Transportation system and method

Abstract

A mechanically driven track system designed to transport objects of various sizes and people at rapid speeds over distances. There are stations along the track that both receive and insert objects onto the track system that can operate at constant velocity or at variable speeds. This system can fulfill the same or a similar function to our modern day airplanes, cars, trucks, and trains with greater resource efficiency.

1 . A transportation system comprising:
 a path of travel extending between an origination and a destination;   at least one transport carrier for movement along the path of travel between the origination and the destination; and   at least one drive member for moving the transport carriers along the path of travel.   
   
   
       2 . The transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the path of travel comprises a track, and wherein the drive member comprises a cable. 
   
   
       3 . The transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of transport carriers are engaged with and disengaged from the drive member. 
   
   
       4 . The transportation system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the transport carriers comprises or carries an electric automobile. 
   
   
       5 . The transportation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a transfer station for engaging and disengaging the transport carriers with the drive member. 
   
   
       6 . The transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the path of travel is disposed within a tunnel. 
   
   
       7 . The transportation system of  claim 6 , wherein the tunnel is a wind tunnel. 
   
   
       8 . The transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the path of travel generally follows an existing roadway. 
   
   
       9 . The transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the path of travel is elevated above the ground. 
   
   
       10 . The transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the path of travel is disposed underground. 
   
   
       11 . A method of transporting an object, said method comprising:
 loading the object onto a carrier;   inputting the carrier onto a track having a drive system adapted to engage and disengage a plurality of carriers;   delivering the carrier along the track from a first location to a second location; and   unloading the object from the carrier.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the object is a person. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the object is an electric automobile. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of carriers are transported along the track simultaneously. 
   
   
       15 . A transportation system for delivering objects from a point of origination to a point of destination along a path coinciding with a previously existing transportation corridor, the transportation system comprising:
 at least one track extending along at least a portion of the previously existing transportation corridor;   a plurality of carriers traversing the at least one track, each of the plurality of carriers comprising a cargo platform for carrying the delivered objects; and   a common shared drive means for propelling the plurality of carriers along the at least one track between the point of origination and the point of destination.   
   
   
       16 . The transportation system of  claim 15 , wherein the drive means is enclosed within a channel in the track. 
   
   
       17 . The transportation system of  claim 16 , wherein the drive means is a cable. 
   
   
       18 . The transportation system of  claim 15 , wherein the previously existing transportation corridor is a roadway. 
   
   
       19 . The transportation system of  claim 15 , wherein the previously existing transportation corridor is a railway. 
   
   
       20 . The transportation system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one track is at least partially enclosed within a wind tunnel.