The Future Projects Division of Toyota is
testing an "Intelligent Multimode Transit System" in Shizuoka, Japan, involving
bus platoons that can operate either on or off dedicated bus lanes.
On its one-mile Shizuoka test track, Toyota is electronically coupling together up to
five environmentally friendly, low floor Shino Yamada buses for service along a
single-lane dedicated corridor segment. The bus platoons can pass each other at several
sidings en route. They are fueled by liquefied natural gas and can be uncoupled quickly to
run on regular roads and to adjust to changes in demand. System developers are currently
aiming at a carrying capacity of 5,000 passengers an hour.
IMTS uses the latest in Intelligent Transportation Systems technologies, such as lane
maintenance by detection of magnetic nails and detection of forward obstructions,
including fixed distance maintenance between bus platoons by extreme high frequency radar.
The low floor, "stepless" buses are designed to operate with a newly
developed, low-emission compressed natural gas engine. As the system's operation requires
neither rails nor electric power lines, Toyota Claims that construction and maintenance
costs are much lower than conventional railway-based or other new transport systems.
Potential uses of IMTS include connecting airports, intermodal terminals, and resort
areas with neighboring cities or residential neighborhoods affected by major fluctuations
in demand, along with providing medium-volume transportation between provincial cities
without building additional lanes.
IMTS buses are electronically controlled by a dispatch center to handle a seamless
transition from manual operation on city streets and a dedicated bus lane in which the
vehicles are platooned with minimal distance from one another. Moving block controls and
on-board radar devices are used guide access to the dedicated lane and to protect against
collisions.
A redundant electronic fail/safe stop system is undergoing performance tests at the
Shizuoka test track prior to marketing of the system for airport access and intercity
commuter traffic.
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