"MAGLEV OPTICAL DETECTION OF OBSTACLES (MODO)"

THE REALIZATION OF SAFE, HIGH-SPEED MAGLEV OR STEEL WHEEL GROUND TRANSPORTATION WILL REQUIRE A RELIABLE SYSTEM TO DETECT OBSTACLES IN THE GUIDEWAY AT A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE. REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE ALL-WEATHER OPERATION, DAY TIME AND NIGHT TIME OPERATION, AND THE DETECTION OF OBSTACLES AROUND THE GUIDEWAY CURVE (NOT IN LINE OF SIGHT). IN ADDITION THE SYSTEM MUST BE SAFE FOR PASSENGERS ON THE TRAIN, ON THE WAITING PLATFORM, AND IN THE GUIDEWAY. THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES AN INNOVATIVE OPTICAL METHOD "MAGLEV OPTICAL DETECTION OF OBSTACLES (MODO)" TO ACHIEVE THIS RELIABLE AND SAFE SYSTEM. THE MODO SYSTEM WILL USE AN EYE-SAFE LASER AND FIBER OPTIC CABLES MOUNTED IN THE GUIDEWAY. PRELIMINARY CALCULATIONS SHOW THAT THIS CONCEPT SHOULD SATISFY THE OBSTACLE DETECTION REQUIREMENTS WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF SAFETY, AT MINIMAL INSTALLED COST. IN PHASE I, ASPEN SYSTEMS, INC. WILL DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF THE MODO SYSTEM THROUGH LABORATORY TESTS AND COMPUTER MODELING, TO EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF FOG, SOLAR IRRADIANCE, ATMOSPHERIC TURBULENCE, AND OPTICAL COUPLING, ON SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. IN PHASE II WE WILL DEVELOP A WORKING SYSTEM FOR LABORATORY AND FIELD TESTING, PERMITTING A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO IMPLEMENTATION IN PHASE III. THE MODO SYSTEM ALSO HAS THE PROMISE TO ADDRESS THESAFETY ISSUE OF GUIDEWAY INTEGRITY.