Transportation system

Abstract

A high-speed transportation system, the system including at least one transportation path having at least one track, at least one transportation vehicle configured for travel along the at least one transportation path, a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one transportation vehicle along the at least one transportation path; and a levitation system adapted to levitate the transportation vehicle along the at least one transportation path. The at least one transportation vehicle additionally comprises wheels for at least intermittently supporting the transportation vehicle on the at least one track.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A high-speed transportation system, the system comprising:
 at least one transportation path having at least one track;   at least one transportation vehicle configured for travel along the at least one transportation path;   a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one transportation vehicle along the at least one transportation path; and   a levitation system adapted to levitate the transportation vehicle along the at least one transportation path,   wherein the at least one transportation vehicle additionally comprises wheels for at least intermittently supporting the transportation vehicle on the at least one track.   
     
     
         2 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the propulsion system comprises at least one linear motor. 
     
     
         3 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the linear motors comprises at least one rotor arranged on the transportation vehicle, each rotor adapted to cooperate with at least one stator arranged on the transportation path. 
     
     
         4 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one transportation vehicle comprises at least one payload area for accommodating a payload. 
     
     
         5 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 4 , wherein at least one payload area is configured for accommodating non-human cargo. 
     
     
         6 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one transportation path is maintained at atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one transportation vehicle is an autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein each transportation vehicle comprises one or more onboard emergency power systems configured to provide auxiliary propulsion to the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic levitation system comprises at least one passive magnet. 
     
     
         10 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic levitation system comprises at least one electromagnet. 
     
     
         11 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one switching system arranged along the transportation path, the transportation path having one upstream transportation path and one downstream transportation path, and at least one additional upstream or downstream transportation path. 
     
     
         12 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 11 , wherein the transportation path includes the one upstream path and a plurality of divergent downstream paths. 
     
     
         13 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 11 , wherein the transportation path includes the one downstream path and a plurality of divergent upstream paths. 
     
     
         14 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one switching system comprises actuatable tracks which are adapted to be selectively enabled or disabled, such that as the capsule approaches the switching system, only one of the actuatable tracks is enabled to engage a corresponding side bearing of the transportation vehicle, in order to direct the transportation vehicle from an upstream track portion to one downstream track portion. 
     
     
         15 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one track is arranged along the transportation path beneath the transportation vehicle, and wherein the transportation vehicle is levitated above the at least one track. 
     
     
         16 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the wheels and the levitation system are arranged on a same side of the vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the wheels and the levitation system are arranged on opposite sides of the vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one track is arranged along the transportation path above the transportation vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the wheels are deployable from a recessed position. 
     
     
         20 . The high-speed transportation system of  claim 1 , wherein the wheels are arranged at a fixed height relative to the transportation vehicle.