CyberCab
The CyberCab is a new people mover system which first application is a temporary installation during the Floriade 2002 – a horticultural exposition organized once every ten years. 25 CyberCabs will provide transportation to the summit of the 40 meter high observation point: Big Spotters’ Hill. The CyberCab is a fully automated vehicle seating 4 passengers. The system is operated by 2getthere.
CyberCab transportation system
The CyberCab can be compared to
a taxi. It is fully flexible, capable of stopping anywhere, picking up passengers and
transporting them to any destination – via the shortest route - on the routing
network. This innovative transportation system is based on proven technology that has been
used in other applications.
The CyberCab seats four (4) passengers. The CyberCab is a fully automated vehicle operating without visible (physical) guidance The height of the vehicle does not allow passengers to be transported standing up. The width of the vehicle is a mere 1450 mm (approximately 50 inches), resulting in a narrow track. By installing folding chairs in the vehicle, the CyberCab is fully accessible to wheelchairs. The pollution and noise by the CyberCab are minimised through the electric propulsion used. The platform in combination with the automated guidance ensures a comfortable and enjoyable journey. The maximum speed of the Cyber Cab is 20 km/h (12.5 mph) but higher speeds are currently under development. This automatic vehicle has been developed in a cooperative venture between Frog and Yamaha Motor Europe.
The concept, navigation system, supervisory control system, infrastructure requirements and safety features of the CyberCab are derived from the ParkShuttle (see detailed description).
Floriade application
Floriade 2002 is the Netherlands’ greatest horticultural show of the decade. The exhibition is an initiative of the Nederlandse Tuinbouw Raad (Dutch Horticultural Council). It is an event that takes place every ten years, and is organized each time in cooperation with a new city. Floriade 2002 will officially open to the public on April 6, 2002, in the city of Haarlemmermeer, located to the Southwest of Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport.
‘Our vision was to create a compact park for the event, with a simple layout and consequently a clear route to lead visitors around’, according to Ron Koek, Technical Manager of the organizing committee. ‘Because of this we didn’t need a transportation system covering the entire grounds. On previous Floriades we had systems like that but they have limited added value. They usually follow the main paths and, as expensive systems are required, it has been difficult to run a profitable operation for a short-term event like Floriade. Instead, the decision was made to work with multiple transportation subsystems.
‘It has become a tradition to have a look-out point on the Floriade grounds. In the past, we had temporary towers with the single exception of Rotterdam’s Euromast in 1960, says Koek. ‘This time we have opted for an observation hill with a much higher capacity. But the look-out point must be accessible to everyone.’ Consequently, next to the staircase, another transportation system will be required to take people up Big Spotters’ Hill.
In addition to the practical advantages, the CyberCab’s ‘automatic vehicle’ image also fits in well with Floriade’s theme. Koek: ‘In the park’s section next to Big Spotters’ Hill, the focus is on ‘the Art of’-part of Floriade’s motto ‘Feel the Art of Nature’. ‘The Art of’ represents the artistic and artificial way in which people treat nature. This section of Floriade is aimed at the future and how it is believed people will treat nature then. The CyberCab is future-oriented, durable, flexible and personal. These are aspects that fit in well with Floriade and in particular with the theme of that section of the park.’ Koek continues: ‘Because of these qualities, it was easy to fit the CyberCab system into the Floriade park.’
The design of the CyberCab, as it will be used during Floriade 2002, is the creation of French designer Sacha Lakic. It is an open design, offering passengers a good view of the surrounding area. They will be able to see the scenery pass by from all different sides of Big Spotters’ Hill. Floriade’s many faces will be on display during the ride to the top. Without experiencing the view from a CyberCab, a visit to Floriade 2002 will not be complete!
A total of 25 CyberCabs will be deployed to take visitors to the summit. The vehicles’ speed will be limited to 11 km/hour, thereby offering the passengers plenty of time to enjoy the view and the ride. On average, a vehicle will leave from the station at the base of the hill every 24 seconds. The maximum capacity of the transportation system will be 600 people an hour, in both directions.
The Floriade project will be of great importance to the future of automatic people transportation. The objective is to really put the system on display and to show that automatic transportation is not only possible, but that it can be operated profitably even during temporary events such as these. As Koek has said: ‘An exhibition like Floriade can play an important role in the acceptance of innovative concepts. It can show the future of a new concept, while at the same time creating a foundation for the concept. We are not only doing this for the CyberCabs but also for the solar panel roof at the North entrance.’
The Floriade organizing committee is convinced that they made the right choice: ‘CyberCab will be a valuable addition to Floriade; it is an exceptional means of transportation, which will undoubtedly be very popular with our visitors. I expect the public to really appreciate the system!’, says Koek. This customer appreciation was already apparent on a recent Floriade Open Day, where the public had their first introduction to the CyberCabs.
Future applications
Some illustrations of vehicles that are
currently being developed by 2getthere for other applications are also
available. For more information, please contact *Robbert Lohmann* (+31 (0)30
2387203 / robbert@2getthere.eu
Last modified: May 26, 2008
