Method and apparatus for transporting a patient support

A transport device for transporting a patient support panel or a medical appliance, the transport device comprising:

• a drive unit, the drive unit comprising a drive motor;
• an undercarriage having wheels rotatably mounted thereon for driving the undercarriage, wherein one or more wheels are rotatably drivable by the drive unit and wherein one or more wheels are steerable;
• a sensor unit for receiving a signal indicating the position of the transport device with respect to a predetermined path line while the transport device moves along the predetermined path line;
• and
• a control unit, connected to the drive unit, configured to control movement of the transport device to within a first predetermined allowable speed range along a first section of the path line, and to control movement of the transport device to within a second predetermined allowable speed range along a second section of the path line.