Monorail Air Cushion Ultra High Speed (MAC-UHS) Transportation System

MAC train structure.jpg

Description

Using a combination of well known and proven technologies, a highly cost-effective and innovative solution to ultra high-speed passenger

train transportation is presented. The proposed Monorail Air Cushion (MAC)

system uses lightweight vehicles built with aircraft technologies, propelled

via electric linear motors, riding on wheels at low speed and on an air cushion

at high speed, straddling a modular elevated monorail track. When compared to

existing conventional high-speed trains, this concept would lower the cost of

infrastructure and equipment, and decrease the time to build a transportation

network by more than an order of magnitude.

Innovation

The proposed train system uses a combination of four well-proven technologies, not currently used together in train transportation:

- Aircraft technology used to manufacture the lightweight

vehicles

- Hybrid wheel and speed-assisted air cushion vehicle suspension

- Vehicle electric linear motor propulsion

- Elevated prefabricated, lightweight monorail tracks

Manufacturability

The proposed train system uses existing technologies and does not require any new invention:

- The cars can be manufactured using aircraft technologies.

Aircraft manufacturers will have an opportunity to use their know-how to extend

their product line offerings to ultra high-speed train production.

- Today, air cushion suspension is widely used in

civilian and military hovercraft. Forty years ago, the French Aérotrain air

cushion suspension was successfully demonstrated.

- Electric linear motors are widely used in many

industries and in Maglev trains.

- Monorail tracks can made of either steel, aluminum, or hybrid

prefabricated pre-stressed concrete and aluminum, supported on pre-fabricated

concrete columns.

Marketability

The whole world has an urgent need for ultra high-speed trains. It is expected that aircraft manufacturing demand will be affected in

the near future by the cost and the availability of fossil fuels. Electric

trains are highly efficient and can be easily powered by renewable energy

sources. Highly resilient,

decentralized solar energy produced by solar farms situated along the track

will offer minimum transmission losses.

The lower costs, safety and low complexity of the entire system make it extremely appealing even to developing countries. Since elevated

tracks do not block ground traffic and present a minimal footprint, this mode

of transportation has a much lower impact on the environment than any other mode

of transportation. The elevated track is nearly impervious to ground level

disturbances: animals or people intrusion, flooding, landslides, snowdrifts,

freezing rain, etc.

Cost-effectiveness

Historically, governments have invested billions of US dollars in high-speed train systems. The proposed concept reduces the cost of such

systems to levels that are appealing to private investment. The implementation

technique will allow developing a transportation network within an

unprecedented short time span, ensuring a faster return on investment.

Conclusion

The proposed MAC ultra high-speed train concept offers a revolutionary mode of ground transportation, which can leapfrog the existing

designs, while offering much lower prices and faster implementation. This

concept should be studied and validated through a thorough economic analysis

that will take into account the long-term costs and benefits to society.

1. 
   On August 12th, 2010 at 9:43 pm John Said:

   How is this any better than a maglev?

2. 
   On August 13th, 2010 at 12:37 am jerry dycus Said:

   Cool, I invented the same thing 20 yrs ago and great some else is putting it out. I was into WIGE’s, Wing in ground effect craft, basically seaplanes flying in ground effect and it was an outgrowth of it.

   To answer John question, what the difference between it and Maglevs, about 50% less cost to build. That saves about $2-4T to build out the US in high speed trains

   My version also puts freight/cars/trucks on a similar track but 150mph instead of 300mph They do their long distance on the track and finish the last miles with wheels .

   I’d suggest high tech boat tech instead of aircraft though to keep costs low. No need for carbon fiber for just a 5% weight savings at 20x’s more cost.

   Nice work Michael, keep it up. I’m pulling for you and the world which would be smart to go this way.

3. 
   On August 13th, 2010 at 12:55 am John Said:

   Where does the cost savings come from? What about energy lost during travel? The air cushion comes from ducting air pressure that is developed from the forward motion of the train which must take some energy.

4. 
   On September 12th, 2010 at 8:50 pm jerry dycus Said:

   John, the saving comes from a far cheaper track as it doesn’t have to have massive, expensive coils or magnets in it. While it does use some energy, no more than maglev does and likely less. But far less than reg trains, buses, airplanes, etc and the power is easily made with RE or nukes once nukes cost comes down.