Intelligent public transit system using dual-mode vehicles

• US 9,595,190 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2015
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mccrary Personal Transport System, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mccrary Personal Transport System, LLC
• Inventors: McCrary, Homer T
• Primary Examiner(s): Holwerda, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US14/714,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20150262479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 701/117
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 13/001 Decorating, marking or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 7/00 Non-inflatable or solid tyres B60C1/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 9/02 Wheel tracks rail tracks for guiding vehicles E01B25/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/01 Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled G08G1/07 - G08G1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10 Tires, resilient
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10495 Pneumatic tire or inner tube

Abstract

A method has steps for dividing a controlled roadway into virtual moving packets with characteristics of being spaced apart by a specific distance and moving at a controlled speed on the roadway, by a master computer coupled to sensors and actuators of the controlled roadway, managing vehicles traveling on the controlled roadway to enter, leave and occupy individual ones of the virtual packets, through communication by the master computer with on-board computers in individual ones of the vehicles, and adjusting virtual packet size and spacing during operation, causing vehicles occupying the spaces of the virtual packets to readjust position relative to one another according to the size and spacing adjustment of the packets by the master computer.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

dividing a controlled roadway into virtual moving packets with characteristics of being spaced apart by a specific distance, size and moving at a controlled speed on the roadway, by a master computer coupled to sensors and actuators of the controlled roadway;

managing vehicles traveling on the controlled roadway to enter, leave and occupy individual ones of the virtual packets, through communication by the master computer with on-board computers in individual ones of the vehicles; and

adjusting the characteristics including size of the virtual packets and spacing between virtual packets during operation, causing vehicles occupying the spaces of the virtual packets to readjust position relative to one another according to the size and the spacing adjustment of the packets by the master computer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the master computer adjusts virtual packet characteristics on a portion of the roadway ahead of an exit ramp to afford a vehicle about to exit additional space between that vehicle and proximate vehicles.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicles comprise engagement mechanisms fore and aft, and wherein the master computer adjusts packet characteristics to cause two or more vehicles to engage one to another by the engagement mechanisms.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the adjustment is triggered by failure of one vehicle in operation, and by the engagement an immediately following vehicle is caused to push the failed vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein sensors of the controlled roadway include sensors recording environmental conditions, and wherein the master computer changes the characteristics of virtual packets according to changing environmental conditions.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the characteristics of virtual packets are altered based on changing wind conditions in the environment of the controlled roadway.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the characteristics of virtual packets are changed based on temperature changes in the environment of the controlled roadway.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the characteristics of virtual packets are changed based on changes in lighting conditions in the environment of the controlled roadway.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the characteristics of virtual packets are changed based on operational circumstances.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the operational circumstances include one of accidents on the roadway and scheduled maintenance conditions.