System and method for controlling flow of vehicles
First Claim
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1. A guideway system for conveying vehicles, the guideway system comprising:
- a first guideway lane;
a second guideway lane extending along the first guideway lane; and
a crossover lane extending between the guideway lanes for allowing vehicles to pass from the first guideway lane to the second guideway lane;
wherein each of the guideway lanes and the crossover lane includes two spaced guidance paths that are configured to be sensed by guidance sensors of the vehicles, and wherein one guidance path of each guideway lane is interrupted proximate junctions of that guideway lane with the crossover lane.
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Abstract
A guideway system for conveying vehicles includes a first guideway lane and a plurality of control cells. Each cell includes a particular portion of the first guideway lane and a cell:controller for monitoring and controlling traffic flow on the first guideway lane portion within the respective cell. Furthermore, the cell controllers are in communication with each other so as to share information with each other.
83 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A guideway system for conveying vehicles, the guideway system comprising:
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a first guideway lane;
a second guideway lane extending along the first guideway lane; and
a crossover lane extending between the guideway lanes for allowing vehicles to pass from the first guideway lane to the second guideway lane;
wherein each of the guideway lanes and the crossover lane includes two spaced guidance paths that are configured to be sensed by guidance sensors of the vehicles, and wherein one guidance path of each guideway lane is interrupted proximate junctions of that guideway lane with the crossover lane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A guideway system for conveying vehicles, the guideway system comprising:
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first and second guideway lanes;
a crossover lane extending between the guideway lanes for allowing vehicles to pass from the first guideway lane to the second guideway lane; and
a plurality of control cells, each cell including a particular portion of each of the guideway lanes and a cell controller for monitoring and controlling traffic flow on the guideway lane portions within the respective cell, wherein the cell controllers are in communication with each other so as to share information with each other;
wherein each of the guideway lanes and the crossover lane includes a guidance path, the guidance path of each of the guideway lanes and the crossover lane includes first guidance elements, and the guidance path of each guideway lane also includes second guidance elements, wherein adjacent first guidance elements are spaced a first distance apart, and adjacent second guidance elements are spaced a second distance apart, and wherein the first distance is different than the second distance.
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9. A guideway system for conveying vehicles, the guideway system comprising:
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a first guideway lane;
a second guideway lane extending along the first guideway lane; and
a crossover lane extending between the guideway lanes for allowing vehicles to pass from the first guideway lane to the second guideway lane;
wherein each of the guideway lanes and the crossover lane includes a guidance path, the guidance path of each of the guideway lanes and the crossover lane includes first guidance elements, and the guidance path of each guideway lane also includes second guidance elements that are different than the first guidance elements. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A guideway system for conveying vehicles, the guideway system comprising:
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a first guideway lane;
a plurality of terminals disposed along the first guideway lane for allowing vehicles to enter the guideway system, wherein each terminal includes an acceleration lane that extends toward and joins with the first guideway lane, and an aborted merge deceleration lane that extends from the acceleration lane for receiving vehicles that are not permitted to merge onto the first guideway lane; and
a plurality of control cells, each cell including a particular portion of the first guideway lane and a cell controller for monitoring and controlling traffic flow on the first guideway lane portion within the respective cell, wherein the cell controllers are in communication with each other so as to share information with each other.
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16. A method for controlling flow of vehicles on a guideway system having a guideway lane, the method comprising:
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monitoring vehicle flow within control cells of the guideway system using cell controllers, wherein each cell includes a particular portion of the guideway lane and one of the controllers, and wherein the controllers are in communication with each other for sharing information with each other; and
controlling operation of a vehicle within a particular cell using the controller of the particular cell;
wherein the step of controlling operation includes providing instructions to the vehicle that cause the vehicle to disregard a guidance path sensor of the vehicle so that the vehicle will travel on a crossover lane of the guideway system and pass from the guideway lane to an additional guideway lane of the guideway system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for controlling flow of vehicles on a guideway system having a guideway lane, the method comprising:
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monitoring vehicle flow within control cells of the guideway system using cell controllers, wherein each cell includes a particular portion of the guideway lane and one of the controllers, and wherein the controllers are in communication with each other for sharing information with each other; and
controlling operation of a vehicle within a particular cell using the controller of the particular cell;
wherein the step of monitoring vehicle flow includes sensing a guideway lane portion within a particular cell for the presence of a suitable gap in traffic flow, and wherein the step of controlling operation of a vehicle includes allowing the vehicle to travel on an aborted merge deceleration lane of the guideway system if a suitable gap is not present for receiving the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method for controlling flow of vehicles on a guideway system having a guideway lane, the method comprising:
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monitoring vehicle flow within control cells of the guideway system using cell controllers, wherein each cell includes a particular portion of the guideway lane and one of the controllers, and wherein the controllers are in communication with each other for sharing information with each other; and
controlling operation of a vehicle within a particular cell using the controller of the particular cell;
wherein the guideway lane includes a guidance path having first and second guidance elements, the second guidance elements being arranged so that the second guidance elements extend in a first direction parallel to a centerline of the guideway lane, and a portion of the first guidance elements being arranged so that the portion extends in a direction non-parallel to the centerline of the guideway lane, and wherein the step of controlling operation of a vehicle includes providing instructions to the vehicle that cause the vehicle to follow the second guidance elements and ignore the first guidance elements so that the vehicle will remain on the guideway lane.
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Specification