History

ATS began developing the ULTra personal rapid transit system in 1995 in association with the University of Bristol. The PRT system emerged from systematic engineering analysis as the optimum solution to urban transport problems, for both the user and non-user of the transport system.

This research was led by Martin Lowson, Founder and CEO of ATS. The Company has been granted exclusive access to the commercial exploitation of the core IPR developed during that work and has since added significantly to its own IPR portfolio.

The company has completed the initial phases of prototype development and has undertaken successful passenger trials. The prototype system has consent from the UK Regulatory Authority (HM Rail Inspectorate) to carry the public, which represents a significant milestone. The Company has financed the high-risk initial phases of development from internal sources, from in-kind support by its major partners, and contract funding from the UK Government and potential customers. Total investment on the project to date from all sources is around £15 m.

The company operates 4 prototype vehicles

• Demonstration vehicle for static exhibitions
• Demonstration vehicle fully equipped and approved for operation with passengers on the trials site at Cardiff
• 2 engineering mule vehicles to develop control software and hardware

The company’s trials facility was established in Cardiff by the end of June 2001. This facility contains all the features expected in a typical application, elevated sections, sections at-grade, various banked and unbanked curves, inclines and declines, merges and diverges and a station. The total length of the guideway is just less than 1km.

In addition the company has a research track on a six-acre site at Avonmouth Bristol.

Testing Duration

The company’s first ‘A’ vehicle started testing in May 2001, with initial testing at the companies Avonmouth trials site in Jun 2001. Testing continued on the Cardiff trials site through to June 2002. This vehicle was then redesignated as an engineering test vehicle and has been used since that time for vehicle and control system development. A second ‘A’ vehicle was also made available for Engineering test development in September 2002.

The first ‘B’ vehicle, with a fully representative passenger compartment and automatic door system, was completed in February 2002 and has undergone extensive testing on the Cardiff trials site. Total test time to date is over 1000 hours during which the vehicles have traveled a test distance of over 2000 km.

In July 2003, the ATS developed navigation software and hardware was installed in the ‘B’ vehicle, and testing of this vehicle was carried out between that time and the end of September 2004. During this period, the ‘B’ vehicle was tested over 294 hours and traveled the equivalent of over 3000 journeys with no equipment or operational failures being recorded.

Further vehicle system and debris testing has been carried out at Cardiff using the ‘A’ vehicle fitted with upgraded sensors and debris deflectors. This vehicle has also been used to develop the berthing techniques, equipment settings and improved algorithms for the control software.

The track is in continuous use for development work and for demonstrations. Demonstration to a wide range of technical and customer teams has provided over 500 people with direct experience of the ULTra system, with unanimously positive response.

Statutory Approvals

ATS has worked closely with the Her Majesty’s Rail Inspectorate, the designated body of the UK Health and Safety Authority, to develop the ULTra safety system.

This work resulted in HMRI issuing a ‘letter of no objection’ to the Concept Safety Case in August 2000.

In January 2003, HMRI issued a ‘consent letter’ approving the system for operation with the public.

Passenger Trials

In 2003 ATS undertook a series of passenger trials at the Company’s trials site, a track that reproduces all the features of a typical city application. The passengers undertook a representative journey, including use of the destination request panel, entering the vehicle, commencing (launching) the journey, completing a 1km (approximately) journey that included inclines, declines, elevated track (5.7m) and various tight and sweeping corners. An independent survey concluded that all the passengers (100% of those participating) found the experience either satisfactory or very satisfactory. A summary of the results from the passenger trials is available.