Innovative Transit Technologies Study Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority
Study Scope • Three specific technologies • Cable Propelled Transit • Air Taxis • Hyperloop • Air Taxis and Cable Propelled Transit within the TBARTA region • Hyperloop connections within the TBARTA region and throughout Florida
Task Overview and Schedule Technology Research 50+ Studies, Reports, and Academic Papers (Great Lakes Hyperloop Study, Flight Plan 2030, and Uber Elevate) Review of Manufacturer & Agency Website Materials and Technology Data 100+ News articles collected to track and report recent activities
Task Overview and Schedule Industry Expert Interviews Technology manufacturers/developers (Virgin Hyperloop One, HyperloopTT, Doppelmayr, Leitner-Poma, Lilium, Uber ,etc.) Planning agencies & industry experts (Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, NASA) Operating Agencies (Roosevelt Tram & Portland Aerial Tram)
Cable Propelled Transit Roosevelt Island Tram Source: http://leitner-poma.com/ /
Cable Propelled Transit (CPT) • CPT encompasses a number of technologies, but is basically a simple concept of transport with cable propelled cabins (aerial gondolas) • The concept has been around since the 1600s • Technology advances make this an urban transit option Gdańsk Ropeway 1640's MGD Emirates Air Line, London Source: https://www.doppelmayr.com/
Cable Propelled Transit • Historically the technology has been used in: • Alpine Topography • Ski Areas • Tourism & Scenic Vistas Saas Fee Switzerland Source: https://www.doppelmayr.com/ Hakone Ropeway Source: https://www.hakoneropeway.co.jp/
Common Benefits and Concerns Benefits Concerns • Geographic Barriers • Weather • Limited Required ROW • Privacy • Low Capital & Operating Cost • Evacuation • All Electric • System Flexibility & • Travel Above Congested Expansion Corridors • Perceptions/Politicization • Speed • Viewshed • Safety • Maximum Speed • Accessibility Portland Aerial Tram Source: http://leitner-poma.com/ /
Fixed Grip Technology Components • Cabins are attached to cable via a grip (1-3 cables) • Towers support the cables between stations Source: http://leitner-poma.com/ / Portland Aerial Tram One cable is always Detachable Grip Tower used for propulsion 2 nd and 3 rd ropes can be added for additional stability & weight Source: https://www.doppelmayr.com/ Portland Aerial Tram Tower Source: http://leitner-poma.com/ /
CPT Infrastructure • Requires minimum of two stations. • Drive Station houses major system components including electric motor for propulsion of the cable • Return Station is where the cable circulates around the bullwheel in order to return to the Drive Station • Depending on system type there can also be Angle Stations and Intermediate Stations Emirates Air Line Gondola Station London, UK Source: Shutterstock
CPT Amenities • Lighting • WI-FI • Air Conditioning • Glass Floors • Accessible Cabins • Privacy (Smart Glass) • Cabin Recovery Systems Koblenz Cable Car Interior Source: https://www.seilbahn-koblenz.de/ • Electrical Grounding Systems • Real Time Passenger Information Screens • Camera and Intercom Systems
Generalized Characteristics Bicable Source: https://www.leitner-ropeways.com/ Monocable Source: https://www.cbs58.com/ Tricable Source: https://www. Koblenz-toursim.com/ Aerial Tram Source: https://www.biketownpdx.com/ Monocable Gondola Bicable Gondola Tricable Gondola Aerial Tram Maximum Speed 14 16 17 28 (mph) Maximum Up to 4,000 Up to 4,000 Above 6,000 Up to 2,000 Capacity (pphpd) Maximum Wind Up to 45 Up to 45 62+ 50+ Speed Operation (mph) Capital Cost Low Low-Medium High Medium High (Compared to other CPTs) Grip Type Detachable Detachable Detachable Fixed
Gondola Operations and Discussions
Air Taxis and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Photo Source: EmbraerX eVTOL concept
Old Concept, New Technology “Prediction 1957: Flying Fan Vehicle” - Popular Mechanics UBER Elevate: Aerial Ridesharing eVTOL “Prediction 1965: Vertical Takeoff and Landing Planes” - Popular Mechanics BLADE Helicopter VTOL
Photo Source: Lilium Jet Urban Air Mobility and Air Taxis • Emerging market becoming possible due to developing capabilities: • Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Technology (eVTOL) • Lower noise profile • Reduced emissions • Longer lasting batteries • Mobility as a Service/Mobility on Demand
Urban Air Mobility Technology • 100-170 new electric aircrafts under development • Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicles: • Multirotor • Lift + Cruise • Vectored Thrust Photo Source: Briceno, Simon (author). Georgia Institute of Technology, 2019
