Drive system with pendulum mechanism

A drive system for driving a piece of equipment, the drive system comprising:

• a pendulum mechanism comprising a bob member, a connector member, and a pivot member, wherein the bob member is connected to the pivot member by the connector member in a manner that allows the bob member to swing about the pivot member in a pendulum motion, wherein the bob member comprises a carriage, and wherein the carriage has a platform that supports a mass transfer mechanism, the mass transfer mechanism comprising a translating mass adapted to translate relative to the platform;
• and
• a control system that controls the operation of the drive system, wherein the control system comprises a detection system that detects a position of the bob member during the pendulum motion and that generates a detection signal that is provided to a controller, and wherein the controller controls the mass transfer mechanism in response to the detection signal.