Concept of the track network structure for PRT vehicles

Abstract: The paper addresses selected issues of modeling a track network for Personal Rapid Transit. The work includes a brief characterization of PRT transport, a discussion of selected requirements, and a description of a proposed track structure for a PRT system. Furthermore, it contains a methodology for track modeling, taking into account transition curves. The presented issues constitute an integral part of the work related to the development of a PRT system concept. The presented track models are used in advanced simulation studies of both vehicles and the entire PRT system.1. INTRODUCTION
Personal Rapid Transit, referred to as PRT, is a form of automated transport known as AGT (“Automated Guideway Transit”) [1], which exhibits features of both personal transport and “point-to-point” or “door-to-door” urban mass transit. It consists of small vehicles (e.g., four-seaters) moving remotely on light infrastructure, most often an overhead rail. The “point-to-point” function means that the journey takes place from the starting stop to the final stop without intermediate stops. An intelligent system automatically selects the optimal route, which, depending on the current occupancy of the “road” network, will satisfy the criterion of minimum travel time.
At the Faculty of Transport of the Warsaw University of Technology, work has been conducted for several years on modeling and researching the traffic dynamics of PRT system vehicles. As part of the currently implemented ECO-Mobility project (a project implemented under the Innovative Economy Operational Program, measure 1.3), a concept for the design of the PRT vehicle running gear and a proposal for a track structure for the transport system will be developed.
1.1. Examples of PRT system networks
The PRT transport system has been known worldwide for many years. One of the first research works concerning this type of transport was carried out in the USA between 1968 and 1976, and its results were published in a monograph [1]. Despite many years having passed, this system is still mainly at the concept and research stage. Only the solution called Ultra is currently being implemented for local operation at Heathrow Airport.
As follows from the analysis of research work and patent solutions conducted worldwide, the structure of the track network is implemented based on various concepts. (…)

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