Vehicle, system and method for mass transit transportation

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle, system, and method for mass transit transportation, the system according to one embodiment including a plurality of passenger vehicles configured such that each passenger vehicle includes a passenger module ( 110 ) for transporting at least one passenger being attachable and detachable from a transport-base ( 120 ) and a rail-base ( 220 ). At each of a plurality of transport-rail interchange hubs ( 204 ) the passenger modules are transferred from transport-bases ( 120 ) to the rail-bases ( 220 ). At each of a plurality of rail-transport interchange hubs the passenger modules are transferred from rail-bases ( 220 ) to transport-bases ( 120 ). Each passenger vehicle is adapted to transport the at least one passenger on at least one of transport and rail without exiting the passenger module ( 110 ).

1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A mass transit transportation system, comprising:
 a. an uncontrolled, self-propelled chassis base for transportation along a user selected route;   b. a controlled chassis base for transportation along a predetermined mass transit route;   c. a plurality of passenger modules for seating at least one passenger, each of said passenger module being attachable to, and detachable from, a corresponding uncontrolled base or a corresponding controlled base;   d. a first set of interface devices for releasably connecting, upon demand, one of said passenger modules and one of said uncontrolled bases;   e. a second set of interface devices for releasably connecting, upon demand, one of said passenger modules and one of said controlled bases; and   f. a plurality of mass transit interchange hubs for interchanging an uncontrolled base and a controlled base, at each of said interchange hubs one of said passenger modules is transferable from one of said uncontrolled bases to one of said controlled bases using said first set of interface devices and from one of said controlled bases to one of said uncontrolled bases using said second set of interface devices.   
     
     
         48 . The system according to  claim 47 , wherein—
 a. each uncontrolled base comprises propulsion means and steering means that are passenger adjustable, for generating and controlling a propulsion vector; 
 b. each controlled base comprises communication means for communicating with a computer control system and transportation means for controlling the speed and direction of the control base in response to commands from said control system; and 
 c. an uncontrolled base and a controlled base are interchanged at one of the hubs while the at least one passenger remains in the passenger module. 
 
     
     
         49 . The system according to  claim 47 , further comprising a computer control system for controlling the movement of a plurality of passenger modules, uncontrolled bases, and controlled bases in the vicinity of an interchange hub, and the movement of a plurality of controlled bases along the mass transit route. 
     
     
         50 . The system according to  claim 47 , wherein one first set of interface devices and one first set of second interface devices is a releasable locking mechanism, said locking mechanism comprising a female grooved member attached to the passenger module, a vertically displaceable rod housed within the controlled and uncontrolled bases, a contact element attached to a distal end of said rod, and engagement elements which are caused to be seated in the groove of said female member following application of a first controlled force to said contact element and subsequent upward displacement of said rod and to be disengaged from the groove following application of a second controlled force to said contact element. 
     
     
         51 . The system according to  claim 50 , wherein each interchange hub comprises support means for suspending the passenger module following release of the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         52 . The system according to  claim 51 , further comprising guide means by which the suspended passenger module is guided to a second location when being transferred from a controlled base to an uncontrolled base or from an uncontrolled base to a controlled base, and a computer control system for controlling the operation of said guide means,
 wherein the guide means is at least one elongated guide connected to a post, each of said guides comprising:
 a. a plurality of longitudinally spaced rollers for rollingly supporting a passenger module when being longitudinally displaced along said guide; 
 b. a drive means housed within said guide; 
 c. one or more longitudinally displaceable pusher devices driven by said drive means, for pushing a passenger module along said guide to the second location. 
   
     
     
         53 . The system according to  claim 52 , wherein the pusher devices are rubber made rollers/wheels that are placed at both sides of the module and propelled by an electric motor. 
     
     
         54 . The system according to  claim 52 , wherein each pusher device comprises one or more permanent magnets or electromagnets which interact with permanent magnets that are attached to the passenger module. 
     
     
         55 . The system according to  claim 47 , wherein each interchange hub further comprises one or more of the following features:
 a. an uncontrolled interchange entrance through which the plurality of uncontrolled bases enter the hub from the user selected route before the corresponding passenger modules are transferred to a controlled base;   b. an uncontrolled interchange exit through which the plurality of uncontrolled bases exit the hub to the user selected route after the corresponding passenger modules have been transferred from a controlled base;   c. a controlled interchange entrance through which the plurality of controlled bases enter the hub from the predetermined mass transit route before the corresponding passenger modules are transferred to a controlled base;   d. a controlled interchange exit through which the plurality of controlled bases exit the hub to the predetermined mass transit route after the corresponding passenger modules have been transferred from an uncontrolled base;   e. one or more first switching stations at which a passenger module is detached from an uncontrolled base and re-attached to a controlled base;   f. one or more second switching stations at which a passenger module is detached from a controlled base and re-attached to an uncontrolled base;   g. a first storage area for storing unused controlled bases after becoming detached from a first passenger module and before being re-attached to a second passenger module, further comprising a first storage area exit through which an unused controlled base is delivered to a first switching station and a first storage area entrance through which an unused controlled base is delivered from a second switching station; and   h. a second storage area for storing unused uncontrolled bases after becoming detached from a first passenger module and before being re-attached to a second passenger module, further comprising a second storage area exit through which an unused uncontrolled base is delivered to a second switching station and a second storage area entrance through which an unused uncontrolled base is delivered from a first switching station.   
     
