The End of the Road
Design
The replacement for the road would be a monorail
The replacement for a car would be a ‘pod’ which runs on the rail
All Roads would be replaced with monorail tracks
All vehicles would be replaced by 'Pods with a maximum gross weight of 2 tons'’
All pods would be privately owned’
All journeys would be automatic with no input from the pod occupants’
How does this design address the issues?
Congestion
Because the whle infrastructure is lightweight it would be built in 3 dimensions avoiding the need for traffic lights, roundabouts and other interruptions to 2 dimensional roads. Each junction would be an intersection for non-stop travel.
Travel times
Similarly to the solution to Congestion, the elimination of the interruptions would reduce travel times. In addition, the occupants of the pod have no control over its speed so slow drivers would be elimnated. But equally important to the reduction in travel times, travel times would be accurately predictable.
Parking
With a verical as well as horizontal infrastructure, parking bays could be constructed at upper levels of buildings, possibly around the outside. Because the pods are driverless, they could be parked in high densities in a circle. If one was needed, the whole circle could be revolve to liberate the one that was needed. The pod could stop at the occupants destination and then relocate itself toa parking bay (or even just go home) to be recalled for the return journey
Air pollution
The entire system would be powered by centrally generated electricity which is increasingly being produced from renewable sources
Rising sea levels
OK This won't solve rising sea levels. However, the 3D nfrastructure would make accessible any parts of cities that were submerged simply by being constructed and operating at a high enough level.
Infrastructure
Track Design
The maximum gross weight of any pod would be strictly enforced, and it would be light at 2 tonnes. This is so that the track can be equally lightweight so that it can be constructed easily in 3 dimensions. This in turn enables the construction of multiple parallel tracks in the space of an existing road lane, interchanges instead of junctions so that travel is nom-stop, and starting points and destinations at any vertical level.
Insert use of chains here usually in chains due to volume of pods.
Most routes would use multiple parallel tracks, using a 'collector' to accelerate pods to the necessary speed to join the chain on the main through track This will improve lane density, and enable routing, not only along the ground, but upwards as well. And that means that instead of crossroads, traffic lights and roundabouts, each junction would become an intersection with multiple levels of tracks to ensure continuous flow of pods. Delays caused by junctions - which is most delays - would be eliminated. It also enables end point start and delivery to be at any level, not just the ground floor. With this infrastructure, journeys would be non stop and arrival times predictable and available at the time of departure
But this is not a mass public transport system (in fact public transport would effectively disappear), instead it is designed for personal transport, while freight would be able to take advantage of the smaller capacities to become more agile. (Please see the Freight tab for more on the transportation of goods, which would be totally transformed)
Speed
The system is not aiming for super fast speeds. Indeed, the need for speed diminishes because the travel time can genuinely be used for other purposes. And in any case, a predictable arrival time is of more value than shaving a few minutes off the journey time, however , speeds in excess of 100mph should be practical on most journeys as the higher the speed, the less time each pod is using he track and therefore the track capacity is maximised
Navigation
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For reliability, cost and extensibility, the operating infrastructure would be low tech where possible. Using a version of sat-nav to calculate the route, it would be converted to a form of barcode. This would be optical and mechanical and interact with markers at the side of the track which in turn would inform the local computer which controls the next exit whether the pod should exit or remain. Exiting traffic would be diverted to a side track to continue its journey.
Inter City
But the whole concept is not limited to city centre commuter destinations. It would also operate as inter-city travel as well. The same system would run between towns, villages and cities using the same system. Pods with similar destinations would link together until they needed to part company.
And because there would be no interruptions to travel such as stopping at an intersection, and because the pods are directed by rails not steered by drivers, much higher speeds and much higher traffic densities can safely be achieved, These combine to reduce journey times, in addition to the occupants being free to concentrate on things other than traveling.
