Technology
In This Section
Welcome to the Urbanaut Technology Center
Illustrations of the Technology Center
Sequence of Train Going through Switch
The Technology Center which is a 1:10 Scale Model, encompasses an indoor facility and outside winding, elevated guideways with two circulators, one elevated and one at surface. The Center incorporates a dual guideway automatic switch assembly and an indoor display and presentation facility. The guideway is manufactured of fiberglass from CADD programs and consists of several straight and curved super-elevated sections, having steep uphill and downhill grades of up to 12%. The curved portion of the guideway consists of transition spirals in addition to radial curves with maximum 10° elevation.
The rolling stock includes several single vehicles, a small PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) vehicle, and a 3-car train of composite material custom manufactured from Pro Engineer Data. Each vehicle has two unique non-magnetic wheel bogies (the "brains" in the vehicle) made of composite materials and/or aluminum. The bogies support, guide, propel and control the speed of the vehicle. The wheel bogie has 2 traction (load) tires and 4 guide wheel tires.
Urbanaut® has complete engineering and plans for a full scale, high tech Technology Center consisting of 1 mile of a configuration 8 guideway layout, with several types of switching devices, and a building for control, operation, maintenance and training of personnel.
View of elevated guideway from inside the Technology Center building with display of elevated and surface switch. The elevated prefabricated switching guideway shown at the extreme left with a single vehicle is part of the standard elevated guideway. The operational switch is flexed to the right for entry of 3-car train.
Building for the Urbanaut® Technology Center
With dual guideway showing single vehicle and 3-car train
Circulator comparable to normal size has radius = 40 meters with super elevation (banking) of 10º
A 3-Car Train in a sharp curve with 10° super elevation (banking)
A 3-car train is entering and a single car is leaving a tunnel. Ventilation ducts and fire protection are along the roof of the tunnel.
At surface only a 1.0 meter wide, inexpensive concrete slab is required
Vehicle climbing 12% grade entering switch that is open for right guideway.
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Vehicle reaching top of right
guideway, climbing 12% grade, approaching a dual guideway switch
to the right |
Vehicle is entering the switch |
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The vehicle in the middle of the switch |
The switch is then
automatically moved, which takes 10-12 seconds, to receive a
vehicle approaching on the left guideway |
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The vehicle then goes through the switch
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And exits the switch |
