Abstract: A damping mechanism is disclosed for use with a displacement measuring device, such as a load cell of the type immersed in a motion damping liquid contained within a housing. The mechanism includes a shear plate adjustably supported by the housing within the damping liquid for movement towards and away from a facing surface of the load cell, which is supported for movement within a plane disposed parallel to the shear plate, for purposes of controlling the thickness of the layer of damping liquid disposed there-between. The thickness of the layer determines the damping characteristics of the mechanism.

Abstract: An Automated Guided Vehicle System (AGVS) in which vehicles follow a guidepath defined by wires carrying electrical signals with selected routing between stations along the path. The vehicle has on-board a plurality of sensors operative independently or dependently of the wire for obtaining a plurality of guidance signals. The guidepath has digitally coded patterns which are read by sensors on-board the vehicle and converted into digital signals used by an on-board microcomputer for controlling the guidance modality including the selection of guidance signals from the sensors, and routing for accurate and reliable travel between the selected stations along the guidepath despite interruptions or abnormalities in the guidepath or the need for the vehicles to execute special maneuvers independent of the guidewire.