UST: News

Operation trials of the SkyWay unibike were launched on the section of the lightweight urban track. The rolling pod suspended on string rails will have to pass through the entire set of checks, where all the main technical features will be measured: dynamic characteristics of the vehicle (acceleration, braking), the coefficient of adhesion of the chassis with the rail, operation of the systems of automated control and energy supply.

At the same time, the track structure of the lightweight urban track passes testing, too. As it was announced earlier, the operation trials shall be initially conducted on tracks without the use of pre-stressed steel strings inside the rail to fully examine the behavior of the track structure in emergencies, as well as the possibility of a detailed study of structural features in terms of critical loads. In its final stage, testing will be carried out on completely assembled string rails.

All the test events are conducted under the personal supervision of the General designer and author of the SkyWay transport technology Anatoly Yunitskiy. In an interview to the SkyWay news service he commented on the progress of testing the track structure and rolling stock started in EcoTechnoPark:

Translation of the video:

Mikhail Kirichenko: Good day! Here is Mikhail Kirichenko. You are watching SkyWay news, where we tell you about the developments and implementation of breakthrough transport technologies. Today we offer to your attention the next report from the SkyWay EcoTechnoPark. Our guide today will be the General designer of the project Anatoly Yunitskiy. Good day, Anatoly!

Anatoly Yunitskiy: Good day!

M.K.: Tell us please what event we are witnessing today together with you.

A.Y.: A joyful event. We are installing a unibike on the wheels. It is a test, not a demonstration. We are testing not only the unibike, but also the track structure and rail-string overpass. I often hear the same questions. What will happen, if the string breaks? What will happen, if concrete cracks inside the rail? However, we shall have to pass expert examination and certification. Naturally, experts will ask the same questions, therefore, we conduct testing by stages. Now we are standing at the track structure that does not have strings. In this case, the string is the rail. It is stretched. There is no concrete inside the rail. This is a situation, when by some reason (earthquake, terrorist attack, etc.) there are no strings and concrete. And you see the track is functioning. We are standing at the middle of a span, the unibike is suspended and deformations are very small. Later, when we finish this option, including study of statics, dynamics, acceleration, breaking, breaking path, oscillations, wind loads, we shall pass over to the next stage. Now we have a strong wind and it is very cold.

M.K.: I think everybody notices it.

A.Y.: However, the pod is staying rather stable. When we finish it, we shall stretch strings. We shall remove sagging on the track structure. Moreover, we shall make a counter-camber. When a unibus or a unibike moves, it will press down the counter-camber and run along a completely straight track. We will show it and carry out a number of tests with a string. We will study the same characteristics: statics, dynamics, acceleration, breaking, breaking path, wheel-rail adhesion, etc. A full range of tests. Now there is no concrete inside and the hollow tube is a resonator of 800 m length. Naturally, there is some noise, but it is not as strong as on a railway.

M.K.: I think everybody could hear it.

A.Y.: Yes, this is a small noise. After that, at the third stage of testing, we shall pump in concrete. It will be in spring next year. We shall fill it with concrete and compare it with all the previous variants of testing. We'll get a fully-featured test. Then it will be the last stage of certification. By the next EcoFest we shall demonstrate a real functioning track with the worked-out modes of motion, with normally operating vehicles. Not only unibike, but unibus, too. By that time, the string truss overpass 950 m long will be completed. Construction of the freight route is going on behind us. We will show it, too. We want to demonstrate this complex. Now I repeat again - we are not demonstrating, we are doing tests.

M.K.: Thank you very much. In one of our previous reports you mentioned that the tests would start with the simulation of some accidents, failures and so on. You said that besides the structures without strings and concrete, you would test inoperative motor-wheels: 1, 2, 3 and 4. Will you conduct such tests here? Last time you spoke about unibus, now we are speaking about unibike.

A.Y.: Certainly. We shall have to shut down separate systems and test its operation. Suppose, one motor-wheel failed. It should run on three wheels. Two motor-wheels failed. It should run on two wheels. Three motor-wheels failed. It should run on one wheels. Therefore, we shall test it all. We shall test electronics, machinery, etc. If you open the hood, you will be surprised by the number of mechanical devices. It is like opening the hood of a car, you will see many blocks there. It is a very complicated vehicle. It can be compared with an electric car or an airplane.

M.K.: Thank you very much. We have already made clear that the track structure without strings and concrete carries a unibike without deformation.

A.Y.: No, some deformation is available, but within acceptable limits. I want to say about it. After stretching the strings and filling concrete, the track will be designed for up to 150 km/h speed of traffic.

M.K.: I wanted to ask at what speed it can move now.

A.Y.: Since it has no strings yet and it is not filled with concrete, the comfortable speed here may be 60 to 70 km/h. The test engineer sitting inside says the ride at this speed is very comfortable. This speed is 2-2.5 times higher than on a cableway. This track will be commissioned in operation in this design and it will be better than a cableway.

M.K.: Twice better.

A.Y.: By speed. As regards the wheel rolling on the rail, a cylindrical wheel rolls on a flat rail. Therefore, rolling resistance factor is less than on a cableway by 5-7 times. Respectively, energy consumption will be better here. A cable way has a small diameter of the rope. A wheel rests on it resulting in the fast ware of its sides and the rope itself. Every 8-10 years the rope should be replaced. Our transport can operate 100 years.

M.K.: Thank you. You have explained all technical aspects. What about your next plans on the project promotion? I heard you are waiting for new guests to witness testing and, probably, to sign some contracts or agreements, to discuss the conditions of cooperation. Very soon you will participate in the exhibition in Moscow, where the Russian Prime-Minister Dmitry Medvedev's attendance is expected. Is it true?

A.Y.: Yes. It's true. Naturally, We have invited a number of our partners and potential customers to this testing so as to show how we work over the complex system. It is a complex, because we have rolling stock, an overpass, infrastructure and an automated control system. We wanted to show how we conduct this scheduled work to certify it in spring and deliver to customers. We continue talks on signing a number of targeted projects. These are delegations from the Philippines, Australia, India, Canada and other countries.

M.K.: Thank you very much. I'd like to wish you and all of us success on the way to reaching our charitable goal. I want to finish this report with our good old tradition. Sign up to our YouTube channel. Stay tuned for the news update on the official website of the International SkyWay Group of Companies at rsw-systems.com. Support our project and the success will be inevitable.