Abstract: An automated transportation system includes a plurality of vehicles adapted to travel along a pathway, and a monitoring system located within each vehicle and adapted to monitor a location and a speed between an associated vehicle and the pathway. The automated transportation system also includes a transmitter located within each vehicle and adapted to transmit a signal that includes data on the location and the speed monitored, and a receiver located within each vehicle and adapted to receive the signal from each of the other vehicles. The automated transportation system further includes a controller located within each vehicle and adapted to interpret the signal received by the receiver and control the associated vehicle to provide proper spacing between the remaining vehicles to avoid collisions therebetween and maximize throughput of the vehicles along the pathway.

Abstract: An automated transportation (10) system includes a plurality of vehicles (22) adapted to travel along a pathway, and a monitoring system (70) located within each vehicle and adapted to monitor a location and a speed between an associated vehicle and the pathway. The automated transportation system (10) also includes a transmitter (72) located within each vehicle (22) and adapted to transmit a signal that includes data on the location and the speed monitored, and a receiver (76) located within each vehicle and adapted to receive the signal from each of the other vehicles. The automated transportation system (10) further includes a controller (78) located within each vehicle and adapted to interpret the signal received by the receiver and control the associated vehicle to provide proper spacing between the remaining vehicles to avoid collisions therebetween and maximize throughput of the vehicles along the pathway.