Autonomous Urban Transit Routing on Grade-Separated Roadways

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional transportation systems, such as autonomous vehicles and mass transit, face challenges in highly congested urban areas due to limited capacity and high infrastructure costs, particularly during peak times or events, necessitating a flexible and high-density transit solution with minimal invasive footprint and affordable costs.

Innovation Solution

A transportation system comprising partially autonomous vehicles and grade-separated roadways, managed by a system that assigns vehicles based on requests, adjusts vehicle operations, and optimizes routes and capacity, allowing for flexible and efficient passenger movement with reduced wait times and operating costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional mass transit systems are used, then high capacity is provided on planned routes, but infrastructure costs are extremely high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport capacityVSAvoidinfrastructure cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicles serve multiple functions: they operate on grade-separated roadways for high-speed transit between districts, and also navigate conventional roadways for local access and flexible routing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated rail infrastructure while maintaining high transport capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces heavy mechanical infrastructure (rails, stations, signaling systems) with autonomous vehicles equipped with sensors and control systems. The vehicles use conventional roadways and grade-separated highways instead of dedicated rail corridors, substituting mechanical infrastructure with electronic control and navigation systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Quantity of substance

If conventional mass transit systems are used, then high capacity is provided, but flexibility is extremely limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport capacityVSAvoidroute flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicles dynamically adjust their routes, speeds, and stopping patterns based on real-time conditions. They can deviate from fixed schedules and routes to accommodate changing demand, traffic conditions, and passenger requests, providing both high capacity and flexibility simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters such as vehicle speed, route deviations, and boarding locations based on real-time conditions. Vehicles can operate at different speeds on grade-separated versus conventional roadways, and can adjust their routes dynamically rather than following fixed tracks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If autonomous vehicles operate on conventional roadways, then flexibility is improved, but congestion is worsened during peak times

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroute flexibilityVSAvoidtransport efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a vertical dimension by using grade-separated roadways (elevated or underground) for high-capacity corridors between major districts, while autonomous vehicles use conventional surface roadways for local access. This multi-level approach allows high-speed transit without interfering with local traffic, maintaining both flexibility and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The transportation system is segmented into different operational zones: grade-separated roadways for high-speed, high-capacity corridors between districts, and conventional roadways for local access and flexible routing. This segmentation allows vehicles to optimize speed and capacity on grade-separated sections while maintaining flexibility on conventional sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If light rail systems are used, then some contexts are addressed, but capacity is not high enough for extremely congested areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontext adaptabilityVSAvoidtransport capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicles dynamically adjust their capacity utilization by operating in different modes: high-density configurations on grade-separated roadways for maximum capacity, and lower-density configurations on conventional roadways for flexibility. This dynamic operation allows the system to exceed light rail capacity on high-demand corridors while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12013707B2Transportation system

Publication Date: 2024.06.18 GLYDWAYS INC

AI summary

A system includes at least partially autonomous vehicles, at least partially separated interconnected roadways, and a management system. Each of the vehicles is configured to cooperate with another vehicle or an area controller. The management system is configured to receive requests to transport, which may have respective start points and respective destinations. Additionally, the management system is configured, responsive to receiving the request, to assign a vehicle to fulfill the request. The assigned vehicle is configured to transport a person from the respective start point, at least in part via the interconnected roadways, to the respective destination.