THE URBMOBILE-A DUAL-MODE VEHICLE SYSTEM DESIGN CONCEPT

A NEW TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS DEFINED AND DESCRIBED. IT IS PRIMARILY INTENDED FOR USE IN METROPOLITAN AREAS WHERE THE LAND USE IS SO DEPLOYED THAT THE AUTOMOBILE IS THE DOMINANT FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. IT IS EXPECTED TO ALLEVIATE THE GROWING PROBLEM OF TRAFFIC AND PARKING CONGESTION IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT OF SUCH CITIES AND TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION. THE SYSTEM USES A DUAL-MODE VEHICLE, ONE THAT CAN OPERATE ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS IN THE MANNER OF A CONVENTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. ALSO, IT CAN ENTER AN EXCLUSIVE GUIDEWAY (RAIL-ROAD) AT DISCRETE ACCESS POINTS AND BE ROUTED AND PROPELLED AUTOMATICALLY TO A DESTINATION STATION. FOR OPERATOON ON THE STREET, THIS ELECTRICALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE DRAWS ITS POWER FROM AN INTERNALLY STORED IS THE DOMINANT FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. IT IS EXPECTED TO CAR TAKES ITS POWER FROM A 'THIRD RAIL.' THE BASIC VEHICLE IS A SMALL, FOUR-PASSENGER MACHINE, BUT THE SYSTEM CAN ACCOMMODATE A SMALL BUS (10-14 PASSENGERS) AND LIGHT DELIVERY TRUCKS. IN THE GUIDED MODE THE THREE-PHASE INDUCTION MOTOR RUNS AT NEAR-SYNCHRONOUS SPEEDS AND THUS ALL CARS TRAVEL AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SPEED, OBVIATING THE NEED FOR COMPLICATED HEADWAY CONTROL. EXTREME ATTENTION TO SAFETY BY MEANS OF SIMPLIFICATION AND USE OF CONVENTIONAL RELIABLE COMPONENTS IS IMPORTANT. /AUTHOR/

• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Weinberg, M I
• Publication Date: 1968-5

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Alternating current motors; Central business districts; Compact automobiles; Electric automobiles; Highway transportation; Metropolitan areas; Railroad transportation; Traffic congestion; Traffic signal control systems; Traffic speed; Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Synchronization; Transportation systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Small car
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00225446
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Traffic Systems Reviews & Abstracts
• Report/Paper Numbers: Paper 680397
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 28 1994 12:00AM