypertube system for detecting a position of a hypertube vehicle, including a hypertube vehicle, a tube configured to surround a travel path of the hypertube vehicle, At least one LiDAR sensor each mounted on an inner wall of the tube and including a laser transmitter configured to irradiate a laser beam toward the hypertube vehicle and a laser receiver configured to detect a laser, and a reflector configured to reflect the laser irradiated from the LiDAR sensor, wherein the reflector may be disposed in the hypertube vehicle, and wherein the laser beam reflected from the reflector reaches the laser receiver of the LiDAR sensor to be used in detecting the position of the hypertube vehicle.

The present disclosure provides a hypertube system for detecting a position of a hypertube vehicle, including a hypertube vehicle, a tube configured to surround a travel path of the hypertube vehicle, At least one LiDAR sensor each mounted on an inner wall of the tube and including a laser transmitter configured to irradiate a laser beam toward the hypertube vehicle and a laser receiver configured to detect a laser, and a reflector configured to reflect the laser irradiated from the LiDAR sensor, wherein the reflector may be disposed in the hypertube vehicle, and wherein the laser beam reflected from the reflector reaches the laser receiver of the LiDAR sensor to be used in detecting the position of the hypertube vehicle.