Abstract

A trackway for a personal rapid transport systems which comprises track members formed of preformed grid-like structures. The preformed grid-like structures may be formed of fibre reinforced plastic or the like.

IPC Classes  ?

• E01B 25/10 - Mono-railsAuxiliary balancing railsSupports or connections for rails
• E01B 25/28 - Rail tracks for guiding vehicles when running on road or similar surface

Abstract

An automated vehicle protection system is provided comprising a guideway (20), a vehicle (10), a guideway loop antenna (21), and transponders (41a, 41b), mounted on the vehicle (10). Means (24, 25) are provided, couple to the guideway loop antenna (21), for receiving a signal from the vehicle (10) and generating an inhibit signal in order to inhibit vehicle movement in a section of the guideway (20). The inhibit signal may be passed to a circuit associated with anther guideway loop antenna (22, 23) to control transmission of a signal from this other guideway loop antenna (22, 23).

IPC Classes  ?

• B61L 27/04 - Automatic systems, e.g. controlled by trainChange-over to manual control
• B61L 3/22 - Continuous control along the route using magnetic or electrostatic inductionContinuous control along the route using electromagnetic radiation

Abstract

A vehicle guidance system for directing a vehicle (10) along a predetermined path comprises an onboard computer (26), a number of distance sensors (18, 20, 22, 24), and a steering system (16) controllable by the computer. The predetermined path is stored in a memory (28) of the computer (26) and, in operation, the steering system is controlled to follow the predetermined path. The sensors (18, 20, 22, 24) are adapted to measure the distance, laterally of the vehicle travel direction A, between the sensors and kerbs (30, 32) provided along the predetermined path, and the computer (27) is adapted to control the steering system (16) to correct any lateral deviation from the predetermined path as detected by the sensors.

IPC Classes  ?

• G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions

Abstract

An automatically controlled vehicle, for example for use in a personal rapid transit system, comprises front and rear wheels (2, 4) which are steerable by means of steering actuators (16, 18). In normal operation, a coupling (20) is disengaged, so that the front and rear wheels (2, 4) are steered independently of each other. In the event of failure of one of the steering actuators (16, 18), the coupling (20) is engaged, and both front and rear wheels (2, 4) are steered, for example in opposite directions from each other, by means of the remaining functional steering actuators (16, 18).

IPC Classes  ?

• B62D 5/30 - Safety devices, e.g. alternate emergency power supply or transmission means to ensure steering upon failure of the primary steering means
• B62D 7/15 - Steering linkageStub axles or their mountings for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins the pivotal axes being situated in more than one plane transverse to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle, e.g. all-wheel steering characterised by means varying the ratio between the steering angles of the steered wheels

Abstract

A driverless vehicle, for example for a passenger rapid transport (PRT) system, comprises steered wheels (2, 4) which are steerable both by means of a linkage including a track rod (14) driven by a steering motor (38), and by differential torque applied by drive motors (20, 22). The motors (20, 22 and 38) are controlled in response to signals representing the deviation of the vehicle from a desired path. If either of the motor (38) or either of the motors (20, 22) fails, then steering may be maintained by the remaining motors.

IPC Classes  ?

• G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions
• B62D 5/30 - Safety devices, e.g. alternate emergency power supply or transmission means to ensure steering upon failure of the primary steering means
• B62D 9/00 - Steering deflectable wheels not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A method for controlling movement of a body within a system comprises: a) selecting a path for the body between a first node (B) and a second node (C), b) determining a desired movement envelope (20) for the body along the path that does not conflict with the movement envelope (23, 25) of any other body of the system, c) communicating the path and the start time of the desired movement envelope to the body, and d) causing the body to begin travelling over the selected path at the start time.

IPC Classes  ?

• G05D 1/02 - Control of position or course in two dimensions