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Advanced Scale Model of Autonomous Personal Rapid Transit Vehicles at Technical Meeting

At the Advanced Transit Association Annual Technical Meeting on January 21, 2012, Robert Johnson from R.E. Johnson Consulting presented an innovative scale model of a Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) vehicle designed to steer itself on flat surfaces. The model showcases a fully autonomous distributed control system featuring three computers: a central control unit, an on-board computer vision system, and an on-board microcontroller. The presentation emphasizes the advantages of using scale models in developing control software, enabling realistic demonstrations and enhanced system operation capabilities.

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Advanced Scale Model of Autonomous Personal Rapid Transit Vehicles at Technical Meeting

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  1. Personal Rapid Transit Scale Model Advanced Transit Association Annual Technical Meeting January 21, 2012 College Park, Maryland Robert Johnson R. E. Johnson ConsultingRockville, Marylandwww.REJConsult.com

  2. Model of PRT Vehicle that Steers Itself on a Flat Surface • ULTra • 2getthere Masdar Vehicle www.REJConsult.com

  3. Why Use Scale Model to Develop Control Software? • More realistic than pure simulation • Avoids assumptions that are not physically possible • Can demonstrate system operation • Suitable for computer vision based control, which is independent of scale • Modern electronics are small enough to fit inside scale model www.REJConsult.com

  4. Model Uses Distributed Control System • Fully autonomous vehicles • Three computer systems • Central control • On-board computer vision system • On-board microcontroller www.REJConsult.com

  5. Central Control • Like taxi dispatcher, not safety related • Radio link to vehicles • Handles empty vehicle routing • Supports operator monitoring of system and operator intervention if necessary • Could be Windows or Linux PC • Scale Model uses C# program on Windows PC www.REJConsult.com

  6. On-board Computer Vision System • Detects vehicles ahead in same lane • Detects vehicles at merges and in stations • Detects trespassers / foreign objects on roadway • Could provide lateral guidance • “Soft” real time system • Probably would use Linux as operating system www.REJConsult.com

  7. On-board Microcontroller • Operates steering, drive motor, brakes, doors, etc. • Monitors computer vision system • Microcontroller is a vital system • Scale model uses 32-bit ARM Cortex M made by NXP Semiconductors www.REJConsult.com

  8. Updates Since Last Year’s Technix • Changed scale from 1/9 to 1/12 • Currently have two operating vehicles • Vehicles can drive themselves around test loop www.REJConsult.com

  9. Change to 1/12 Scale • Vehicle is 12.5 inches (32 cm) long • Can still hold new, smaller computer-vision processors that have recently become available • More convenient size, especially test track www.REJConsult.com

  10. Last Year -- 1/9 Scale Vehicle www.REJConsult.com

  11. 1/12 Scale Vehicle -- Right Side www.REJConsult.com

  12. 1/12 Scale VehicleElevated View of Front www.REJConsult.com

  13. 1/12 Scale Vehicle – Left Side www.REJConsult.com

  14. 1/12 Scale Vehicle -- Left Front www.REJConsult.com

  15. 1/12 Scale Vehicle on Half Loop www.REJConsult.com

  16. Future Work • Refine and complete existing vehicles • Computer vision • Vehicle following • Merging • Station operations www.REJConsult.com

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