SkyTran News Cast

[edwinstar100]

Get out there and promote it people, great idea for inner cities. How will people impose themselves and expand their personal space without a Licoln Navigator! We will have to go back to dressing lavishly.

[fireofenergy]

Awesome! I heard about this many years ago. Perhaps the reason they ain't here yet is to perfect the concept. After all, venture capitalist's don't want any "traffic jams"...

Imagine the next step, heavier, but able to transport PERSONAL e-cars straight up posts (or whatever) to homes on any level too!

Powered by robotically mass produced renewable energy, stored by robotically mass produced LiFePO4 batteries.

Ideas glisten, proving that we do indeed still have hopes for a future!

[wrcousert]

ULTRa PRT looks promising. London's airport built a system and they're testing it now. It should be open early next year. Let's see how it goes. Maybe this is the one that should be built in the U.S.

[wrcousert]

SkyTran has a few serious flaws

1. The vehicles are far too small. They won't accommodate wheelchairs or strollers.

2. It isn't ADA compliant. No elevator access to stations.

3. Malewicki claims the system can travel 100MPH but the switching system will keep it to far lower speeds.

4. 10 cents per mile is impossible, especially if SkyTran intends to make a profit.

5. SkyWeb Express is better. Google it.

[frencheneesz]

On your 3rd point, SkyTran uses magnetic switching (rather than mechanical switching), so your point isn't valid. Also, SkyTran would cost 1 cent per mile, so 9 cents of the 10 cents is profit. Cars use about 11 cents of gasoline per mile, and they are extremely wasteful.

[wrcousert]

I understand Malewicki's most recent estimates are 20 cents per mile and more than $2 million per mile for track. It's been over a decade so these are inflation adjusted amounts.

So why is this thing taking so long?

Why is it that not a single transit advocacy group in existence is backing this system? They see this as a toy, not a practical transit system.

[wrcousert]

The one cent per mile quote was made well over a decade ago. Add in inflation plus the fact that California's electric rates have increased rapidly since then. I'll bet it will cost at LEAST 25 cents per mile by the time it's actuall built, maybe even more.

[hughtub]

I think the 1st system would be dual mode cars where the center of the car has a groove on the bottom and it drives up on the track, but can be used normally just like any car today off the highway. Eventually, after all cars are electric, a raised track system. Highways should definitely have a dual mode track though, with a component that can be lowered (placed every 1/8mi or so) so cars can be removed in case of an emergency. I'm thoroughly convinced this is what will happen 1st.

[Blumudus]

No way. You'd stall the skytran project for 30 years or so for no reason, waiting for a major highway transformation to materialize. The two have no direct relationship, plus the electric dual mode requires new vehicles, road modifications, issues of all kinds, and it's still prone to road accidents and mechanical problems.

[frencheneesz]

@wrcousert I fully support SkyWeb Express as a far better alternative to our current transportation systems. But you're wrong about SkyTran.

SkyTran uses magnetic switching When switching happens at the speed of light, you aren't really limited in speed...

You assert 10 cents per mile is impossible, but you don't say why. SkyTran's energy costs will be circa 1 or 2 cents because of the small frontal area and electric linear power. Old gasoline cars do 10 cents per mile already...

[111penguin111]

they seriously do need someone to bite the bullet and try it out. if it does work like the vid claims, every city will want one. pleaaaassee someone try this thing!

[Swampertdude56]

Great idea.

Now, about California's economy these days... Not very likely to happen soon.

They should build one of these in Texas. xD

[hughtub]

California needs to separate into a few different states. The overspending democrats and neo-cons need to have their own bankrupt state. Let those who save and build stuff have their own state, and that's where we'd get this sort of innovation.

[wrcousert]

I've been following Skytran for over a decade. In the past ten years, I've seen Doug Malewiki make all sorts of claims, most seemed good, but as of this date, there is still no demo system, not even a scale model.

Think about this for a second. If this thing really worked as claimed, every transit system in the country would be lining up at his door.

[commandersprocket]

I think that it's a great idea, but I think it will meet with a lot of NIMBYism because of the height of the cars and peoples desire for privacy in their backyards. I also think that until somebody is willing to pony up the 40 million or so to build a pilot project we won't know if it really works (fast solid state track switches seem like the tricky part to me).

[hughtub]

I think we need a transition between this and skytran first, such as the "dual mode car" that has a groove and drives onto a track, allowing attentionless driving at a consistent speed. After decades of this, some more innovation might happen and attentionless driving will be in such high demand that some municipality would experiment with something more like skytran.

[bleachdbzfan]

the creation sucks who need skytran when u get instant transmittion?

[csabadapp]

it makes sense

start workin on it ! :)

[crisisstar]

This looks like a really good thingy, and luckily Sweden is interested in this so it might come in a couple of years ;D

[katska1882]

I think that SkyTran is an idea from God implanted into the mind of Doug Malewicki.

[eggaweb]

Skytran is the best solution to transport hands down. The hard part is getting local, state and federal governments to install it. I think I may inform the transport minister (probably will be ignored but worth a try).

[hughtub]

I had email exchange with Mr. Malewicki after I saw the skytran in Popular Science. It's such a superior method of non-stop transportation, is clearly inevitable, just a matter of getting the right people to set up a test track somewhere, like between a huge factory and nearby suburb. I wish some billionaire would invest. This sort of thing can revolutionize package delivery and travel. We need an interstate Skytran system. Highways are outdated.

[wrcousert]

The one reason SkyTran won't work - The American's with Disabilities Act (ADA).

1. Stations have stairs only - no elevators

2. Cars will not accomodate wheel chairs

Malewicki claims they'll have a fleet of limos ready to transport the disabled

but....

1. Will they be available at a moments notice?

2. Will a trip by limo cost the same?

3. Will it be as fast as SkyTran?

[hughtub]

The ADA is unconstitutional, despite still being tolerated as law. There are plenty of other transportation options for the disabled. Do the disabled complain about bike lanes on roads, since they can't use bikes? I help disabled people when I see them, but I sure as hell wouldn't if I knew they were the type who would prevent such a great transportation system from being made. I'd push them out of their wheelchair!

[wrcousert]

If it's so great, why hasn't it been built yet?

Seriously, how hard would it be to get venture capital for a test track a couple miles long?

It's been over ten years since I first read about SkyTran and they still can't even manage to build a scale model. Doesn't that tell you something?

[hughtub]

Yes it shows that it's too far out to be realistically considered now... as I think about this I realize that attentionless driving is far more important than speed. A rail for trucks and highway drivers would allow cars to be made of much lighter materials, further improving energy efficiency.

[wrcousert]

ULTRa PRT is here TODAY. London's Heathrow airport is in the final testing stages of their system.

It may not be as fast as SkyTran, but it's affordable and proven.

ULTRa PRT has another advantage over SkyTran - it's trackless. The vehicles have rubber tires. It should be possible to design a car that can operate both on city streets and on the ULTRa system - you could park one in your garage, drive to the nearest station and let the computer take over until you get to your destination.

[hughtub]

Ok that's a good start. Whatever pushes demand in this direction is good.

[ratesforless]

@wrcousert

The wind has changed directions a little bit since the last time you posted here. They have a prototype out right now and NASA is testing the thing as we speak...

[kmarinas86]

@hughtub

"There are plenty of other transportation options for the disabled. Do the disabled complain about bike lanes on roads, since they can't use bikes?"

My common sense meter has just exploded.