Intelligent public transit system using dual-mode vehicles
First Claim
1. A transit system comprising:
- a plurality of internally powered, wheeled, transport vehicles, each individual vehicle having both manual controls enabling a user to drive the vehicle on a surface street and an on-board computer (OBC) system enabling software control of at least vehicle steering and velocity;
a Master computer system enabled to establish two-way communication with the OBC on each vehicle; and
a controlled roadway system having a roadway surface upon which the transport vehicle runs on its internal power on the same wheels as on surface streets;
wherein, on surface streets off the controlled roadway the manual controls are active, and on the controlled roadway the software controls are active, and the Master computer system maps the controlled roadway into fixed length virtual packets traveling at a constant speed, identifies the packets uniquely, identifies all compatible transport vehicles uniquely, relates the virtual packets to corresponding vehicles and controls transport vehicles to occupy corresponding virtual packets.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A unique transit system incorporates at least one internally powered, wheeled, transport vehicle having both manual controls enabling a user to drive the vehicle on a surface street and an on-board computer (OBC) system enabling software control of at least vehicle steering and velocity. A controlled roadway system having a roadway surface upon which the transport vehicle runs on its internal power on the same wheels as on surface streets is provided as well. On surface streets off the controlled roadway the manual controls are active, and on the controlled roadway the software controls are active. Manual or computer control depends on whether the vehicle is on the controlled roadway or surface streets. The OBC communicates with a Master computer for the controlled roadway, providing a range of functions. The transport vehicles operate at a fixed and constant speed on the controlled roadway system.
57 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A transit system comprising:
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a plurality of internally powered, wheeled, transport vehicles, each individual vehicle having both manual controls enabling a user to drive the vehicle on a surface street and an on-board computer (OBC) system enabling software control of at least vehicle steering and velocity;
a Master computer system enabled to establish two-way communication with the OBC on each vehicle; and
a controlled roadway system having a roadway surface upon which the transport vehicle runs on its internal power on the same wheels as on surface streets;
wherein, on surface streets off the controlled roadway the manual controls are active, and on the controlled roadway the software controls are active, and the Master computer system maps the controlled roadway into fixed length virtual packets traveling at a constant speed, identifies the packets uniquely, identifies all compatible transport vehicles uniquely, relates the virtual packets to corresponding vehicles and controls transport vehicles to occupy corresponding virtual packets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wheeled personal transport vehicle (PV), comprising:
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an on-board power plant;
manual controls comprising at least steering and speed controls enabling an operator to operate the vehicle on surface streets;
an on-board computer (OBC) system enabled to operate at least the steering and speed controls by software; and
an exclusive selection mechanism for selecting either manual or OBC control; and
a software component in the OBC on each vehicle enabled to establish two-way communication with a master computer system;
wherein the PV is controlled by the OBC according to information received from the master computer which includes mapping the controlled roadway into virtual packets, identifies the packets uniquely, identifies all compatible transport vehicles uniquely, and controls transport vehicles to occupy corresponding virtual packets. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification