Fall 1999

ME/IE 8773-8774

The Design of the Taxi 2000 Personal Rapid Transit System

by

J. Edward Anderson
Ph. D., P. E.
TAXI 2000 Corporation
http://www.taxi2000.com
Fridley, MN 55421-1338

Wednesday, October 6, 1999
1:25 - 2:15 p.m.
Room 108 ME
Broadcast on UNITE Channel A
Coffee will be available in 152 ME following the seminar

Research and development work at the University of Minnesota during the 1970s and 1980s led to a PRT system, called Taxi 2000, that investigators in a number of countries have recognized as the most rigorously designed new transit system in the world (see www.taxi2000.com). In 1991 Taxi 2000 won an alternatives study at SeaTac International Airport in competition with bus, light rail and large-vehicle people movers. In 1993, it was selected for full-scale development in an international competition sponsored by the Northeastern Illinois Regional Transportation Authority. A $60,000,000 design and test program followed and is now complete. In late 1998, a committee of Forward Quest, a large organization concerned with the future of Northern Kentucky, selected Taxi 2000, for deployment in Downtown Cincinnati-Covington-Newport after examining over 50 elevated rail systems (see www.skyloop.org). Most recently it is being considered for an application in Rochester, MN. The lecture will describe the interdisciplinary design process that led to Taxi 2000, will highlight some of the key technical developments, and will conclude with statements about life in a city served by PRT.

Dr. J. Edward Anderson is President and CEO of Taxi 2000 Corporation, which was formed at the University of Minnesota. From 1963 to 1986 he was a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. In 1986 he was attracted to a similar position at Boston University where he taught engineering design for six years and formed an industry team of engineers from five Boston-Area companies to carry the design of his PRT system to the point that it attracted the attention of the Chicago RTA. From 1951 to 1963 he worked at the Honeywell Aeronautical Division on instrument design, autopilots, inertial navigation, and spacecraft development. In 1955 he initiated work on strapped-down inertial navigation systems that are now standard in commercial aircraft. From 1949 to 1951 he was an Aeronautical Research Scientist in the Structures Research Division at NACA, Langley Field, VA. He has a Ph. D. from M. I. T. in Astronautics, an MSME from the University of Minnesota, and a BSME from Iowa State University. He is a registered professional engineer and was named Outstanding Inventor of 1989 for the Taxi 2000 patents. He is listed in 37 biographical reference works including WhoÕs Who in America, WhoÕs Who in the World, and 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 20th Century.

Informal Faculty Luncheon: Wednesday, October 6, 1999, 11:45 am, Room 402, Campus Club. Dr. Anderson will be able to attend.