     
         56 . The system according to  claim 47 , wherein the predetermined and user selected routes are selected from the group of route types consisting of a route along a road, a route along a rail, a route along a track, a route in the air, and a route in water. 
     
     
         57 . The system according to  claim 56 , wherein the passenger module is multifaceted and is operable in more than one route type. 
     
     
         58 . The system according to  claim 49 , wherein each controlled base comprises communication means for communicating with the computer control system and transportation means for controlling the speed and direction of the controlled base in response to commands from the control system. 
     
     
         59 . The system according to  claim 49 , wherein the computer control system is operable to control one or more system features selected from the group consisting of:
 a. a stock of controlled bases at each interchange hub;   b. a stock of uncontrolled bases at each interchange hub;   c. movement of controlled bases at each interchange hub;   d. movement of uncontrolled bases at each interchange hub;   e. synchronization of passenger module detachment from an uncontrolled base at each interchange hub;   f. synchronization of passenger module attachment to a controlled base at each interchange hub;   g. synchronization of passenger module detachment from a controlled base at each interchange hub;   h. synchronization of passenger module attachment to an uncontrolled base at each interchange hub;   i. a predetermined interval between controlled bases along a mass transit route;   j. location of controlled bases along a mass transit route;   k. distribution of controlled bases throughout the transportation system;   l. preventative maintenance of passenger modules, controlled bases and uncontrolled bases;   m. supply of spare parts for passenger modules, controlled bases and uncontrolled bases;   n. distribution of spare parts for passenger modules, controlled bases and uncontrolled bases;   o. client accounts for purchase of passenger vehicles;   p. client accounts for lease of passenger vehicles;   q. smart card accounts for pay-as-you-use for passenger vehicles; and   r. accident prevention systems for passenger vehicles.   
     
     
         60 . The system according to  claim 59 , wherein the uncontrolled base further comprises means for initiating temporary computerized control along the user selected route, the computer control system being further operable to control one or more system features selected from the group consisting of:
 a. location of uncontrolled bases along a user selected route;   b. a predetermined interval between uncontrolled bases along a user selected route; and   c. distribution of uncontrolled bases throughout the transportation system.   
     
     
         61 . The system according to  claim 56 , wherein—
 a. the uncontrolled base is operable along a road and comprises an internal combustion engine, a transmission, and wheels for engaging the road; 
 b. the passenger module comprises a steering system interfaceable with the engine of the uncontrolled base; and 
 c. the controlled base is operable along a rail or track and comprises a member for engaging a rail or track surface. 
 
     
     
         62 . A method for private or public transportation using public transport infrastructures, wherein a passenger travels along both a road and a rail in a passenger vehicle without exiting a passenger module and steers said passenger module when attached to a transport-base, said passenger module being attachable to, and detachable from, both said transport-base and a rail-base. 
     
     
         63 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the passenger module is detached from the transport-base or from the rail-base, and is attached to the transport-base or to the rail-base, at a rail-transport interchange hub. 
     
     
         64 . The method according to  claim 63 , further comprising controlling a plurality of passenger vehicles on rail and controlling at least one or any combination of the group consisting of:
 a. stock of rail-bases at transport-rail interchange hubs;   b. stock of transport-bases at rail-transport interchange hubs;   c. movement of rail-bases at transport-rail interchange hubs;   d. movement of transport-bases at rail-transport interchange hubs;   e. synchronization of passenger module detachment from transport-base at transport-rail interchange hubs;   f. synchronization of passenger module attachment to rail-base at transport-rail interchange hubs;   g. synchronization of passenger module detachment from rail-base at rail-transport interchange hubs;   h. synchronization of passenger module attachment to transport-base at rail-transport interchange hubs;   i. congestion of passenger vehicles on roads/in the air/in the water;   j. congestion of passenger vehicles on rails;   k. location of passenger vehicles on roads/in the air/in the water;   l. location of passenger vehicles on rails;   m. distribution of passenger vehicles on roads/in the air/in the water;   n. distribution of passenger vehicles on rails;   o. preventative maintenance of passenger modules, transport-bases and rail-bases;   p. supply of spare parts for passenger modules, transport-bases and rail-bases;   q. distribution of spare parts for passenger modules, transport-bases and rail-bases;   r. client accounts for purchase of passenger vehicles;   s. client accounts for lease of passenger vehicles;   t. smart card accounts for pay-as-you-use for passenger vehicles; and   u. accident prevention systems for passenger vehicles.   
     
     
         65 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the passenger is charged for the travel on both the road and the rail. 
     
     
         66 . A modular vehicle, comprising:
 a. an uncontrolled, self-propelled chassis base for transportation along a user selected route;   b. a passenger module for seating at least one passenger attachable to, and detachable from said base;   c. a set of interface devices releasably connecting said passenger module and said uncontrolled base; and   d. passenger adjustable propulsion means and steering means,   wherein said passenger module is detachable from said uncontrolled base at an interchange hub and is transferable to a controlled chassis base for transportation along a predetermined mass transit route.