Removal and replacement of container shuttles from rail tracks

A system comprising:

• a set of rails that form a track having a central axis, the set of rails comprising a first rail segment on a first side of the central axis and a second rail segment on a second side of the central axis;
• a set of electromagnets disposed along the central axis of the track;
• a shuttle configured to transport individual items from a first location to a second location using the set of rails, the shuttle comprising:
• a first pair of wheels disposed at a front end of the shuttle;
• a second pair of wheels disposed at a rear end of the shuttle;
• a conveyor assembly having a central axis that is transverse to the central axis of the track;
• and
• a permanent magnet coupled to a lower surface of the shuttle, the permanent magnet configured to engage with the set of electromagnets to propel the shuttle, wherein the permanent magnet comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end and the second end are vertically separated from an electromagnet of the set of electromagnets by a uniform vertical distance;
• a first ramp coupled to the first rail segment adjacent to a first wheel of the first pair of wheels, the first ramp comprising an angled portion and a plateau portion;
• a second ramp coupled to the first rail segment adjacent to a first wheel of the second pair of wheels, the second ramp comprising the angled portion and the plateau portion;
• a third ramp coupled to the second rail segment adjacent to a second wheel of the first pair of wheels, the third ramp comprising the angled portion and the plateau portion;
• and
• a fourth ramp coupled to the second rail segment adjacent to a second wheel of the second pair of wheels, the fourth ramp comprising the angled portion and the plateau portion;
• wherein the shuttle is configured to be simultaneously moved up the respective angled portions of the first ramp, second ramp, third ramp, and fourth ramp via the respective pairs of wheels onto the respective plateau portions while maintaining the uniform vertical distance between the first end and the second end of the permanent magnet and the electromagnet.