Application Analysis of Intelligent Logistics Transmission System（Electrical Track Vehicle System） in Hospital

The application of modern logistics technology in the pharmaceutical industry has evolved through three distinct phases: beginning with GMP-compliant automated logistics systems in manufacturing facilities, progressing to GSP-certified sorting and distribution solutions for distribution networks, and culminating in the current surge of automated logistics infrastructure development in healthcare institutions. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of hospital-specific logistics systems, with particular emphasis on the structural composition and design principles of rail-based transportation systems.

The conventional model of hospital logistics, colloquially termed 'large hospitals,' primarily refers to high-tier Grade III-A hospitals, where constant patient flow is a defining feature. A hospital's comprehensive strength extends beyond the soft power of highly skilled medical professionals like doctors and nurses. The sophistication of medical equipment and the automation and digitalization of supporting systems are equally vital indicators of institutional capability. Particularly, the efficient circulation of medical supplies has become a new benchmark for service efficiency and management standards in modern hospitals, reflecting the healthcare system's evolving understanding of modern logistics.

The traditional logistics mode of hospital is "cart + elevator", which makes the flow of people and logistics intertwined, the corridor and elevator are crowded, it is easy to cause wrong delivery, collision damage, cross infection and other problems, it is difficult to achieve timely and efficient goods transmission.

Advanced Hospital Logistics Technology. Hospital logistics encompasses the entire material flow process, including storage, picking, transportation, and recycling. Currently, all logistics stages can be automated or intelligentized to varying degrees. For instance, boxed medications can be automatically selected using level-running and vertical-lifting carts via electronic prescription systems. Various medical supplies can be transported automatically through pneumatic pipelines and rail carts. Large, heavy medical items and clothing can be handled by automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

Pneumatic pipeline transportation utilizes compressed air as the driving force to move containers carrying items through sealed pipelines. The control system automatically adjusts the directional path of the directional switch based on station instructions, guiding the containers into designated pipelines and delivering them to their final destinations. The rail-based transportation system connects hospital departments via transport tracks and receiving/issuing workstations, where computer-controlled intelligent carts facilitate item transfers between departments. Automated guided vehicles (AGVs), a widely used intelligent handling tool, employ navigation methods such as electromagnetic, magnetic tape, gyroscopic, and laser systems. These vehicles autonomously follow predetermined routes to deliver goods to their intended locations.

Optimization Analysis of Intelligent Logistics Technology. Hospital automation logistics systems are well-established and widely implemented in developed countries, with major suppliers including Swisslog, Teledyamics (USA), and Murata (Japan). Given factors like patient density and hospital building structures, domestic hospitals in China demonstrate greater demand for automated logistics solutions compared to international counterparts. However, most domestic logistics providers currently lack expertise in this field, with only a limited number offering services. Most hospitals in China rely on imported hardware and software for automated transmission systems. As the domestic market for hospital automation logistics is still in its early stages, some manufacturers have identified business opportunities and initiated localized R&D efforts for related technologies and equipment.

As previously discussed, while automated or intelligent logistics technologies and equipment can be applied to all hospital supply chain processes, the current operational demands reveal that fully automated storage and picking systems are impractical for diverse medical supplies. This limitation applies only to standardized items, as automated solutions would incur prohibitively high logistics costs. Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are primarily used in hospitals for transporting bulky pharmaceuticals, medical instruments, and medical garments, with a single transport capacity of approximately 2 cubic meters (2 tons). However, their efficiency and reliability in inter-floor transfers remain suboptimal, making them more suitable for intra-floor and intra-building material transfers. Although pneumatic pipelines offer flexible inter-floor transportation capabilities, their compressed air-powered system restricts transportable items to small, lightweight specifications within sealed conduits. Comprehensive analysis demonstrates that intelligent rail car systems with 30-40L capacity and 10-20kg load capacity better meet modern hospital logistics requirements, establishing them as the preferred model for domestic hospital logistics infrastructure development in recent years. The following section will elaborate on the technical composition and evolution of this system.

