| Revision as of 21:14, 22 June 2006 editJzG (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers155,071 edits Not supposed to link to doc files, I checked. Get them to pdf it, we can usually get away with that.← Previous edit | Revision as of 21:17, 22 June 2006 edit undoJzG (talk | contribs)Edit filter managers, Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers155,071 edits I think that gets across what I'm trying to say here.Next edit → | ||
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| '''ULTra''' ("Urban Light Transport") is a ] system from Advanced Transport Systems Ltd in Cardiff, Wales. The system was conceived by Martin Lowson and his design team, and has had £10 million and 100 ] put into the project. The ULTra system differs from other PRT concepts in using largely off-the-shelf technologies, such as rubber tyres running on an open guideway, in order to reduce fabrication costs. This approach has resulted in a system that ATS believes to be more economical than competing concepts requiring custom technology. ULTra was recently (October, 2005) selected by ] for a small installation at ], its first commercial application, and the first application of PRT anywhere. The company reports that there have been no failures in the past 18 months of testing. | '''ULTra''' ("Urban Light Transport") is a ] system from Advanced Transport Systems Ltd in Cardiff, Wales. The system was conceived by Martin Lowson and his design team, and has had £10 million and 100 ] put into the project. The ULTra system differs from other PRT concepts in using largely off-the-shelf technologies, such as rubber tyres running on an open guideway, in order to reduce fabrication costs. This approach has resulted in a system that ATS believes to be more economical than competing concepts requiring custom technology. ULTra was recently (October, 2005) selected by ] for a small installation at ], its first commercial application, and the first application of PRT anywhere. The company reports that there have been no failures in the past 18 months of testing. | ||
| The company reports that the total cost of the system (vehicle, infrastructure and control systems) is between £3million and £5million per km of track. The company also claims that their design works best as system with a 5 mile radius in a densly populated area |
The company reports that the total cost of the system (vehicle, infrastructure and control systems) is between £3million and £5million per km of track. | ||
| The company also claims that their design works best as system with a 5 mile radius in a densly populated area and designers say that the technology can handle cities with populations of less than 1 million - for larger cities, it could be used as a network link to larger mass transit systems. This is, however, the first commercial installation of its kind, and is limited in scope, so suitability for wider applications remains untested. | |||
| ==Vehicles== | ==Vehicles== | ||
Revision as of 21:17, 22 June 2006
ULTra ("Urban Light Transport") is a personal rapid transit system from Advanced Transport Systems Ltd in Cardiff, Wales. The system was conceived by Martin Lowson and his design team, and has had £10 million and 100 man-years put into the project. The ULTra system differs from other PRT concepts in using largely off-the-shelf technologies, such as rubber tyres running on an open guideway, in order to reduce fabrication costs. This approach has resulted in a system that ATS believes to be more economical than competing concepts requiring custom technology. ULTra was recently (October, 2005) selected by BAA plc for a small installation at London Heathrow Airport, its first commercial application, and the first application of PRT anywhere. The company reports that there have been no failures in the past 18 months of testing.
The company reports that the total cost of the system (vehicle, infrastructure and control systems) is between £3million and £5million per km of track.
The company also claims that their design works best as system with a 5 mile radius in a densly populated area and designers say that the technology can handle cities with populations of less than 1 million - for larger cities, it could be used as a network link to larger mass transit systems. This is, however, the first commercial installation of its kind, and is limited in scope, so suitability for wider applications remains untested.
Vehicles
The electric-powered vehicles have four seats, can carry 500 kg payload, and are designed to travel at 40 km/h (25 mph) at grades up to 20%, although the company suggests limiting operating routes to 10%. It is powered by a battery pack providing an average 2 kW of power and adding 8% to the gross weight of the vehicle. Other specifications include a 5 m turning radius, an energy requirement of 0.55 MJ/passenger-km, and running noise levels of 35 dBA at 21.6 km/h and a distance of 10 m. The vehicles can accommodate wheelchairs, shopping trolleys and other luggage in addition to the passsangers.
Test track
The 1 km ULTra test track was launched in January 2002. The $4M funding for the test track came from various sources in the UK government. One electric vehicle was demonstrated running at speeds of less than 25 mph. Accurate stopping was demonstrated and the vehicle ascended and descended a steep grade. A single, rudimentary ground level station was shown.
Most of the test track guideway is at ground level. It is stated that in a commercial application, 90% or more of the guideway might have to be elevated. This elevated guideway is about 1.5 m wide and, according to ATS, costs 2 to 3 times as much as ground-level guideway.