Intelligent transportation system and method

A method of operating a transportation system, comprising:

• providing a first driverless vehicle operatively coupled with to an elevated track having two track members disposed in parallel and operable to traverse an said elevated track, wherein said first vehicle includes an on-board contactless speed sensor and said elevated track includes a plurality of contactless speed sensors;
• providing a second driverless vehicle operatively coupled with to said parallel track members and operable to traverse said elevated track, wherein said second driverless vehicle includes an on-board contactless speed sensor;
• providing a first elevated track loop wherein said first and second driverless vehicles are operable at a first speed;
• providing a second elevated track loop operable to receive said first and second driverless vehicles merging from said first elevated track loop, wherein said first and second driverless vehicles are operable at a second speed;
• providing an elevated track section operable to receive said first and second driverless vehicles merging from said second elevated track loop, wherein said first and second driverless vehicles are operable at a third speed;
• comparing a speed signal from said first driverless vehicle contactless on-board speed sensor with a speed signal from one or more of said track plurality of contactless speed sensors;
• comparing a speed signal from said second driverless vehicle contactless on-board speed sensor with a speed signal from one or more of said track plurality of contactless speed sensors;
• and
• reducing a speed of said second driverless vehicle where said first driverless vehicle speed has decelerated beneath a predetermined speed to maintain a predetermined distance between said first and second driverless vehicles.

A transportation system, comprising:

• an elevated track comprising:
• a plurality of posts,
• at least two track members disposed in parallel,
• a plurality of cross members transversely disposed and coupled between said at least two track members,
• a plurality of reinforcing cross members transversely disposed and coupled between said at least two track members operative to support said at least two track members on said plurality of posts, and
• a support member disposed between said plurality of posts and said plurality of reinforcing cross members, wherein said support member comprises a beam disposed parallel with said at least two track members;
• a driverless vehicle operatively coupled with to said at least two track members and operable to traverse said elevated track;
• a first elevated track loop wherein said driverless vehicle is operable at a first speed;
• a second elevated track loop operable to receive said driverless vehicle merging from said first elevated track loop, wherein said driverless vehicle is operable at a second speed;
• and
• an elevated track section operable to receive said driverless vehicle merging from said second elevated track loop, wherein said driverless vehicle is operable at a third speed;
• a plurality of switching systems, wherein at least one of said switching systems is located between said first elevated track loop and said second elevated track loop, and wherein at least one of said switching systems is located between said second elevated track loop and said elevated track section;
• a flip switching system operable to transfer said driverless vehicle from a first curved section of track to a second curved section of track, wherein said flip switching system comprises:
• a drive shaft rotatably coupled with two or more of said plurality of posts;
• a first curved track portion fixedly coupled with said drive shaft;
• a second curved track portion fixedly coupled with said drive shaft opposite said first curved track portion;
• and
• a motor drive operable to unidirectionally rotate said drive shaft whereby one of said first curved track portion and said second curved track portion are selectively rotated about a longitudinal axis of said drive shaft and aligned with said first curved section of track.