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.