In brief, a series of interconnected MCUs (monitoring and control units) are provided along the guideways, each being assigned to a portion of the guideway of short length, e.g.15 feet, and each being closely coupled to any passing vehicle to send and receive data thereto and therefrom. Each MCU sends and receives data to and from one of a number of SCUs (section control units) each of which may receive and send data from and to a number of MCUs. A number of SCUs may be connected to a RCU (regional control unit) and a number of RCUs may be connected to a central control unit.
Each MCU sends data to MCUs behind as to the speed of a passing vehicle and processes data received from MCUs ahead to send command speed data to a passing vehicle for maintaining a safe following distance behind a vehicle ahead. The MCUs may operate autonomously with no control from a SCU. However, in a section that includes branch and main guideways which merge at a converging Y junction, the SCU controls merging of vehicles by receiving and processing data from MCUs as to the positions and speeds of vehicles and sending data to MCUs that will allow safe merging of vehicles. Data are sent to MCUs along the main guideway to create a phantom vehicle behind a leading vehicle and ahead of a following vehicle. At the same time, data are sent to MCUs along the branch guideway to control acceleration and speed of an entering vehicle and to effectively place it behind the leading vehicle on the main guideway. The MCUs operate in normal fashion to maintain safe following distances, whereby the entering and phantom vehicles simultaneously reach a merging point at the end of the Y junction. The entering vehicle is then at a safe distance behind the leading vehicle. The following vehicle is then at a safe distance behind the entering vehicle.
The MCUs may contain default speed data for obtaining a constant high speed along straight sections of a main guideway and lower speeds in curved portions of a main guideway and in branch guideways where vehicles are decelerated and accelerated. When weather or other conditions may require lower speeds, appropriate override data may be sent to MCUs.
Data are also communicated between vehicles and the loads carried thereby. For example, data as to the identity and destination of a passenger in each seat of a cabin are sent to the carrying vehicle, while instruction data are sent from the vehicle to the cabin and the data entry units thereof, with appropriate corresponding communications between the vehicles and MCUs, the MCUs and the RCUs and the RCUs and the central control unit. Each of the MCUs, SCUs and RCUs may store data such that temporary failures in communications will have minimal adverse effects.
The electronic control system also controls movements of empty platforms and cabins to queues where they will be needed and has other advantageous features.
©Autran Corp.1999, 2002, 2006
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