Intelligent public transit system using dual-mode vehicles

• US 6,198,994 B1
• Filed: 09/15/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mccrary Personal Transport System, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mccrary Personal Transport System, LLC
• Inventors: McCrary, Homer T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Eric M.
• Application Number:
  US09/397,290
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/23, 701/24, 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 180/168
• US Class Current: 701/24
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/00 Methods, circuits, or devices for controlling the traction-motor speed of electrically-propelled vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/38 with automatic control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/32 Auto pilot mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/00 Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle with power supply from force of nature, e.g. sun or wind, B60L8/00; for monorail vehicles, suspension vehicles or rack railways B60L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 15/00 Combinations of railway systems
• CPC Class Codes: E01D 2/00 Bridges characterised by the cross-section of their bearing spanning structure
• CPC Class Codes: E01D 21/06 by translational movement of the bridge or bridge sections E01D15/127, E01D15/133 and E01D21/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01D 2101/30 Metal E01D2101/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 30/00 Transportation of goods or passengers via railways, e.g. energy recovery or reducing air resistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

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.

Claims

1. In a controlled roadway system having a bounded roadway path with a traveling surface, wherein a controlled, wheeled vehicle is self-powered and travels on the wheels on the roadway surface, a method for guiding the vehicle to stay within roadway boundaries, comprising steps of:

(a) providing side barriers along the boundaries of the roadway path including barrier proximity sensors;

(b) implementing side proximity sensors in the controlled vehicle sensing proximity to the vehicle of the side barriers;

(c) receiving input from the proximity sensors by an on-board computer (OBC) in the vehicle;

(d) receiving input from the barrier proximity sensors by a Master computing system controlling the roadway system; and

(e) operating by the OBC a steering mechanism to guide the wheeled vehicle between the side barriers according to input from the side proximity sensors and the side barrier proximity sensors via two-way communication between the OBC and the Master computer system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a selector in the OBC for exclusively selecting side proximity sensors to just one side for guiding the wheeled vehicle on the controlled roadway.

3. The method of claim 2 including an additional step for guiding the vehicle into an exit ramp from the controlled roadway, the exit ramp having a side barrier contiguous with a side barrier on one side of the controlled roadway, the additional step including selecting the side proximity sensors to the side having the exit ramp.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the selecting is done by the master computer communicating with the OBC.

5. The method of claim 2 including an additional step for guiding the vehicle onto the controlled roadway from a branching entrance ramp, the entrance ramp having a side barrier contiguous with a side barrier on one side of the controlled roadway, the additional step including selecting the proximity sensors to the side of the entrance ramp that is contiguous with a side barrier of the controlled roadway.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the selecting is done by the master computer communicating with the OBC.

7. In a controlled roadway system including an internally powered, wheeled, transport vehicle having an on-board computer (OBC) system enabling software control of at least vehicle steering, and a controlled roadway system having a main roadway with a surface upon which the transport vehicle runs, and branching entrance and exit ramps, the main roadway and branching ramps having contiguous side barriers, a method for switching the transport vehicle onto an exit ramp, or onto the main roadway from an entrance ramp, comprising the steps of:

(a) steering the vehicle between side barriers by the OBC sensing the side barriers through proximity sensors and steering the vehicle accordingly; and

(b) switching the vehicle onto a selected exit ramp or onto the main roadway from an entrance ramp by sensing proximity of the contiguous side barrier only on the side to which the exit ramp exits the main roadway or from which the entrance ramp enters the main roadway.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the selection of the side to sense is made by a master computer system and communicated to the OBC.

9. A system for guiding a wheeled, self-powered transport vehicle in a controlled roadway having a roadway surface upon which the vehicle travels on the wheels, and also having side barriers, comprising:

an on-board computer (OBC) in the vehicle;

a master computing system communicating with the OBC;

side proximity sensors in the vehicle sensing proximity to the side barriers of the controlled roadway;

barrier proximity sensors on the side barriers of the controlled roadway sensing the proximity of the vehicles on the roadway; and

a steering mechanism operable by the OBC;

characterized in that the OBC steers the vehicle according to input from the side proximity sensors and from input provided by the barrier sensors via communication from the master computer to maintain a pre-determined position on the controlled roadway.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the controlled roadway has branching entrance and exit ramps, each having one side barrier contiguous with a side barrier of the controlled roadway, and wherein the OBC steers the vehicle onto an exit ramp or onto the controlled roadway from an entrance ramp by selecting to use proximity sensors to just the side of contiguous side barriers.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a master computer outside the vehicle, wherein the selection of side-to-sense is made by the master computer and communicated to the OBC.