Loading/unloading system and vehicle interface for a transportation system and methods of use

Abstract

A modular loading and unloading system for a high-speed transportation system, the system including an airlock loading zone, at least one airlock arranged in the airlock loading zone and connecting the airlock loading zone to a transportation tube of the high-speed transportation system. The airlock loading zone is configured to receive a plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars, and is operable to arrange the plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars for insertion into a high-speed transportation vehicle arranged in the airlock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular loading and unloading system for a high-speed transportation system, the modular loading and unloading system comprising:
 an airlock loading zone; and   at least one airlock arranged in the airlock loading zone and connecting the airlock loading zone to a transportation tube of the high-speed transportation system,   wherein the airlock loading zone is configured to receive a plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars, and is operable to arrange the plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars for insertion into a high-speed transportation vehicle arranged in the airlock.   
     
     
         2 . The modular loading and unloading system of  claim 1 , wherein the airlock includes a sealer structured and arranged to interact with the high-speed transportation vehicle when arranged in the airlock, such that the sealer and the high-speed transportation vehicle together provide a first air pressure barrier between a relatively lower pressure in the tube and a relatively higher pressure of the airlock loading zone. 
     
     
         3 . The modular loading and unloading system of  claim 2 , wherein the airlock further includes an airlock door structured and arranged to provide a second air pressure barrier between the relatively lower pressure in the tube and the relatively higher pressure of the airlock loading zone. 
     
     
         4 . The modular loading and unloading system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first pressure sensor arranged in the tube for quantifying a pressure in the tube;   a second pressure sensor arranged adjacent the airlock door for quantifying a pressure in a region between the airlock door and the first pressure barrier, and   a third pressure sensor in the airlock loading zone for quantifying a pressure in the airlock loading zone.   
     
     
         5 . The modular loading and unloading system of  claim 3 , further comprising a pump structured and arranged for increasing and decreasing pressure in the region between the airlock door and the first pressure barrier. 
     
     
         6 . The modular loading and unloading system of  claim 5 , wherein the high-speed transportation vehicle includes an outer shell door, which provides access to a payload area of the high-speed transportation vehicle when opened. 
     
     
         7 . The modular loading and unloading system of  claim 6 , further comprising an airlock controller operable to control operation of the pump based on a pressure in the region between the airlock door and the first pressure barrier, and operable to control opening and closing of the airlock door and the outer shell door. 
     
     
         8 . The modular loading and unloading system of  claim 1 , further comprising a loading bay configured for receiving the plurality of cars and/or payloads, and/or configured for loading and unloading of passengers and/or cargo into a plurality of the capsules. 
     
     
         9 . The modular loading and unloading system of  claim 8 , further comprising an elevator system arranged between the loading bay and the airlock loading zone, and configured to move the plurality of cars, payloads, and/or capsules between the loading bay and the airlock loading zone. 
     
     
         10 . The modular loading and unloading system of  claim 9 , wherein the elevator system is operable to move the cars, payloads, and/or capsules vertically and/or horizontally. 
     
     
         11 . The modular loading and unloading system of  claim 1 , wherein the cars comprise modular cars having a respective payload that is removeably attachable to a chassis. 
     
     
         12 . The modular loading and unloading system of  claim 1 , wherein the airlock loading zone includes an automated guided vehicle system operable to move the capsules, payloads, and/or cars. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a modular loading and unloading system for a high-speed transportation system, the method comprising:
 receiving a plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars in an airlock loading zone having at least one airlock connecting the airlock loading zone to a transportation tube of the high-speed transportation system;   arranging the plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars for insertion into a high-speed transportation vehicle arranged in an airlock; and   inserting the plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars into the high-speed transportation vehicle, while the high-speed transportation vehicle is arranged at least partially in the airlock,   wherein the airlock includes a sealer structured and arranged to interact with an outer shell of the high-speed transportation vehicle when arranged in the airlock, such that the sealer and the high-speed transportation vehicle together provide a first air pressure barrier between a relatively lower pressure in the tube and a relatively higher pressure of the airlock loading zone.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising moving the plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars to the airlock loading zone from a loading bay, wherein the moving comprises using one or more elevators. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 onboarding passengers in a parallel manner into respective capsules arranged in a loading bay, wherein the respective capsules are designated for transport in a particular high-speed transportation vehicle; and   moving the respective capsules to the airlock loading zone,   wherein the arranging the plurality of capsules for insertion into a high-speed transportation vehicle comprises arranging the respective capsules into a linearly arranged cartridge for serial loading into the particular high-speed transportation vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cars comprise modular cars each having a respective payload and a respective chassis, the method further comprising:
 receiving the modular cars at a loading bay;   detaching the respective payloads from the respective chasses; and   moving the payloads to the airlock loading zone.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cars comprise conventional cars, the method further comprising:
 receiving the cars at a loading bay; and   moving the cars to the airlock loading zone.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the high-speed transportation vehicle includes an outer shell door, and wherein the airlock includes an airlock door, the method further comprising closing the outer shell door and closing the airlock door after the inserting. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising lowering a pressure in a region between the shell door and the first pressure barrier so as to equalize the pressure in the region with a pressure within the tube of the high-speed transportation system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the arranging the plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars is based on at least one of destination, high-speed transportation vehicle availability, a size of the capsules, payloads, and/or cars, and a current queue. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sealer comprises at least one O-ring seal with an outer diameter approximating an inner diameter of the tube, and an inner diameter approximating an outer perimeter of the high-speed transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving the high-speed transportation vehicle at the airlock;   engaging the outer shell of the high-speed transportation vehicle with the sealer to provide the air pressure barrier between the relatively lower pressure in the tube and the relatively higher pressure of the airlock loading zone;   raising the pressure in a region between a shell door of the high-speed transportation vehicle and an airlock door of the airlock so as to equalize the pressure in the region with a pressure in the airlock loading zone;   opening the airlock door and opening the shell door to provide an egress from an interior of the high-speed transportation vehicle; and   unloading the plurality of capsules, payloads, and/or cars from the interior of the high-speed transportation vehicle.   
     
     
         23 . A method for extending a range of a car, the method comprising:
 traveling in the car from a starting point to a departure high-speed transportation system station;   operating the modular loading and unloading system according to  claim 13  to load the car into the high-speed transportation vehicle;   traveling in the car arranged in the high-speed transportation vehicle via the high-speed transportation system from the departure high-speed transportation system station to an arrival high-speed transportation system station;   disembarking the car from the high-speed transportation vehicle; and   traveling in the car from the arrival high-speed transportation system station to a final destination.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the car is an autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the car is an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle, the method further comprising charging a battery of the car while the car is arranged in the high-speed transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising providing wireless internet access to the car while the car is arranged in the high-speed transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         27 . A method for long-range asset management of a fleet of cars, the method comprising: determining a current utilization of the fleet of cars in a first location;
 determining an anticipated demand for the fleet of cars in the first location;   determining a current utilization of cars in a second location;   determining an anticipated demand for the cars in the second location;   determining a reallocation of at least a portion of the fleet of cars in the first location to the second location based upon at least one of the current utilization of the fleet of cars in the first location, the anticipated demand for the fleet of cars in the first location, the current utilization of cars in the second location, and the anticipated demand for cars in the second location;   moving the portion of the fleet of cars from the first location to a departure high-speed transportation station;   operating the modular loading and unloading system according to  claim 13  to load the cars into the high-speed transportation vehicle;   moving the cars from the departure high-speed transportation station to an arrival high-speed transportation station via the high-speed transportation system;   unloading the cars from the high-speed transportation vehicle; and   moving the cars from the arrival high-speed transportation station to the second location.