MOCA requires no power to stay up and provide support. High-energy permanent magnets permanently couple the overhead carrier to the special iron-clad ceiling panels

MOCA uses permanent magnets because their magnetism is ‘always on’; they generate their own persistent magnetic field, unlike electromagnets, which require an electric current to generate a magnetic field.

Prototype units have been built and tested to safely support an operating load of 500 lb (227 kg) and 1000 lb (454 kg) respectively, with each having an ultimate load capacity 250% greater than the operating load.

The carrier is riding on hundreds of recirculating non-metallic bearing balls between itself and the ceiling surface. These balls reduce the moving resistance to near zero and allow it to move in any direction at any time.

The carriers need not be powered to be permanently supported and freely movable by the user. However, they could be battery-powered for motor-driven travel, lifting, and other powered functions, much as robotic vacuum cleaners can move about. Charging stations can be positioned out of the way and/or incorporated into special ceiling tiles.

There is no span limit. Travel is possible everywhere the MOCA ceiling is installed, even with other separately supported friends moving along beside you as you travel.

In new construction and room renovations the door header is simply removed so that the ceiling can continue uninterrupted into the adjacent room. New full height doors or door extensions can be used to heighten original doors as well. Additionally, a variety of viable alternate methods are being developed for unaided free movement through doorways, with the inclusion of sound and air separation between rooms before and after passage

MOCA carriers could travel as fast as you can walk or jog. Faster speeds are possible but not presently an objective. Speed limiting may also be desirable for safety and could be provided by several reliable methods.

A traveling carrier creates some swooshing sound without powered drive, but even with powered travel no barriers to producing relatively quiet movement are expected.

A very effective magnetic braking system has been built and tested that even increases the holding strength while in use.

It is expected that some users may require oxygen or other gases, IVs, or the administration of fluids and medications even while partially or fully supported by MOCA. If greater load capacity is required to move the extras with a patient, then a second carrier can be hitched to the patient’s carrier to move in unison wherever they go.

Not only can separate users be close enough to touch one another, but they can move when close or hold hands as they move, sit next to each other, etc. Caregivers could also be supported separately, but close enough to help support a patient while physically assisting them and also being safely supported themselves to prevent their own injury. The social qualities of MOCA for multiple users in the same space can be dramatic and exceptional by comparison with other products.

MOCA can provide multiple movable support points from the ceiling for the patients they physically support and the caregivers themselves. This methodology can prevent excess strain on the caregivers while always preventing fall injuries to all users. Where optimum safe handling procedures are a requirement for patients and caregivers, MOCA could fulfill the needs.

MOCA can be used outdoors, but it must be operated under an overhead support frame that is capable of providing a watershed and the load support required for its intended use. This could be a covered patio, a covered walkway between buildings, a covered carport, garage, covered loading area, or a pole barn type constructed space.

MOCA could certainly be installed over indoor swimming pools, even Olympic-size swimming pools, and the surrounding areas and rooms around them. For outdoor pools, see (Can MOCA be used outdoors?). MOCA Installation over swimming pools would vastly increase the pool’s utilization, safety, variety of therapies, training routines, and play activities.

The use of MOCA in conjunction with existing track systems has been considered and has been determined to be entirely feasible. It may, however, require some unique adaptations to different track systems.

Yes, and in terms of its free, limitless multidirectional conveyance, load capacity, ease of use, overall utility for a multiplicity of uses, and the support of numerous independent simultaneous users, no existing products compare.

Analysis indicates that the system cost is comparable to or less than conventional track-based systems depending on the span of use.

Battery powered illumination will be a simple and useful enhancement that could be easily incorporated.

Special detaching devices can remove the carrier from the ceiling at any location; however, they require special tools to prevent damage to the components. Typically, a non-attracting panel is installed behind removable stop-curbing to prevent accidental movement onto the panel, creating a removal station at a convenient ceiling location, such as a corner. When the curbing is removed, the carrier can be moved onto the non-attracting panel, where the attraction to the ceiling will cease, and the carrier can be lowered away by hand. This also becomes the location where a carrier can be easily loaded onto the ceiling as well.