The fundamental configuration of a hospital logistics rail transport system is defined as follows: Intelligent rail carts, computer-controlled and powered by electricity, automatically transport items along dedicated tracks. The system comprises intelligent carts, rails, turnouts, workstations, storage stations, fireproof windows, windproof doors, an electrical control system, and a computerized dispatch management system. This system interconnects various hospital departments into a logistics network, as shown in Figure 1.

1. Hospital Track Intelligent Vehicles These vehicles serve as material transport carriers, navigating hospital corridors along designated tracks based on dispatch orders and delivery requirements to automate departmental supplies. Key specifications: -Speed: 24-60 m/min-Capacity: 30-40L-Load capacity: 10-20kg (Note: Speed automatically adjusts during straight travel, turns, uphill climbs, track transitions, or station entry.) Equipped with built-in balance sensors, the vehicles maintain horizontal orientation during incline movement and turns, ensuring safe handling of blood/urine specimens that are prone to tipping or lateral displacement. Operational safety is guaranteed by requiring the box cover to be fully closed before vehicle operation, as illustrated in Figure 2.
2. Track The track serves as the intelligent vehicle's path, functioning as the transmission system's 'blood vessels'. It comprises straight, curved, and zigzag tracks along with accessories, typically suspended using aluminum alloy materials as shown in Figure 3.

Ratchets are installed on the climbing and vertical lifting sections, while horizontal sections remain uninstalled. All components utilize 24V safe DC segmented power supply. The system employs contactless energy transfer technology to enhance power output and safety, though this increases costs.

3. Track Switcher The track switcher functions similarly to a railway switch, enabling the transfer of rail cars between tracks. This process is accomplished through the parallel movement of the track transfer trolley, as illustrated in Figure 4.

The switcher is the key mechanism for the intelligent operation of rail cars. Its location and quantity should be designed according to the system capacity and function, and it can be configured as 1×2 to 4×4 cross-switching mode (Figure 4 is 2×2 switching mode).

4. Workstation The workstation serves as the terminal of the logistics transmission system, responsible for dispatching and receiving items via rail-mounted intelligent carts. These workstations are installed at logistics hubs across clinical departments and wards for item handling, with item transfers occurring between stations. To initiate operations, simply enter the required numeric codes (e.g., target station, cart ID) on the control panel, as illustrated in Figure 5.

Each workstation functions as a parking area for carts, facilitating material handling. Common configurations include straight-through, straight-through with return track, and shuttle types. The selection of configurations and buffer station quantities should be determined by the operational frequency of the functional zone.

5. Storage Stations Storage stations primarily serve to centrally store empty vehicles currently idle in the system without transmission tasks. Essentially functioning as temporary storage tracks, their length is determined by the system's allocated capacity for vacant vehicles. After completing transmission/reception operations, each workstation must promptly release vehicles to avoid resource contention. For large-scale systems, deploying multiple storage stations can significantly enhance empty vehicle scheduling efficiency.
6. Fireproof Windows Fireproof windows are fire-resistant partitions designed to isolate track wells from the main room, ensuring fire safety for both. As shown in Figure 6.

Fireproof windows typically consist of a drive mechanism and steel plates, which are automatically interlocked with the rail transport system. When the trolley approaches the window, the isolation door opens automatically, and it closes when the trolley moves away. The system is usually powered by an independent uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to ensure the electromagnet supporting the door remains engaged during a fire, preventing unintended opening.