Multirotor • Circulator actuator for steady hovering • No wings (not ideal for cruising) Volocopter , Source: “Pioneering the Urban Air Taxi Revolution 1.0” • Examples: (both in certification phase) • E-Hang 184 • Volocopter 2X Cruise Speeds: 50-80 mph Volocopter , Source: “Pioneering the Urban Air Taxi Revolution 1.0” Typical Range: 10-25 miles 1-4 passengers
Lift and Cruise • Different propulsion systems used for Jaunt Air Mobility, Rosa. Source: https://www.jauntairmobility.com/ hovering vs cruising • Examples: • Kitty Hawk Cora (now Wisk) Wisk Cora, Source: https://wisk.aero/about/ • Aurora Flight Sciences Cruise Speeds: 110-180 mph Typical Range: 50-60 miles 1-4 passengers Aurora Flight Sciences, Source: https://www.aurora.aero/pav-evtol-passenger-air-vehicle/
Vectored Thrust • Fixed or tilt wing with one propulsion system for both hovering and cruising Lilium https://lilium.com/the-jet • Examples: • Lilium • Joby S2 • Bell Nexus Cruise Speeds: 110-180 mph Typical Range: 50-60 miles Bell Nexus: https://www.bellflight.com/products/bell-nexus 1-4 passengers
Urban Area Mobility Markets • NASA commissioned two, contractor led market studies that resulted in prioritized market areas Last-Mile Delivery Air Metro Air Taxi
Urban Area Mobility Markets • Last-Mile Delivery • Up to 10-mile trips • Small package deliveries (up to 5 pounds) • Infrastructure: • Distribution hubs • Receiving vessels Competing Technology: • Charging and docking Autonomous/Human Driver Delivery Service, Couriers, and Droids stations • Urban traffic management (UTM) https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/uam-market-study-executive-summary-v2.pdf
Urban Area Mobility Markets • Air Metro • 10-70 miles per trip • Pre-determined/scheduled routes • Defined stops • Vehicles hold 2-5 passengers, average 3 passenger ride • Infrastructure Requirements: Competing Technology: Subway, Bus, • Vertiports throughout downtowns Bike, Rideshare, Driverless Cars (100-300 per MSA) in high traffic areas • Charging and service station • Urban Area Mobility Traffic Management (UTM) https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/uam-market-study-executive-summary-v2.pdf
Urban Area Mobility Markets • Air Taxi • 10-70 miles per trip • On-demand, point to point air ridesharing platform • eVTOL technology for strategic takeoff/ landing • Vehicles hold 2-5 passengers, average 1 passenger rides • Greater investment needed in vertiports/ Competing Technology: Human Driven vertistops Cars, Driverless Cars, Commuter Rail, • High investment costs may limit Subway, Bus service to major metropolitan areas https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/uam-market-study-executive-summary-v2.pdf https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/uam-market-study-executive-summary-v2.pdf
Operations • Operating certification • Costs: corporate and energy • Insurance • Digital Services Infrastructure • Fleet Size/Vehicle Life • Fare Collection/ Payment • Vertiports, Vertistops and System Vertipads • Service Centers • Refueling/Electric Charging • Docking stations • Air Traffic Management Urban Elevate Vertiport Concept, “Fast -Forward to a Future of On-Demand Air Transportation”, October 27, 2016
Implementation Status • U.S. DOT has acknowledged UAM and the need to define requirements for operations • Air Traffic Management Systems • Infrastructure • Trajectory Based Operations • Public trust and acceptance – safety, security, noise and privacy • FAA Executive Director of FAA UAS Integration Office indicated there are “at least six aircraft well along in their type certification”, citing various challenges that must be overcome. • For example, elevators don’t typically travel to the rooftop of buildings (currently considered potential landing pads).
Virgin Hyperloop One DevLoop Test Track Hyperloop Photo Source: https://hyperloop-one.com/blog/first-look-devloop-worlds-only-full-scale-hyperloop-test-track
Source: Hyperloop Alpha , Elon Musk Concept Sketches Hyperloop • 17 th Century pneumatic vacuum technology • Robert Goddard, American Rocketry Pioneer • Hyperloop Alpha , Elon Musk 2015 reinvigorated concept • Identified concept, potential costs, and benefits
Hyperloop Technology • High-speed transport for • Capsules for passengers/ passengers and freight freight • Approximately 30 meters • Grade-separated vacuum • Anticipated speeds estimated tube system • Underground, at-grade or around 760 mph elevated • Testing has reached 265 mph • Autonomous Service Photo Source: Hyperloop TT
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