TrainMate Robotic System: Making Public Transportation, Public!
This Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) project demonstrated the feasibility of the TrainMate robotic system as a cost-effective, train station or public transportation assistant robot that helps passengers with disabilities using mobility devices to independently board and deboard trains at non-accessible, street level train stations in a manner that is smart, efficient, encouraging and does not cause embarrassment or unwanted attention for the disabled passenger. In New Jersey alone, 101 out of 162 train stations are street-level and non-accessible. The TrainMate system will not only facilitate the use of public transit for passengers with mobility disabilities but can also be used to provide service to passengers with other types of disability such as hearing or vision. While idle it can cater to other needs of the transit agency such as security and surveillance, cleansing and disinfection, public health monitoring, station asset inspection and providing announcements and general information to increase utilization and return on investment. During the course of this project, the project team was able to conduct a thorough requirements analysis for a robotic system that is Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. As part of the project discovery phase, the team also visited more than 15 non-accessible train stations in New Jersey and New York to observe the limitations and unique station plans of such train stations. Using the requirement analysis documents, field information and priceless feedback and comments of their advisory panel, the project team was able to produce electromechanical computer-aided design (CAD) blueprints of a working prototype of the TrainMate robotic system. These blueprints were carefully modeled, tested and simulated in CAD software called SolidWorks.
- Record URL:
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Supplemental Notes:
- This Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) project was conducted by Infratek Solutions, Inc.
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Authors:
- Rezvani, Amir
- Publication Date: 2023-4
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Edition: Final Report
- Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; Tables;
- Pagination: 38p
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Serial:
- TRANSIT-IDEA Program Project Final Report
- Issue Number: 100
- Publisher: Transportation Research Board
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Publication flags:
Open Access (libre)
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Boarding and alighting; Computer aided design; Persons with disabilities; Public transit; Robotics; Technological innovations
- Identifier Terms: Americans with Disabilities Act; Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) (Program); SolidWorks
- Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01881859
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: Transit IDEA Project 100
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: May 7 2023 5:54PM