This version of the network is based on single occupant (plus a child or small cargo) pod. Because the proposed network consists of hundreds of stations spread over an entire metro area, single passenger travel would statistically make up almost all of the traffic. For much smaller networks, many other higher capacity pods could be developed along with the associated higher costs and larger right-of-ways.

 

The pod is powered by a 35 MPH air stream in a tube highway network.

 

The pod is cylindrical in shape with permanent magnet rails mounted on the sides at 5 and 7 o'clock. A pair of overhead track guides are mounted on top of the pod. The over-all size is approximately 8 feet long and 5'-6” in diameter. The lower third of the pod would be structural metal with the upper portion mostly plastic with metal reinforcement.

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Pod sketches: Side Elevation, and Pod Section

 

The pod would have two clear plastic gull-wing doors with standard automobile sized passenger seating and dimensions. The doors would be large and open fully to allow easy access for mobile passengers. A child could be added in the buddy seat area with a designed seating attachment. This version would not accommodate low_mobility or handicapped passengers.

 

The pod has an on-board power storage capacitor with an induction charging array. The pod electrical systems would include a vehicle computer system, destination ticket reader, position sensing & display, other pod proximity sensors, speed control, storage capacitor charging, wind skirt and diverter control, communications, pod ventilation, system status & alarm, etc.

 

The wind skirt will be capable of nudging the pod speed up or down to maintain distance between pods and to adjust pod speed for merging maneuvers.

 

Pod steering would be by roller guides on the sides of the magnetic levitation rails. Banked corners would be provided with additional safety channels to prevent pod rolling in the case of the loss of speed.

 

Rail banking up to 30 degrees will be used to allow speeds up to 35 MPH on curve radii as small as 150 feet. At this maximum banking angle, any pods stopped on the bank would still have a center of gravity within the rail lines, and not be a role-over hazard to the passengers. Reference: Banked Curves

 

Pods would also have computer deployed diverter rollers and a pair of guide plates which would be used at intersection curves where the pod must be lifted out of the floor rails and flown to the intersecting tube rails. Banked floor rail cannot be used through the intersection zone.

 

In addition to controlling the air escape rate in the exit portal, fail-safe pod braking would be accomplished by fixed permanent magnets mounted in the exit ramps which would use eddy current forces in the pod mounted aluminum braking plates. Additional emergency electrical magnets would be provide near the merge point of the entry ramp, should a failed merge attempt be detected.

 

Exacting control is necessary to safely merging an accelerating pod into a moving line of pods in a main tube. To accomplish this, the pod wind skirt on the merging pod and the pods behind the merge will be automatically controlled by the merging software and sensors. The main tube pods can be slowed to create an opening, and the entering pod can be accelerated or slowed as necessary to merge into the opening. References: Automated Vehicle Merging Maneuver and Merging Maneuver of a Vehicle.