Hybrid personal transit system

Abstract

A system and method for hybrid personal transit and components thereof is disclosed. The hybrid personal transit (“HPT”) system can be a system of combined highway and monorail transportation methods, which allows roadworthy HPT vehicles to transition onto, and run on, a system of monorails. The rails can be built on the ground, on poles, or in tunnels. A unique drive system will allow each HPT vehicle to alter drive output from the HPT vehicle's tires to a rail drive system.

1 . A personal transit vehicle comprising:
 an enclosure;   a plurality of road wheels coupled to the enclosure which are powered to propel the personal transit vehicle along a road;   a road wheel suspension system attached to each of the plurality of road wheels, wherein the road wheel suspension controls a positioning of the road wheels over a range, from substantially vertical to substantially horizontal; and   a rail engagement system, wherein the rail engagement system couples the substantially horizontal road wheels of the personal transit vehicle to a rail during a rail-guided operation.   
     
     
         2 . The personal transit vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the road wheel suspension system includes an onboard computer which is configured to provide user control of the positioning of the road wheels. 
     
     
         3 . The personal transit vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the rail engagement system includes a bearing plate coupled to a top of the rail. 
     
     
         4 . The personal transit vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the bearing plate includes a plurality of bearings that support the weight of the personal transit vehicle during rail-guided operation. 
     
     
         5 . The personal transit vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the rail engagement system includes a plurality of drive wheels, wherein the drive wheels propel the personal transit vehicle along the rail. 
     
     
         6 . The personal transit vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of drive wheels are powered independently of the road wheels. 
     
     
         7 . The personal transit vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of drive wheels rotate about a substantially vertical axis. 
     
     
         8 . The personal transit vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an onboard operating system that operates the personal transit vehicle from a remote location. 
 
     
     
         9 . The personal transit vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the onboard operating system adjusts the power of the drive wheels. 
     
     
         10 . The personal transit vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the onboard operating system controls the road wheel suspension system. 
     
     
         11 . A personal transit vehicle rail system comprising:
 a center portion;   a top portion including a bearing plate coupled thereto, wherein the center portion has a narrower cross-sectional width than the top portion; and   a plurality of sensors configured to communicate with a personal transit vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The personal transit vehicle rail system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sensors communicate with the personal transit vehicle via radio frequency. 
     
     
         13 . The personal transit vehicle rail system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sensors provide communication between the personal transit vehicle and a remote operating system. 
     
     
         14 . The personal transit vehicle rail system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a power source which provides electrical power to the personal transit vehicle.   
     
     
         15 . A method of personal transit comprising:
 driving a personal transit vehicle on a first roadway;   driving the personal transit vehicle from the first roadway onto a rail;   retracting a plurality of road wheels from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position;   engaging the road wheels with the rail on opposing vertical sides;   engaging a bearing plate on a top portion of the rail with the personal transit vehicle;   controlling operation of the personal transit vehicle from a remote location; and   driving the personal transit vehicle from the rail onto a second roadway.   
     
     
         16 . The method of personal transit of  claim 15 , wherein the controlling operation of the personal transit vehicle from a remote location, includes, transmitting operating signals through sensors on the rail, from the remote location to the personal transit vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of personal transit of  claim 16 , wherein the controlling operation of the personal transit vehicle from a remote location, further includes,
 transmitting operating conditions data from the personal transit vehicle to the remote location.