7. Windproof Door The working principle of windproof door is the same as fireproof window, but the difference is the function. Windproof door is mainly used for wind and noise isolation. After the rail car leaves the crossing, the isolation door closes promptly to avoid the influence of dust, bacteria and noise caused by air convection.
8. The electronic control system comprises controllers, communication networks, and terminal control stations, operating in a distributed control mode. Each rail switcher functions as an independent control unit, connected to the onboard controller via a bus and to the host computer through a serial port. Through destination code recognition, the host dispatch system communicates with local controllers to manage trolley start/stop, speed adjustment, and track switching.
9. Computer Scheduling Management System The computer scheduling management system, located in the central control room, communicates with distributed control units via Ethernet. It performs real-time optimization analysis based on task transmission/reception to determine the shortest travel path for railcars. The system coordinates track switchers and isolation doors for orderly repositioning operations, preventing traffic congestion. Key features include permission-based login, historical data access, statistical reports, system event monitoring, fault diagnosis, automatic alarms, status reports, and real-time image surveillance. Connected to the hospital's local area network, the system enables remote online fault diagnosis and interlocks with fire protection systems, security systems, and other hospital facilities.

Design Elements of Rail Transit Systems for Hospital Logistics While the equipment types and operational modes of hospital logistics rail transit systems are relatively simple, the path systems featuring three-dimensional cross-branching and loop structures are more complex. The following aspects must be thoroughly considered during system design: 1. Strategic Planning Leadership During the planning, design, and feasibility study phases of hospital construction, it is essential to fully understand the requirements for intelligent logistics infrastructure. The logistics support system should be effectively integrated with traditional pathological configuration to avoid engineering interference or conflicts, and dedicated logistics pathways and spaces must be reserved. If the vertical conveying channels for rail carts lack proper provisions, certain elevators may need to be modified to utilize their shafts.

2. Effective Allocation of Medical Supplies Specifications. Statistics indicate that rail carts can transport over 80% of medical supplies between hospital departments. The rational configuration and quantity of in-vehicle items significantly impact system efficiency. In recent years, intelligent logistics technology has seen increasingly widespread application in modern hospitals, from GMP-based automated logistics systems in pharmaceutical manufacturers, to GSP-compliant sorting and distribution systems in pharmaceutical distribution enterprises, and now the growing trend of automated logistics system development in medical institutions.

The system should be equipped with emergency delivery function, which can be selected for medical supplies in emergency and operation, and the delivery route is prioritized, while other vehicles on the way are timely avoided, just like the priority of 120 ambulance.

3. The optimization of peak and surplus flow scheduling involves batch transportation during concentrated periods, such as early mornings when the demand for inpatient specimens, infusions, and single-dose medications peaks, requiring timely material delivery. Meanwhile, during off-peak periods, the number of buffer stations for empty vehicles must be considered.
4. Scalability

The system is scalable to accommodate future station expansions in hospitals, with user-friendly management, maintenance, and upgrades. It features automatic fault diagnosis, troubleshooting, and recovery. Even during power outages, data remains intact and resumes operations automatically upon restoration.

The implementation of rail-based intelligent logistics technology and its control system in the hospital has achieved complete separation between logistics corridors and patient walkways. This innovative approach effectively alleviates traffic congestion in elevators and corridors, ensuring medical supplies are delivered to their designated locations with maximum efficiency and precision. By eliminating human errors such as damage or misdelivery, the system allows healthcare professionals to focus on patient care and treatment, while reducing waiting times and administrative burdens for patients. These improvements collectively enhance the hospital's service efficiency and management standards.

As urbanization drives population concentration, new hospitals are expanding to address healthcare accessibility challenges. With clinical specialties becoming increasingly specialized, the frequency and volume of medical supplies exchanges between departments have surged. The integration of digital solutions like electronic medical records and digital archives has made intelligent logistics a hallmark of modern hospital development. While such infrastructure requires investment, its hidden value transcends economic considerations. By reducing elevator usage, minimizing manual labor, and ensuring timely delivery of life-saving medical supplies during critical treatments, this system achieves a higher purpose than mere economics—it elevates healthcare to a life-saving mission. Therefore, intelligent and reliable medical supply delivery should be the new frontier in modern hospital construction.