WO2005014362A1

WO2005014362A1 - Arrangement in an automatic transport system

Info

Publication number: WO2005014362A1
Application number: PCT/FI2004/000466
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matti KÄHKIPURO; Timo Pullinen; Miika Lundin
Original assignee: Hyvinkaan Techvilla Oy
Current assignee: Hyvinkaan Techvilla Oy
Priority date: 2003-08-07
Filing date: 2004-08-06
Publication date: 2005-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2006-02-07
Also published as: FI20031137L; FI20031137A0; FI116518B

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement in an automatic transport system, in which system there is at least a central computer (6) and substantially discrete or interlinked, electrically-driven vehicles (1) that run without a driver on travelways (2), and in which the vehicles contain at least a chassis, wheels, a drive motor and a control system (4). The vehicles (1) contain connection-making means (3), through which each vehicle is in contact, via a mobile phone network or similar, with the central computer (6) for the transport system, said central computer being equipped to give the vehicles (1) operating instructions based at least on customer orders.

Description

ARRANGEMENT IN AN AUTOMATIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM

The present invention relates to an arrangement as defined in the preamble of claim 1 in an automatic transport sys- tern.

APM (Automated People Mover) systems have been built primarily for transporting people and their baggage at airports and in their adjacent areas, including hotels these areas contain, as well as for transporting people at amusement parks or other such locales. In addition, the APM system is suitable as a transport system in industrial estates and hospital areas, or similar areas, as well as for new or re- planned areas in towns and cities where the urban area de- velopment plan can incorporate these types of transport systems before the construction stage. APM systems have also been used in some applications to handle mainline traffic, notably the VAL metro in Lille, France, and SkyTrain in Vancouver, Canada.

APM systems generally consist of electrically-driven, driverless vehicles, which may be either discrete or interlinked, that travel on rails or on a planar guideway. The systems also include control computers, which control the movements of the vehicles on the travelways.

One of the problems is optimizing the transport capacity and getting the correct vehicle to the correct station quickly and efficiently enough. A solution to this problem has been vehicles that travel around the same travelway at fixed intervals, in which case the customer travels in a vehicle to the nearest station to his/her destination and continues the journey from there by some other means. This kind of system needs a lot of vehicles to achieve adequate capacity because there are always intermittent empty vehicles containing no passengers and, correspondingly, intermittent full vehicles that cannot accommodate more passengers, so consequently the passenger must wait for the next available passenger must wait for the next available vehicle. In this system, at its simplest, vehicles travel around a single circular, or similar, travelway in one direction. The travelway arrangement is not versatile enough in this type of system.

Another difficulty is collecting fares, if there are no personnel at stations either. Ticket vending machines must in that case be procured for the stations, and at unmanned sta- tions the machines can be a target for vandalism, etc.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks and to achieve a practical and efficient arrangement in an automatic transport system that can be utilized as comprehensively as possible. The object is to achieve an easily and reliably deliverable method of ordering and paying for a journey by means of a mobile phone or similar device, with which an order and/or payment order can be sent in a public or private network, such as a mobile phone network, or in a public data network such as the Internet. The solution of the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of claim 1. Other embodiments of the invention are characterized by what is disclosed in the other claims.

The solution of the invention has the advantage that the arrangement of the invention enables specific ordering of a vehicle to the station at which the passenger is waiting. In addition, the destination station can be specified when placing the order, in which case the control system for the vehicle knows in advance the movement that the vehicle will need. The passenger can ride in the solution of the invention whenever he/she wants, with no timetable and privately. A further advantage is that no ticket office or vending ma- chines are needed at stations, so the system as a whole is inexpensive to maintain. Transport costs are also then low, so that people can move from one place to another inexpen- sively. The solution of the invention also improves the transport capacity of the system. A correctly specified number of vehicles on the travelway at any given time thus enables the vehicle ordered to drive without stopping to the destination station, hence the vehicles travel on the travelway in a similar fashion to taxis. Also, waiting times are eliminated in most cases. In addition, one or more stops can be ordered when placing the order, if other passengers must be collected along the way. In addition, another advan- tage is the safe method of operating the service. Each vehicle has a function in the operating system that guides the vehicle automatically to the nearest stop or parking area if the vehicle loses contact with the central computer while driving. A further advantage is that the passenger can fol- low the progress of the journey via the graphical display of his/her mobile phone.

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by the aid of an embodiment example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 presents a vehicle of the automatic transport system of the invention, viewed from the side of its travelway, Fig. 2 presents a simplified top view of the travelway arrangement of the automatic transport system of the invention and Fig. 3 presents diagrammatically the ordering of a vehicle by means of a mobile phone.

The figures present one vehicle 1, suitable for using on the automatic transport system of the invention, which is on its travelway 2. The travelway 2 has one or more travel surfaces equipped with rails or similar, along which the vehicle moves on its wheels. The vehicle 1 is equipped with an electric motor and a control system 4, the computer of which is in contact with the central computer β for the entire trans- port system via a suitable network, such as a public and/or private mobile phone network or the Internet. The vehicle contains connection-making means 3 for communication contact. In addition, each vehicle 1 contains suitable means for receiving, processing and actuating operating instructions issued by the central computer 6 and arriving from a mobile phone network or similar, as well as means for notifying the central computer 6 of the position, status and speed of the vehicle via a mobile phone network or similar. The vehicle is suitable for 3-8 passengers, for example, in terms of size.

