The architecture of transportation systems

Development of new technologies for vehicle control and wireless communication will make automated transportation increasingly common over the next decade. As these technologies evolve, fundamental changes will occur in transportation system design. Within this paper, a framework, based on the following four elements, is presented for guiding these changes. (a) A vehicle/guideway/terminal/coordinator classification of transportation entities, and a sensor/intelligence/memory/transmitter/actuator classification of deivces; (b) Functional residence of actuators; (c) Communication media and ‘illocutionary point’ of messages; and (d) Degree of coordination, residence of control functions and topology. Examples applications are provided for intelligent transportation systems. However, the framework is meant to apply to all forms of transportation and material handling.