MOCA Panels are currently 24 in. (61 cm.) square or 24 in. (61 cm.) x 48 in. (122 cm.) rectangles. Depending on size, they typically weigh 5 to 6 lbs. or (2.3 to 2.8 kg.) per sq. ft. Even with their relative lightness, installation-assist devices can be utilized to assist their installation.

Tests indicate that the feasibility of continuous movement of MOCA carriers traveling over certain colored paints and coatings is entirely workable; in fact, special printable laminated films can be applied to panels to provide colors and patterns that simulate textures and provide anesthetic consistency with a space’s décor and needs to include signage.

The carrier is riding against the ceiling surface on hundreds of non-metallic non-marking balls. The quantity of bearing balls between the surfaces reduces the contact pressure per ball so low that it is measured in ounces (grams), not enough to mark the ceiling.

Suspended ceilings typically have standard-sized drop-in fixtures for lighting, ventilation, alarms, etc. These can be employed as conventionally used, only with added low-height curbing surrounding them to prevent support carriers from traveling into them. Consideration should be given to the location of fixtures during installation to optimize freedom of support carrier movement.

Additional safety options can be incorporated to provide visual and audible alarms if safe loads are exceeded. Overload belay-type lowering units can be employed to fully support safe loads and also safely lower excess loads.

An effective and relatively simple method of utilizing MOCA over stairs has been conceived and is in line for further planned engineering development.

Ultimately, we expect to have them available. Design work is already in progress.

It could, and much consideration has been given to that concept. We are currently working on this as a near future development.

MOCA can be utilized in numerous markets including but not limited to:

• Health Tech
• Smart Houses
• AR/VR
• Distribution
• Manufacturing
• And many other potential markets

The magnetic carriers employ numerous rare-earth-magnets with an expected life of over 100 years. It is also expected that periodic scheduled inspection and testing will be recommended and/or required for system operational certification, much like elevators and other human-supporting equipment.

The non-metallic bearing balls between the carrier and ceiling surface are tough and resilient. They have been tested under load for over 60 mi (96 kg) of use resulting in no measurable wear. We expect many years of use before requiring their easy replacement.

MOCA creates no negative effects resulting from the presence of its supporting magnets. No externally powered electromagnetism is employed, which can emit radio waves that could interfere with radio wave-based instruments and communications. MOCA’s magnetic fields are permanent localized fields internally generated, and these magnetic fields are tightly contained between the carriers and the ceiling area directly above them. No magnetism can leave the small coupling area between them. Although the magnetic fields are confined in normal use, they are powerful; therefore, the carriers require trained and qualified personnel to remove or modify them or any system parts.

Multiple carriers can easily be used to support heavier objects. Alternatively, several carriers can be joined on a single frame to support greater loads.

In theory, there is no limit beyond the supporting structure behind the MOCA ceiling panels. The magnetic attraction can be increased, and the magnetically attractive ceiling area can be broadened sufficiently to meet the specific engineered needs of any system.

A permanent magnet is called a permanent magnet because its magnetism is “always on.” It generates its own persistent magnetic field, unlike an electromagnet which is made from a coil of wire wrapped around a steel core and requires an electric current to generate a magnetic field.

Whether natural or fabricated, permanent magnets are caused by a magnetic field passing through the magnet’s material as it cools from a melted state. This causes the atoms in the substance to align and amplify their individual atomic fields into a single large magnetic field that we can use permanently.

Sometimes, but only directly above the MOCA carriers.

The ceiling is made from iron-based steel, which means it is ferromagnetic but not magnetic until it is close to a magnetic field. A close magnetic field from a MOCA carrier will temporarily cause it to become magnetic but with an opposite magnetic polarity. Thus, it attracts the carrier during its closeness and lets go of its magnetic attraction once the carrier has moved away.