An independent cart system, comprising: a track (10, 310) having a plurality of track segments (12, 14, 312, 412, 414, 416), wherein each track segment includes: a plurality of coils spaced along the track segment, and a segment controller (50a, 50b) operative to regulate a current flow in the plurality of coils; a plurality of movers, wherein each mover includes a set of drive magnets and each mover is configured to travel along the track responsive to an interaction between the set of drive magnets on the mover and an electromagnetic field generated by the current flow in the plurality of coils; and a safety controller in communication with the segment controller in at least one of the plurality of track segments, the safety controller including at least one input configured to receive a safety signal, wherein the safety controller is operative to: receive the safety signal at the at least one input, execute a safety program responsive to receiving the safety signal, and transmit an output signal to the segment controller with which the safety controller is in communication responsive to executing the safety program, wherein the segment controller is operative to achieve a safety function responsive to receiving the output signal from the safety controller, wherein: the track includes a plurality of sections defined along a length of the track, each of the plurality of sections includes at least one track segment, and the safety controller transmits the output signal to each segment controller within one of the plurality of sections responsive to receiving the safety signal. a track (10, 310) having a plurality of track segments (12, 14, 312, 412, 414, 416), wherein each track segment includes: a plurality of coils spaced along the track segment, and a segment controller (50a, 50b) operative to regulate a current flow in the plurality of coils; a plurality of coils spaced along the track segment, and a segment controller (50a, 50b) operative to regulate a current flow in the plurality of coils; a plurality of movers, wherein each mover includes a set of drive magnets and each mover is configured to travel along the track responsive to an interaction between the set of drive magnets on the mover and an electromagnetic field generated by the current flow in the plurality of coils; and a safety controller in communication with the segment controller in at least one of the plurality of track segments, the safety controller including at least one input configured to receive a safety signal, wherein the safety controller is operative to: receive the safety signal at the at least one input, execute a safety program responsive to receiving the safety signal, and transmit an output signal to the segment controller with which the safety controller is in communication responsive to executing the safety program, wherein the segment controller is operative to achieve a safety function responsive to receiving the output signal from the safety controller, receive the safety signal at the at least one input, execute a safety program responsive to receiving the safety signal, and transmit an output signal to the segment controller with which the safety controller is in communication responsive to executing the safety program, wherein the segment controller is operative to achieve a safety function responsive to receiving the output signal from the safety controller, wherein: the track includes a plurality of sections defined along a length of the track, each of the plurality of sections includes at least one track segment, and the safety controller transmits the output signal to each segment controller within one of the plurality of sections responsive to receiving the safety signal. the track includes a plurality of sections defined along a length of the track, each of the plurality of sections includes at least one track segment, and the safety controller transmits the output signal to each segment controller within one of the plurality of sections responsive to receiving the safety signal.