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A metal strip laid along the intended path would be a more elegant, scalable method. We already have the means for producing bulk steel extrusion, and it would
by asteli 8y ago
A metal strip laid along the intended path would be a more elegant, scalable method. We already have the means for producing bulk steel extrusion, and it would be a simple enough matter to have a vehicle follow a strip like that. Simply lower a cam follower to near-ground level, and let the mechanical forces do the steering for you.
Of course, you could opt for multiple strips with convex upper surfaces, and wheels with concave ones, such that you obviate the need for a cam follower - gravity provides the forces needed to center a wheel along its guidance strip.
If you wanted to bring an Uber/Lyft/Didi model into this, you'd have multiple riders sharing the vehicle (netting them a lower fare, of course), and the conveyance would make several stops along the way. It's true that this might not offer door-to-door convenience, but apparently Uber et al have had success with getting their riders to walk short distances to catch their rides, so we know that it's a viable business model.
I've been sitting on some of these ideas for years. Send me your VC contacts, I'd love to get in touch.
- taneq 8y agoIf you expose the metal strip you could use it as a power rail for electric cars, too! Although that would leave your highways being potentially deadly to walk on... Edit: Also if you're using shaped wheels to guide the car along the road, I think we've just reinvented the tram.
- tpxl 8y agoThat's the point, this is a tram. Autonomous electric mini-trains would be far better than whatever we have today and will have in the near future.
- icebraining 8y agoI quite like trams (especially those from my home town[1]), but there's nothing simple about installing a continuous metal strip on every road. They were replacing an intersection of tram lines near where I lived in Brussels, and it took them over six months for the whole process, with tremendous disruption for the whole area. [1] https://www.lisbonlux.com/images/transportation/rua-augusto-rosa.jpg https://www.lisbonlux.com/images/transportation/rua-augusto-... https://st.depositphotos.com/1000848/4380/i/950/depositphotos_43804127-stock-photo-interior-of-an-old-lisbon.jpg https://st.depositphotos.com/1000848/4380/i/950/depositphoto...
- peterwwillis 8y agoTrams with regular tires work just as well as trams on tracks, and can follow electrical wires above ground. Many electric city buses and trams operate this way. There are quite a few methods that could be employed to guide vehicles, from overhead lines, to hip-level rails, to infrared, electrical and magnetic buried lines, and so on. The reason we don't implement them is the public doesn't want to invest in public transit because they prefer driving their inefficient dangerous polluting cars.
- isostatic 8y agoYou still need a driver to stop when someone runs out in front, which means you're not going to be running at a 2 minute frequency in every direction.