System and method for providing power to a moving element

A method for providing power to a plurality of moving elements in a transport system, the method comprising:

• tracking a position of each of the plurality of moving elements in the transport system;
• and
• selectively operating a power system, comprising a plurality of electromagnetic coils, provided to the transport system based on the position of a power pick-up panel provided to each moving element such that power is directly and independently transferred to each of the plurality of moving elements by adjusting a frequency of a pulse width modulated signal provided to selected electromagnetic coils of the plurality of electromagnetic coils that are approximately adjacent to the power pick-up panel from a higher frequency used to drive the moving element to a lower frequency, to simultaneously transfer power for applications other than moving the moving element while also driving the moving element.

A method for providing power to a plurality of moving elements in a transport system, the method comprising:

• adapting the plurality of moving elements to receive power from a drive component used to drive the plurality of moving elements along the transport system for applications other than driving the moving element, wherein the drive component comprises a plurality of electromagnetic coils that selectively receive a pulse width modulated DC voltage at a first frequency and predetermined duty cycle to drive the plurality of moving elements;
• and
• controlling the drive component to simultaneously drive and transfer power to at least a selected one of the plurality of moving elements by selectively providing a pulse width modulated DC voltage at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency to electromagnetic coils approximately adjacent to the selected moving element.