Shweeb is a proposed personal rapid transit network in New Zealand, based on human-powered monorail cars. The project prototype was originally designed and implemented in Rotorua, New Zealand, as a leisure attraction. The name is a reference to the German "schweben" meaning "to hang/hover/levitate",[1] and indirectly to the suspended monorail Schwebebahn Wuppertal.
A single Shweeb car
The proposed Shweeb transit network relies on recumbent bicycle technology to power pods suspended from monorails. According to Shweeb Monorail Technology, the intent of their proposal is to "create a solution which provided the user with the same flexibility and comfort offered by the car but without the consequential costs - both direct financial and indirect health and environmental costs."[2] The proposal envisions networks of monorail track providing point to point and commuter transit for urban areas.
In September 2010, a proposal for development of an expanded network was chosen to receive a million dollars of funding from Google as part of project 10100.[3] As of August 2017, there were no active proposals to utilise the system for public transportation although a "sport resort" in the United States is considering it.[4] In January 2021 a proposal was made for a Shweeb track be built as an attraction in a planned stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand. The monorail would be suspended out from main frame of the stadium.[5]
The original track in New Zealand is open to the public.
Technicaledit
Trackedit
The track is built in folded galvanised steel. Its external height and width is 220 by 200 millimetres (8.7 in × 7.9 in). Support piles are also in galvanised steel.
Podsedit
Pods are covered with transparent plastic sheets, with ventilation holes. Front and rear long dampers are provided to limit the impact acceleration in case of pods collision and to ease the association of pods to build 'pod trains' which could significantly improve overall aerodynamic efficiency.
External power boostedit
To help climb ramps, an electrically powered chain installed on a track section could push the pods for a limited distance, in a way similar to the Trampe bicycle lift. This could also help entering stations built at a higher elevation than the track. The purpose of this elevation is to help a pod gain momentum while descending from station track to the main line track.
^"Why did Google give $1 million to Schweeb?". CNN.
^Jack Martin (July 23, 2008). "The Shweeb Human-powered monorail". GizMag. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
^"Project 10 to the 100 - Idea: Drive innovation in public transport". Google. October 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
^Lavalley, Amy (2016-02-26). "That sporting life". Chicago Tribune. from the original on 2022-08-13. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
^"Businessman wants 'Superman' monorail ride to go with Christchurch's new stadium". 26 February 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
External linksedit
. Archived from the original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2022-02-17. Including pictures and videos of the Shweeb attraction device
. Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2022-02-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) North American website, includes CG images of Shweeb PRT network
shweeb, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, september, 2015, le. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Shweeb news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Shweeb is a proposed personal rapid transit network in New Zealand based on human powered monorail cars The project prototype was originally designed and implemented in Rotorua New Zealand as a leisure attraction The name is a reference to the German schweben meaning to hang hover levitate 1 and indirectly to the suspended monorail Schwebebahn Wuppertal A single Shweeb carThe proposed Shweeb transit network relies on recumbent bicycle technology to power pods suspended from monorails According to Shweeb Monorail Technology the intent of their proposal is to create a solution which provided the user with the same flexibility and comfort offered by the car but without the consequential costs both direct financial and indirect health and environmental costs 2 The proposal envisions networks of monorail track providing point to point and commuter transit for urban areas Contents 1 Proposals 2 Technical 2 1 Track 2 2 Pods 2 3 External power boost 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksProposals editIn September 2010 a proposal for development of an expanded network was chosen to receive a million dollars of funding from Google as part of project 10100 3 As of August 2017 there were no active proposals to utilise the system for public transportation although a sport resort in the United States is considering it 4 In January 2021 a proposal was made for a Shweeb track be built as an attraction in a planned stadium in Christchurch New Zealand The monorail would be suspended out from main frame of the stadium 5 The original track in New Zealand is open to the public Technical editTrack edit The track is built in folded galvanised steel Its external height and width is 220 by 200 millimetres 8 7 in 7 9 in Support piles are also in galvanised steel Pods edit Pods are covered with transparent plastic sheets with ventilation holes Front and rear long dampers are provided to limit the impact acceleration in case of pods collision and to ease the association of pods to build pod trains which could significantly improve overall aerodynamic efficiency External power boost edit To help climb ramps an electrically powered chain installed on a track section could push the pods for a limited distance in a way similar to the Trampe bicycle lift This could also help entering stations built at a higher elevation than the track The purpose of this elevation is to help a pod gain momentum while descending from station track to the main line track See also editHotchkiss Bicycle Railroad WireRoad tarbato a pedal powered suspended monorail developed in Nepal in 2004 Velomobile Schwebebahn Suspended monorail GadgetbahnReferences edit Why did Google give 1 million to Schweeb CNN Jack Martin July 23 2008 The Shweeb Human powered monorail GizMag Retrieved July 16 2012 Project 10 to the 100 Idea Drive innovation in public transport Google October 2011 Retrieved July 16 2012 Lavalley Amy 2016 02 26 That sporting life Chicago Tribune Archived from the original on 2022 08 13 Retrieved 2022 08 13 Businessman wants Superman monorail ride to go with Christchurch s new stadium 26 February 2021 Retrieved 25 June 2021 External links edit Official Shweeb Internet site Archived from the original on 2016 03 10 Retrieved 2022 02 17 Including pictures and videos of the Shweeb attraction device Shweeb Can Corporation Archived from the original on 2013 11 03 Retrieved 2022 02 17 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link North American website includes CG images of Shweeb PRT network Shweeb Racer Retrieved 2022 02 17 Rotorua system s website Film of Rotorua system Agroventures Rotorua Adrenaline Attractions Rotorua shweeb Skyride A similar system used for leisure rides38 05 14 8 S 176 11 25 3 E 38 087444 S 176 190361 E 38 087444 176 190361 Shweeb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shweeb amp oldid 1215947356, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
