Automated material handling system for semiconductor manufacturing based on a combination of vertical carousels and overhead hoists

An overhead transport vehicle comprising:

• a body;
• an overhead hoist;
• and
• a translating stage coupled to the overhead hoist and the body, the translating stage configured to extend from a retracted position inside the body along a horizontal axis to a first unretracted position to a first of two sides outside the body, to extend from the retracted position inside the body along the horizontal axis to a second unretracted position to the second of the two sides, the second side being different from the first side, and move a gripper, wherein extension of the translating stage is configured to move the gripper from a first position within the body to a second position along the horizontal axis that is exterior to the body and adjacent to a side of the overhead transport vehicle;
• wherein the overhead hoist is configured to enable vertical movement of the gripper;
• wherein the gripper is configured such that the horizontal movement of the translating stage causes horizontal movement of the gripper and vertical movement of the translating stage causes vertical movement of the gripper;
• wherein the gripper is configured to pick up a FOUP from either of two sides of the overhead transport vehicle when the translating stage is fully extended beyond the body of the overhead transport vehicle.