Abstract: Disclosed is a method of increasing track capacity in an automated vehicle system, the automated vehicle system comprising a network of tracks along which vehicles are adapted to travel, the network comprising at least one merge point at which at least two up stream tracks merge to form a downstream track, at least one diverge point at which one upstream track diverges to form at least two down-stream tracks and a plurality of stations at which passengers may board and/or disembark from the vehicles; wherein the method comprises controlling vehicles so as to cause empty vehicles to travel as at least one sequence of vehicles defined as a platoon; and controlling the empty vehicles of the at least one sequence to travel with a first safety distance between each other, the first safety distance being shorter than a second safety distance between vehicles being at least partially loaded.

Abstract: A method of controlling merging of a plurality of streams of vehicles in an automated vehicle system. The method comprises: Defining a merge control zone associated with a merge point, the merge control zone defining at least respective sections of the upstream tracks leading to the merge point; detecting a vehicle entering the merge control zone on a first one of the upstream tracks; allocating a passage time to the vehicle, the passage time being indicative of a time at which the vehicle is scheduled to pass the merge point; wherein allocating the passage time is based on a merge priority assigned to the vehicle according to a predetermined set of merge priority rules; controlling a speed of the vehicle responsive to the allocated passage time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of increasing track capacity in an automated vehicle system, the automated vehicle system comprising a network of tracks along which vehicles are adapted to travel, the network comprising at least one merge point at which at least two up stream tracks merge to form a downstream track, at least one diverge point at which one upstream track diverges to form at least two down-stream tracks and a plurality of stations at which passengers may board and/or disembark from the vehicles; wherein the method comprises controlling vehicles so as to cause empty vehicles to travel as at least one sequence of vehicles defined as a platoon; and controlling the empty vehicles of the at least one sequence to travel with a first safety distance between each other, the first safety distance being shorter than a second safety distance between vehicles being at least partially loaded.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling merging of a plurality of streams of vehicles in an automated vehicle system. The method comprises: Defining a merge control zone associated with a merge point, the merge control zone defining at least respective sections of the upstream tracks leading to the merge point; detecting a vehicle entering the merge control zone on a first one of the upstream tracks; allocating a passage time to the vehicle, the passage time being indicative of a time at which the vehicle is scheduled to pass the merge point; wherein allocating the passage time is based on a merge priority assigned to the vehicle according to a predetermined set of merge priority rules; controlling a speed of the vehicle responsive to the allocated passage time.

Abstract: A method of producing a rectangular cross-section cardboard tubing by passing a plurality of cardboard strips having a thermoplastic coating thereon through a heating unit so as to hear the plurality of strips and melt the thermoplastic coating. Thereafter, the plurality of heated strips are passed through a guiding unit so as to align the strips in an overlapped configuration. The aligned plurality of strips are wound around an elongated, rectangular cross-section, rotating core so as to place the plurality of strips in an overlapped, spiral configuration along the core and form a tubing. The tubing is fed along the core, and a cutting unit cuts the tubing into lengths.

Abstract: An apparatus for ultrasonic sealing of thermoplastic materials includes a vibration generator of a so-called giant magnetostrictive powder composite (GMPC) which is anchored to a jaw at an anchorage point. The vibration generator is formed with a cross-sectional area which progressively reduces as seen from the anchorage point. A free end of the vibration generator has a narrow working surface. The vibration generator is surrounded by a coil for generating a magnetic field.