This draft version of the site was posted in 2011 and was itself an update the the official site which was last updated in 2008.

The design concept has moved on considerably since then as summarised here. The new features aim to facilitate moving the Cabin vertically and on a conveyor to provide very high traffic densities.

This is a draft version of a proposed  update to the MAIT site. Please do not link to this address because it may not be here next time.    

Transport in the city of the future

Imagine a future where nearly all city transport is automated!^[1] What will it be like?

We are engineers, but here we are trying to think like architects.

Engineers are good at tackling issues of cost, reliability and efficiency but less good at dealing with aesthetics, human behaviour and how the components of a city fit together.

For example, nearly all proposals for installing new infrastructure have been met with opposition, particularly n the case of PRT^[2] , against overhead structures. This opposition is probably stronger in Europe than for new-world countries, where cities have been less constrained. If current PRT systems, capable of carrying only a small part of total traffic, have problems with intrusiveness, can a system carrying most of the traffic ever be acceptable? Indeed, is there physically enough room to fit it in? How much traffic  would this be? How much space  will be needed for stations? 

It is clear that some new infrastructure will be needed. The following ideas show how lots of traffic might be carried with the minimum of intrusive fixed structure:

• The Small Smart Automated Container (SSAC), which has dimensions that provide an efficient fit onto all existing modes of transport that are used in urban areas as well as most proposed PAT systems. We propose standardised attachments that provides efficient automated handling and built in electronics to facilitate logistics.
• Cabins which use the same handling features as the SSAC but fitted with seats to accommodate passengers.
• How a Multi-User Urban Guideway (MUUG) might handle a major share of urban transport requirements. PAT by itself is only useful for a limited range of journey types. We examine how it might be blended with systems optimised for different journey types, eg, longer distances and higher speeds.
• The Thin Articulated Multi-segmented Vehicle (TAMV) . This has a cross-section, weight loading and turning-circle similar to PRT, allowing it to be inserted into urban areas with minimal cost and disruption. Very low aerodynamics drag gives excellent energy efficiency at higher speeds. Passenger throughput could be equal to existing metros.

Although there are some nice design ideas here, it may be more useful view them as "engineer's impressions" of what will be needed if there is to be a substantial adoption of new transport modes.

The prime focus has been on urban transport but we need to reduce the cost of long distance travel as well. Speed costs. Can we make slower travel acceptable ?

[1] Can we have the advantages of an on-demand transport  system without any new technology?

[2] PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) refers to existing systems such as ULTra and 2getthere.

PAT (Personal Automated Transport) refers to a more general category of PRT, MAIT Cabins and other proposed systems that provide automated, on-demand passenger transport.

Usage may not always be consistent.