Part 2 - Solution

The previous post was about the problems we encounter in trying to get to where we want to go.

I foresee a truly superior way of meeting our necessity for transportation, from commuting to exchange of goods.  For such a system to be realized there first has to be a shift in perception, followed by a concerted effort by designers, builders and investors.

 

The main motivation behind this idea is a change from individual ownership of transportation to a system used by everyone, while at the same time preserving our freedom and privacy. The system proposed replaces current roads with something far superior on which automated vehicles will travel unimpeded.  This idea has been proposed before by others, and called PRT (Personal Rapid Transit), but I don’t think its full potential has been widely understood.  I have my own take on it and would like to publish these ideas here.

We are faced with the problems of fuel shortage, environmental pollution, traffic congestion and needless deaths and injuries in road accidents, we cannot carry on this way forever.  

A rail-like system, where vehicles travel on fixed tracks, can solve many of these problems using smart technologically, and minimize the disadvantages.

 

For example; energy will still be needed to make it work, but with increased efficiency even renewable can be sufficient. Accidents could go down to zero by removing human error and raising the track above all other traffic, lowering the risk for collisions.  Vehicles can be designed with safety in mind even when traveling at high speeds on the fixed track.  There are many advantages which cannot be matched by cars traveling on roads, where conditions are unpredictable even for the most sophisticated computer navigation programs or human drivers for that matter.  

The best way to prevent accidents is to make them physically improbable by building safe passageways for future automated vehicles to travel on, hereby referred to as "Track". 

The Ivo-Track

Witnessing the increasing chaos of automobile traffic near and outside major cities I propose a novel design for a transportation system. This system combines the advantages of rail and publicly shared transit with traveling in a separate vehicle, in privacy and comfort, directly to your destination with no intermediate stops. The essential idea involves construction of a rail network between major populated areas, yet it does not simply replace the road system.  Instead it creates a new paradigm for travel and commerce. 

Unlike conventional trains, the much smaller vehicles proposed here can travel autonomously and merge with different branches of track.  While not all locations will be directly reachable, it will get passengers close enough to walk, bike, or use other ground transportation.  The advantage is that vehicles are using the same track and propulsion system to span large distances.  At the same time this design eliminates the need to store energy on the vehicles themselves.

The other major innovation is that all navigation is automatic, replacing driving entirely.  Since all cars travel on a track, they cannot go off or encounter obstacles, it makes computer navigation very practical.

Proposed system features:

• Super-track is suspended between support columns several metres above ground level, for increased safety and clearance.
• The track can also double as an electrical and communications conduit to homes and buildings, replacing underground cables and unshielded wires in the air.
• Nearly all vehicles have identical design and are public domain, shared between passengers in the system.
• All navigation is automatic, driverless:  a destination is pre-programmed or can be changed en-route by passengers if desired.
• Cabs (vehicles) can be requested when and where needed.  There will always be a reserve of unoccupied vehicles in populated locations, they can be stacked vertically or hidden underground out of sight.
• Cabs can dock directly to buildings in some cases, or meet and drop off passengers at outside locations. From these stations passengers can go on foot or take a short bike ride.         Example: A track section terminates at a small, remote village, from where passengers can walk to their homes.  Another track branch ends at a major city “busy spot”, where commuters can walk or cycle to work or do their shopping.  Other branches lead people to parks and recreational areas.
• Transportation of materials is done on the same track, and automatically arrive where they are needed; in some cases even using the same basic vehicle, modified without seats.  Larger loads may be divided between several cabs joined together.  Larger vehicles can also be manufactured, but for many practical reasons it is better to divide a load and assemble the parts at the destination rather than transport it as a whole package.  I call this concept “quantized transportation”.  It reduces wasted space and delays because small merchandise can be shipped immediately at little cost.
•  The Super-track will be designed to split either to the left or right and merge with cab-trains going in other directions.
• Changing tracks is done by separating a cab from the others, with as minimum acceleration as possible.
• Adjacent cabs traveling on the track have the ability to merge into one joined vehicle and seats rearranged by passengers to suite their comfort needs. The idea behind this option is to continue social life even while traveling to a remote destination.  Alternatively one could use their private commute to rest or do something they enjoy.

Other advantages:

Eliminating the need for driving and freeing time to pursue other activities.

·      Everyone has access to the same level of comfort and transportation service.

·     Greater energy efficiency, speed and directness of travel; without having to come to a stop during transit.

·         All energy for propulsion is supplied via the track – minimising idle energy loss (as heat), and extra mass to accelerate as engine and fuel. 

·         Air drag and friction are greatly reduced by employing novel suspension technologies and coupling cabs together as a train.

·         The cabs are made as light and simplistic as possible while maximizing passenger space and comfort.  Only navigation, entertainment and climate systems are on board.

·         Since the Super-track is meters above ground, cabs should not be at risk of collision with one another or with obstacles.  Automated navigation further ensures safety.

·         Clean and sustainable energy from various local and remote sources can be shared system-wide through the Super-track.

·         Commute time can be utilised for social and business interactions, either in person through interconnected cabs or using virtual networking. 

·         This system can be designed to bring people closer while traveling, and at the same time lowers the costs of commuting.     

·         Living and social centres could be designed with this transit system in mind, enabling people to move from one central location to another without concerns for parking, fuel, and maintaining their own vehicle.

A current example for this model of transportation is the bike-sharing in place in some cities.  For a small fee people can take a bike from a station, ride where they need to go, and then simply return the bike to the nearest station for others to use.

A few key points:

First: the manufacturing cost for each vehicle (cab) is greatly reduced compared to an automobile, due to having no engine, no energy storage, and a smaller size.

Second: there do not need to be as many cabs as there are people or cars today, since all cabs are shared.   A plan could be devised so that not everyone travels at the same time - this makes sense from an energy-saving point of view too, limiting the number of vehicles on the track at one time.

On Energy use and Acceleration

Since this proposed transportation system is a “continuous flow” system, there are no stops while in transit, acceleration is only done at departure and arrival.   The track must provide some energy to counter the effects of friction and minor changes in speed during travel (such as during merging).  This energy requirement is spread over the track length, eliminating the need for large energy sources to maintain motion.  With this in mind, extra energy supply can be provided only at more busy locations and to accelerate heavy industrial cargo.  The energy can even be supplied privately by the users themselves.  Some of that energy is recovered and reused on arrival.   

  

Track Organization

I’ve thought of a scheme to minimize the length of track needed, by using only a single, one-way route between places.  This is similar to a roundabout traffic system.  In order to go back one must travel through a third location and back to your place of origin.  The added distance and time can be offset by the costs saved.

Some social and commercial centres (hubs) will have multiple two-way tracks, to make traveling more direct, but the total distances should remain smaller.

Track Design

A novel suspension and propulsion technology might make this system even more cost effective and efficient. 

Proposed innovations include high current superconducting wires for transferring electrical energy along the track (not only for propulsion but also to provide power to distant locations, where the track is the only existing structure).

Instead of using traditional wheels and bearings I would propose a frictionless gliding system.  Magnetic levitation requires expensive magnets along the entire length of track, which might not be practical. 

Can electrostatic repulsion provide the frictionless support on the track?

As cars move they generate a powerful repulsive electrostatic charge, directly below them relative to the track, which counteracts frictional forces and allows them to glide. 

Acceleration can still be done electromagnetically, however the entire track does not need to be lined with magnets.  They can be placed where the most acceleration is needed and then spread out periodically to maintain speed along the track.