| Coaster, what's that? |
| |
The Coaster is a the first ready-for-production self-drive people mover. The Coaster combines the advantages of individual transport and at the same time avoids the disadvantages of familiar means of public transport.
BRUSA Elektronik AG develops the entire power electronics for this vehicle, such as high torque drive system, battery charging technology and auxiliary supply, as well as the system concept, including autonomous operation and safety concept. |
|
| System advantages for the user |
The Coaster combines the advantages of public transport with the advantages of individual transport but avoids the drawbacks of both systems:
- Instant use and availability (user doesn't need a schedule, available day and night, no timetable)
- Controllable by user's need (runs when needed, also at low-traffic night times)
- No parking issues
- Time during the ride can be used for personal activities
- Costs according to the use of transportation (in contrast to privately owned cars)
|
|
| System advantages for the operator |
The main advantage is the flexibility of the system:
- The high gradeability and narrow radius allow to adapt the track optimally to the given conditions.
- Simple construction of the track (concrete basements with pillars, steel tubes as rails) keeps the track building costs very low.
- No idling losses: The cars only use energy when driving, i.e. only when passengers require it to drive.
- Extensible: An affordable low capacity system can be built by employing just a few cars. In order to increase capacity later, it's only necessary to add more cars.
- The vehicle's batteries are only fully charged overnight. This way it's possible to use a high amount of cheap off-peak mains power.
|
|
| Benchmarks |
| |
- Rail-based electric vehicle with 6-8 seats and its own drive mechanism
- Energy storage on board (energy recovery)
- Modular rail systems and bases
- Maximum incline climbing ability: 55%
- Narrowest radius: 6 metres
- Gauge: 1 metre
- Maximum travel speed: About 80 km/h
- Current capacity: 3000 people/hour/direction
|
|
| Technical Details |
| Drive Systems |
The multi-pole induction motor developed by BRUSA produces the necessary torque for the forceful gradeability of the Coaster. At the same time the motor permits high top speed by its large dynamic range. |
|
| Safety |
The drive goes through numerous tests on the test bench. Not only the motor is examined electrically and mechanically, but also the power electronics inverter and the functions of the associated software. |
|
| Gear drive |
The power transmission is achieved by a gear wheel. Only this way the gradeability becomes possible. On the other hand fixed toothing with the track permits centimeter-exact determination of the vehicle position. |
|
| Energy Supply |
The main on board battery is charged automatically during short and long stops in the stations by a bus bar. The entire charging technology was developed by BRUSA. |
|
| Building a Coaster |
| |
   |
| |
  |
| |
   |
| |
  |
| TV |
| Jan. 2005 |
ORF1 Vorarlberg (WMV; 5MB) |
| Juli 2005 |
NEWS CH (WMV; 9MB) |
| Juni 2005 |
SF-DRS Schweiz aktuell
(WMV; 11MB) |
| April 2005 |
SF-DRS Mensch-Technik-Wissenschaft (WMV; 7MB) |
| April 2005 |
ORF Modern Times (WMV; 10MB) |
Deutsch | English
| News
| Applications
| Perspectives
| Papers
| from around the world
| FAQ
