Turntable for wafer transport system

An apparatus, comprising:

• a rotatable plate having a top surface and a bottom surface;
• a hanger attached to the top surface of the rotatable plate such that the rotatable plate is rotatable along a vertical axis;
• at least one pair of rail members mechanically coupled to the bottom surface of the rotatable plate by way of a plurality of yoke members;
• and
• at least one support member is attached to the top surface of the rotatable plate.

A method, comprising:

• analyzing a traffic pattern of a transport system that comprises:
• a first fixed rail segment,
• a second fixed rail segment,
• a third fixed rail segment,
• a fourth fixed rail segment,
• a rotatable rail joint disposed between the first fixed rail segment and the second fixed rail segment along a first direction as well as between the third fixed rail segment and the fourth fixed rail segment along a second direction different from the first direction, the rotatable rail joint comprises a rotational track, and
• a plurality of vehicles, each of the plurality of vehicles being configured to ride on the first fixed rail segment, the second fixed rail segment, the third fixed rail segment, the fourth fixed rail segment, or the rotational track;
• identifying a rotational position of the rotatable rail joint to achieve a change in a traffic pattern in the transport system;
• stopping a vehicle riding on one of the first fixed rail segment, the second fixed rail segment, the third fixed rail segment, the fourth fixed rail segment;
• and
• rotating the rotatable rail joint such that the rotational track is aligned with the first direction.