Systems and methods for transporting items within a network of tubular track systems

Abstract

A network of tubular track system for transporting items is provided. The network of tubular track system comprises: a first track comprising i) a tubular conduit and ii) an upper rails and lower rails arranged vertically inside of the tubular conduit; one or more nodes connected by the first track; and a self-propelled cart configured to travel along the first track between the one or more nodes and transition between the upper rails and lower rails at the one or more nodes.

1 . A network of tubular track system for transporting items comprising:
 a first track comprising i) a tubular conduit and ii) an upper rails and lower rails arranged vertically inside of the tubular conduit;   one or more nodes connected by the first track; and   a self-propelled cart configured to travel along the first track between the one or more nodes and transition between the upper rails and lower rails at the one or more nodes.   
     
     
         2 . The network of tubular track system of  claim 1 , wherein the self-propelled cart travels along the upper rails in a first direction and the lower rails in an opposite direction autonomously. 
     
     
         3 . The network of tubular track system of  claim 2 , wherein a configuration of the upper rails and lower rails has a headspace above the upper rails allowing the self-propelled cart to pass through with a payload. 
     
     
         4 . The network of tubular track system of  claim 2 , wherein a configuration of the upper rails and lower rails has a clearance space between the upper rails and the lower rails allowing the self-propelled cart to pass through without a payload. 
     
     
         5 . The network of tubular track system of  claim 4 , wherein the upper rails have a width greater than a width of the lower rails. 
     
     
         6 . The network of tubular track system of  claim 5 , wherein the self-propelled cart comprises a mechanism to automatically adjust a width of a wheel track of the self-propelled cart to adapt to the width of the upper rails and the lower rails. 
     
     
         7 . The network of tubular track system of  claim 5 , wherein the node comprises a vertical transition mechanism to transition the self-propelled cart between the upper rails and the lower rails. 
     
     
         8 . The network of tubular track system of  claim 2 , wherein a configuration of the upper rails and lower rails has a clearance space between the upper rails and the lower rails allowing the self-propelled cart to pass through with a payload. 
     
     
         9 . The network of tubular track system of  claim 1 , wherein the network of tubular track system is located underground. 
     
     
         10 . The network of tubular track system of  claim 1 , further comprising an intersection point connected by a second track. 
     
     
         11 . The network of tubular track system of  claim 10 , wherein the second track comprises upper rails and lower rails having a configuration different from a configuration of the first track. 
     
     
         12 . The network of tubular track system of  claim 11 , wherein the configuration of the second track allows the self-propelled cart to pass through with a payload on both the upper rails and the lower rails. 
     
     
         13 . The network of tubular track system of  claim 11 , wherein the self-propelled cart is controlled to travel along the first track and the second track autonomously based at least in part on a real-time traffic status or the network of tubular track system. 
     
     
         14 . The network of tubular track system of  claim 13 , wherein the self-propelled cart is controlled to enter the intersection point or the one or more nodes based at least in part on sensor data. 
     
     
         15 . A method for transporting items comprising:
 providing a first track comprising i) a tubular conduit and ii) upper rails and lower rails arranged vertically inside of the tubular conduit;   providing one or more nodes connected by the first track; and   controlling a self-propelled cart to travel along the first track between the one or more nodes and transition between the upper rails and lower rails at the one or more nodes.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the self-propelled cart is controlled to travel along the upper rails in a first direction and the lower rails in an opposite direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a configuration of the upper rails and lower rails has a headspace above the upper rails allowing the self-propelled cart to pass through with a payload. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a configuration of the upper rails and lower rails has a clearance space between the upper rails and the lower rails allowing the self-propelled cart to pass through without a payload. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the upper rails have a width greater than a width of the lower rails. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the self-propelled cart comprises a mechanism to automatically adjust a width of a wheel track of the self-propelled cart to adapt to the width of the upper rails and the lower rails. 
     
     
         21 - 28 . (canceled)