Figure 2 presents a diagrammatic and simplified view of one embodiment for the travelway arrangement of the invention. In the figure, one configuration has been divided into three travelway loops 2a, 2b and 2c, and in each of these travelway loops the vehicles only drive in one direction. The arrows in the figure indicate that in loop 2a the vehicles 1 drive counterclockwise, in loop 2b clockwise and in loop 2c, once again, counterclockwise. At the intersections of loops 2a and 2b, as well as of loops 2b and 2c, the vehicle 1 can switch from one loop to another without disturbing the traffic in the other loop. The vehicle can also continue directly along its original loop, if the destina- tion station of the journey is located along that loop. The control system 4 of the vehicles, in conjunction with the central computer 6 for the transport system, supervises the transfer of a vehicle from one loop to another or the vehicle staying in its original loop. The control system also supervises the speed of the vehicles and controls the speed through a speed control system. The control system always knows where each vehicle is located and at what speed each vehicle is moving.

No stations have been drawn in Figure 2, but a parking area 5 for the vehicles is presented in loops 2a and 2c, to which vehicles not in service drive themselves to wait. Mainte- nance and repair facilities are also located in the parking areas, or in other suitable places. In the parking areas, the vehicles move in one direction of circulation only, in the same way as they do in each travelway loop.

Figure 3 presents a diagrammatic view of the most important functions associated with ordering a vehicle. The customer 9 uses his/her mobile phone 10 as a part of the control system of the transport arrangement. The central computer 6 of the system has a wireless connection to the outside world through a transceiver unit 7 and its antenna 8. Likewise, the vehicle 1 has a wireless connection to the outside world through a transceiver unit, which operates as a connection- making means 3 and which is connected to the control system 4 of the vehicle. The customer 9 orders, from the central computer 6, a vehicle 1 that is in operation using his/her mobile phone 10. The order is transmitted to the central computer through a mobile phone network, whereupon the central computer 6 analyzes the order message and sends the customer the most appropriate vehicle 1.

The central computer 6 contains means for receiving and processing a customer order arriving through a mobile phone network or similar, as well as means for giving operating instructions to the vehicles 1 through a mobile phone network or similar. The central computer 6 and the computer of the control system 4 for the vehicle 1 are in contact with each other through a mobile phone network or similar wireless network, such that the computer of the vehicle 1 re- ports its position, status and speed to the central computer 6 of the system substantially continuously. The control system 4 of the vehicle 1 receives position information through position sensors that have been placed in the travelway.

An order for a journey is sent by mobile phone to the telephone number of the transport provider as a text message, which contains a number code or similar indicating the de- parture station, departure time and destination station. If the customer is already at the station, it is not necessary to specify the desired departure time. In that case, the system assumes that the vehicle is needed as soon as possible.

The vehicle can also be ordered in advance. In this case the order can be placed, for instance, such that the vehicle is ordered to wait at the desired location at the desired time. In addition, instructions can be given when placing the order for the vehicle to stop at a certain station to collect new passengers.

The arrangement of the invention also includes the feature that upon receiving the order, the central computer 6 or similar calculates the fare to be collected and the fare is collected through the mobile phone operator in conjunction with placing the order.

The control system 4 of the vehicles 1 also has safety means, which guide the vehicle to the nearest stop or parking area if a defect occurs in the vehicle or if the vehicle loses contact with the central computer 6. Correspondingly, when the vehicles are not in use, they go to parking areas 5 to wait, from where they can be put into service quickly.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiment example presented above, but that it may vary within the scope of the claims to be presented below. Thus, the construction and properties of the vehicles may deviate from those presented above. Likewise, the layout of the travelway and its loops may be different. The vehicles can also move in reverse where necessary, for instance during servicing and repair operations. It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that when placing an order, the contact does not necessarily have to be made with a mobile phone. The order can also be placed through the Internet with a computer or palmtop computer, using a text message, email, hyperlink or other appropriate means of communication. Stations can also have an appropriate means of communication, such as a smartcard or bankcard terminal, or similar, to handle the order. In addition, an order can be placed with pushbuttons or a touchpad, or similar, but payment for other than a season ticket or multiple journey ticket must then be made in a different manner.

In addition, it is obvious to the person skilled in the art that it is possible to be in contact with the system using a mobile phone or computer otherwise than in the ways presented above. Thus, it is possible, for instance, to perform servicing activities through a mobile phone network, or similar, where the service person reads data on the status of the vehicle and on the condition of its actuating elements and similar, and when necessary gives regulating and other parameters for correcting possible faults using a mobile phone. Thus, it is possible to read, give and modify the parameters of the vehicles by means of this type of remote diagnostics and technology using a mobile phone and a mobile phone network or similar.

Claims

1. Arrangement in an automatic transport system, in which system there is at least a central computer (6) and substan- tially discrete or interlinked, electrically-driven vehicles (1) that run without a driver on travelways (2), and in which the vehicles contain at least a chassis, wheels, a drive motor and a control system (4), characterized in that the vehicles (1) contain connection-making means (3) , through which each vehicle is in contact, via a mobile phone network or similar, with the central computer (6) for the transport system, said central computer being equipped to give the vehicles (1) operating instructions based on at least customer orders.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the automatic transport system according to the arrangement is equipped to receive customer orders via a mobile phone network or similar wireless network through the transceiver unit (7) in the central computer (6) for the transport system.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the central computer (6) contains means for receiving and processing a customer order arriving through a mobile phone network or similar, as well as means for giving operating instructions to the vehicles (1) through a mobile phone network or similar.

4. Arrangement according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the vehicle (1) contains means for receiving and processing an operating instruction arriving from a mobile phone network or similar and issued by the central computer

(6), as well as means for notifying the central computer (6) of the position, status and speed of the vehicle via a mobile phone network or similar.

5. Arrangement according to any of the claims above, characterized in that the central computer (6) contains means for invoicing a customer through a mobile phone network or similar for a customer order arriving through a mobile phone network or similar.