Pods
Holding point for Pods Design text
Pod Design
Pods would be lightweight with a maximum weight limit of 2000kg. A low weight limit is fundamental to enabling the infrastructure to be similarly lightweight so that it can operate in 3 dimensions and accelerate quickly enough to joins an existing chain
Each pod would be separate, and would be privately owned (like cars). This is fundamentally different to all other RTS as they are a form of public transport. This enables it to start at the individual point (eg home) where the traveller wants to start from and go to an individual point , such as an office, friends home or restaurant that they actually want to get to. Notably, neither of these locations needs to be at ground level, and the journey could be exactly when when required. It would run on the monorail system, taking power from, and being guided by, the track. Power would be from an electric linear induction motor with voltage supplied through the rail. Comfort would be through electromagnetic levitation (MagLev) above the track, augmented by guide wheels and small inflated rubber tyres
Standard size
The size of each pod would be standardised. This is because the pods would join together whenever two pods come into close proximity linking to each other front and rear to form a chain. A bit like migrating birds where individuals join the flock for the migration and then disband as they approach their individual destination. Linking together will prevent them colliding with each other and reduce the overall air resistance, thereby reducing the overall power consumption.
Standardisation of width enables parallel tracks to be laid at minimum distances. This dimension is envisaged as 2.5 metres. The length of pods would also be regulated (eg at 4 metres). This is to simplify the system for opening gaps for pods to join chains which would be significantly more complex (and hence less safe) if pods were of indiscriminate length. This also ensures that each pod has the power capacity to accelerate into the gap created for it in the existing chain.
Car Comparison
Compared with a car, a pod would be significantly lighter with a maximum weight including occupants of 1500kg,
The engine and transmission of a car would be replaced by a linear induction electric motor. The suspension, wheels and tyres replaced by magnetic levitation with guide wheels, the liquid fuel and onboard propulsion batteries replaced by on demand power pickup from the rail,
The power delivery system would be set into a single rigid rail which would guide the pod and support it through a magnetic levitation system and the heaviest element of the whole pod system would be the occupants.
The rail would also supply centrally generated electrical power which would overcome the range limitations of current battery technology., while eliminating the need for each individual unit to carry its own heavy propulsion batteries
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Interior
A pod would be a small capsule, large enough to seat 4 people in comfort, but would also contain whatever furnishings and equipment the owner specifies to enable them to pass the time as they wish while travelling, and because there is no driver control of a pod (the destination is set before departure) this could include a bed, a wardrobe of clothes, a table and cooking facilities, or simply, a drinks cooler.
Exterior
Pods would need to be larger than the interior of most current cars because the range of activities that the occupants would want, and seats would typically face each other to enable occupant interaction. The external sides of the pod, although slightly shaped for aesthetics, would be near vertical as most of the time the pod would be linked to other pods and therefore aerodynamics is less of an issue. So the aerodynamic sloping front and back found in cars would disappear, and the drive unit and luggage space would be under, or above the interior space.
Height would be regulated so that tiers of tracks and space under bridges can be minimised.
Car to Pod
In practice, pods would be designed and built from scratch, not morphed out of cars, but in order to highlight the differences, this is how to change a car into a pod
Start by removing the engine, gearbox and transmission and replace them with a Linear Induction electric motor placed under the passenger area.
Remove the suspension, wheels and tyres and replace them with a Magnetic Levitation electro magnet reacting between the pod and the monorail track, with small horizontal and vertical guide wheels.
Remove the fuel tank and instead take power from the monorail. Heavy transmission batteries are also unnecessary, as the pod uses centrally generated electricity and avoids installing large batteries for propulsion
Remove the engine compartment and the boot (trunk)
Remove the steering wheel and steering components as the track will guide the pod
Dispense with the dashboard and controls. The only instrument needed is a destination programmer
Turn the front seats through 1800 to form a more sociable group.
Remove the heavy reinforcing structures from the body shell because the opportunity for pods to collide with each other is minimal, and so heavy construction to withstand impacts is unnecessary
Install front and rear variable electromagnets to link pods together and to control pods joining and leaving a linked chain
Together, these developments change the car with an individual driver assisted by all manner of technology, into a pod that simply delivers its occupants to their destination.
So, having removed all the parts of a car that are not required, things a driver would seldom use in a car can be installed so that the occupants can make the best use of the time - coffee maker, gym equipment, video conferencing .....
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