Method and systems for an automated railyard

A method for a controller of a railyard system, comprising:

• receiving cargo units from a first mode of transport at one of a plurality of inbound docking stations located on an edge of an omni-directional surface of the railyard system, the omni-directional surface including a flat surface for maneuvering the cargo units;
• unloading the received cargo units from the first mode of transport and loading the received cargo units on a respective plurality of pads of the flat surface, each pad of the respective plurality of pads an autonomously operable and self-powered platform freely rotatable and movable on the flat surface, wherein freely rotatable and movable comprises:
• movable in a forward direction, a reverse direction, a sideways direction, or a combination of the forward direction, the reverse direction, and the sideways direction;
• and
• rotatable the pad in at least one of a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction, including rotating the pad without simultaneously moving the pad in the forward direction, the reverse direction, the sideways direction, or the combination of the forward direction, the reverse direction, and the sideways direction;
• transporting the received cargo units from the one of the plurality of inbound docking stations to one or more of a plurality of outbound docking stations located on the edge of the omni-directional surface;
• and
• unloading the transported cargo units from the respective plurality of pads and loading the transported cargo units on a second mode of transport at the one or more of the plurality of outbound docking stations.

A system, comprising:

• an autonomous vehicle configured to transport cargo from an inbound docking station of a first mode of transport of a railyard to an outbound docking station of a second mode of transport of the railyard, the inbound docking station and the outbound docking station positioned on a flat, omni-directional surface of the railyard, the autonomous vehicle being freely rotatable on the flat, omni-directional surface,
• wherein the autonomous vehicle is configured to:
• move in a forward direction, a reverse direction, a sideways direction, or a combination of the forward direction, the reverse direction, and the sideways direction;
• and
• rotate in at least one of a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction, including rotating without simultaneously moving in the forward direction, the reverse direction, the sideways direction, or the combination of the forward direction, the reverse direction, and the sideways direction.