SYNCHROTRAC—An off-board control system for automated mass transit

Abstract

SYNCHROTRAC is a power control system that provides longitudinal control of vehicles by a unique method in which it distributes power to those vehicles. The vehicles are passive (control-wise) in that power modulation is accomplished by the vehicle's position within the traveling control section. Therefore, no on-board power modulation or communication equipment is required. The SYNCHROTRAC system can be readily employed in a wide variety of transportation applications. It is adaptable to the closed-circuit moving sidewalk applications that require slow captive vehicles operating with small headways as well as to the independently routable dual-mode application that requires fast vehicles operating with small headways. The specific vehicle design can vary to suit a particular application requiring only that the motive drive be an induction motor providing the appropriate vehicle dynamic response, i.e., voltage and frequency versus torque.