Van is a patent lawyer who retired in the early 90's to pursue various ideas he had at the time, including ideas as to automated transportation.  In that field, he has been issued eight U.S. Patents and has a number of pending applications.

One recent development is an operating system usable for control of carriers that move on elevated guideways and automatically carry loads from off-line entrance stations to off-line exit stations.  The system can safely and reliably maintain a safe following distance between each carrier and a carrier ahead.  The system can also safely and reliably control merging of carriers entering a main-line guideway with carriers moving at high speed on the main-line guideway. 

Other recent developments relate to constructions of carriers.  One important feature is the use of a single main support and drive wheel that rides on a main guideway rail.  Auxiliary balance wheels engage the main rails to control balance of the carrier about the axis of the main support and drive wheel. Auxiliary tilt control wheels engage rails of the guideway to control tilt about a longitudinal axis. The use of a single main support and drive wheel has important advantages, making construction simpler and more compact, obviating the need for a differential, facilitating guidance and steering of the carrier and improving traction.