Amazon patents magnetic track switch for warehouse shuttles

1. A system comprising: a set of rails that form a track having a central axis, the set of rails comprising a first rail segment on a first side and a second rail segment on a second side opposite the first side, wherein the track comprises a linear path and a curved path that intersects the linear path; a shuttle configured to transport items from a first location to a second location using the set of rails, the shuttle comprising: a first ferrous block; and a set of wheels; a set of linear synchronous motors (LSMs) disposed along the central axis of the track; a wall structure extending along the curved path, the set of wheels of the shuttle configured to interface with an exterior surface of the wall structure; a magnet assembly forming a side of the curved path, the magnet assembly comprising a set of focused magnets arranged in series along the interior surface of the wall structure and coupled to the wall structure, each focused magnet of the set of focused magnets having a housing, a set of magnets arranged in series alternating in polarity, and a backing structure positioned behind the set of magnets such that the set of magnets is between the backing structure and the wall structure, the set of magnets and the backing structure disposed in the housing and configured to generate a first magnetic field, wherein the backing structure comprises a set of stacked plates and each backing structure is secured to a respective housing via a respective set of magnets; a first electromagnet disposed along a side of the curved path adjacent to the set of focused magnets, the first electromagnet configured to be energized to generate a second magnetic field to offset the first magnetic field; and a second electromagnet disposed along a side of the linear path opposite the set of focused magnets and the first electromagnet and configured to be selectively energized; wherein the first ferrous block of the shuttle is attracted to the set of focused magnets when the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet are inactivated, causing the shuttle to follow the curved path.