A drive system for a robot includes a track including opposed sidewalls, an electrified rail positioned between the sidewalls, a shoe mounted on the robot for contacting the electrified rail providing power to the robot, a drive motor mounted on the robot, a rotating drive member, the drive member engaging the track to drive the robot when the drive motor is actuated, means for coupling the drive member to the drive motor and means for increasing the friction between the drive system and the track at selected locations along the track.