Doing More With Less: Lightweight, Low-cost Automated
Transit, ecoPRT
Marshall Brain
Engineering Entrepreneurs Program
&
Seth Hollar
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
We hold these truths to be self-evident
The 21st century needs a better system
Existing rapid transit systems are too expensive
NCSU (our home) needs an inexpensive system
The system can grow entrepreneurially
Problem #1
TRAFFIC
Infrastructure is too expensive
So expensive that we never have enough
Problem #1
Cost
Subway
Light Rail
$100+ million per mile
$50+ million per mile
Interstate Highway
Traditional PRT
$20+ million per mile
$15+ million per mile
http://www-pam.usc.edu/volume2/v2i1a3s2.html
Automated PRT
No wait times
• Vehicles are always waiting at the station
No stops en route
Reduced or no parking
New upswing in activity:
• RFP in Greenville, Mertrino project in India
Existing PRT Systems
2getthere
Morgantown WV
Vectus
Ultra PRT
Introducing
ecoPRT
Key Differentiators for
ecoPRT...
1
Lightweight, low cost guideway
Target: $1 million/mile
CAPACITY and HEADWAY
Train or Bus → 2 minutes between vehicles
120 people
2 minutes
PRT → 2 seconds between vehicles
2 people
2 sec
Capacity is the same → 3,600 people per hour
WEIGHT and LOAD
100,000 lbs
1,000 lbs
0 lbs
0 lbs
0 lbs
1,000 lbs
1,000 lbs
1,000 lbs
100,000 lbs
1,000 lbs
2
Lightweight, inexpensive
1 or 2 person vehicles
Target: $10,000
3
Small footprint guideway
• Use existing rights of way
• Fits anywhere
Comparing Weight and Footprint
Light Rail
Bus
weight
footprint
ecoPRT
Toyota Camry
1,000 lbs
3 x 5.5 ft
3,600 lbs
6 x 5 ft
32,000 lbs
8.5 x 9.5 ft
100,000 lbs
9 x 11 ft
4
Convenience
• Point to point, no stops
• Vehicles always ready
• 24/7
ecoPRT
•
•
•
•
•
Lightweight
High Capacity
Inexpensive
Small
Convenient
5
Entrepreneurial
• Fare can be covered by per-mile charge
• Fare reimburses cost of infrastructure over time
6
Incubate at NCSU
•Fill the “Future Rapid Transit Corridor”
•Significant traffic
•Easier right of way acquisition
•Receptive audience
Student
Contributions
Civil Engineering Senior Design: ecoPRT at NCSU
CE400, Spring 2014. Michael Corwin, Rob Pattillo,
Briana Phillips, Andy Wagner
CE400, Spring 2014. David Bohannon, Taylor Fick, Ian Flynn, John Nagel
Student Prototype Design Construction
Student Prototype Design Construction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7sMOSAR1BQ&feature=youtu.be
Board controller and wireless driving
Test Track Design
ADA Accessibility
Robots as a Service
EcoPRT fits the RaaS mentality perfectly
Cars are completely automated
Cars are immediately available at every station
Cars reposition automatically
CONCLUSIONS
Limited options with existing transit
Automation is coming
Guideway management is key
Low system cost is an enabler
EcoPRT is a new, low-cost way to think
http://www.ecoprt.com
Special Thanks
Dr. John Stone's Civil Engineering Class
Dr. Rachana Gupta ECE Senior Design Director
Dr. Larry Silverberg, MAE Associate Head, NCSU
H. Dean Penny, P.E., Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc.
Matthew Hawks, P.E. Structural Engineer
Lars Bredahl, Digital Marketing
NCSU Student Researchers
Travis Hill
Alexandra Lowrie
Robert Blankenship
Alexander Ruth
Austin McCarley
Dakota Townsend
Tony Chow
Meredith Barnes
Jarrod Nooe
Gregory Petschauer
Travis Fritts
Yu-Chin Chan
Jinwei Pan
Kyle Bond
Michael Shadduck
Alexander Goden
Nick Beyrer
Michael Poppo
Kyle Mc Graw
Adel Gohar
Taylor Rodely
Chase Rhodes
Aidan Harbison
Kate Mehaffey
Richard Morris
Braden Moore
Michael D’Argenio
Brian Clements
Brian Clements
Joseph Starling