Monorail automation process to begin--huh?

[Planogirl]

The spider invested floating tin can? I'd rather be stuck on the monorail.

We used the ferry most often during our last trip and saw no spiders! I don't remember a time when the spiders and others bugs weren't everywhere.

But even with those I personally prefer the ferry. I like boats.

 

[doconeill]

I feel like the better solution would be for Disney to just replace the ~22 year old trains with some new, already-automated ones, rather than spend a full decade messing around with the old ones. It seems like a much safer, and technically less costly, solution that would also dramatically improve the guest experience (that is, guests wouldn't have to sit in decaying vehicles which, though they are supposedly "futuristic", are older than many of the vehicles on display at the Henry Ford Museum).

The monorail trains aren't exactly a commodity, off-the-shelf item, nor is an automation package that would work with them. You can't go down to Train City and just pick up "Mark VIII with total automation package".

If you're going to have to design and test an automation system, you are probably best of doing so first, hacking it in to the existing trainsets, figuring out what works, THEN design the new trainsets around such a system once you know what you need, while also incorporating other new safety features, etc.

 

[larryz]

Its already happening at other places

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-20985642

If you've ever flown thru Tampa or Atlanta, you experienced driverless tram systems... I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure the "fail-safe" mode is "all stop."

 

[larryz]

Exactly, remove human error that can result in death and lawsuits and improve the service and shorten wait times.

Bill

Just like the movie Westworld -- what could possibly go worng?

 

[doconeill]

If you've ever flown thru Tampa or Atlanta, you experienced driverless tram systems... I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure the "fail-safe" mode is "all stop."

By the definition of "fail-safe", it couldn't be otherwise...all stop within the particular loop.

 

[Teamubr]

You can't go down to Train City and just pick up "Mark VIII with total automation package".

And I don't know how much motivation there is for Bombardier or a new manufacturer to spend the resources for an order of 12 every 20+ years. Money alone, isn't enough.

j

 

[doconeill]

And I don't know how much motivation there is for Bombardier or a new manufacturer to spend the resources for an order of 12 every 20+ years. Money alone, isn't enough.

j

Actually it is...that's how the last few versions were built.

You'll always pay a lot more, however, for custom trainsets. I'm sure they'll use the existing Alweg design specs as a starting point, and if they aren't replacing the beam the traction, suspension, etc. will likely remain the same, but traction motors, PDUs, and obviously all the electronics and control systems would be new, and that might drive some changes to the "shell", etc.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

They also build Monorails for other customers.

AKK

 

[doconeill]

They also build Monorails for other customers.

AKK

The audience size is still quite small. Las Vegas uses designs based on WDW's Mark VI (and when it started, used two former Mark IVs), but with different traction and automation. Seattle was an Alweg design, but the trainsets are different as I believe the traction system, and they are actually still using the same two trains since 1961. How's that for train life?

When Disneyland went to the Mark VIIs, Bombardier wasn't the supplier. Dynamic Structures, another Canadian company that does amusement ride systems (and did Soarin' and Test Track and later, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey) did the work. But DL's system is a bit different.

Bombardier does have other monorail customers, but many of them are more amusement/peoplemover systems using technology acquired from another manufacturer. They have a newer system that I believe is descended from the Alweg designs, the Innovia line, but it only has two customers in the Middle East so far. It MIGHT be close enough to be used at WDW.

 

[Andrew015]

ahhhhhh...yeah.....no.....the last thing i want is a driverless monorail

Assuming that you fly into MCO when you visit "The World". If so, you ride a driverless monorail (technically a tram I guess)... coming from the gates to the main terminal (and then again on your way home)...

 

[rwdavis2]

The monorail will never be driverless. There will always be someone in the cab. Correct me if I'm wrong but is there not more than one train on each loop? That's why there has to be a driver. Most subway systems have one form or another of automation but the driver is there just in case.

The trains at MCO work fine because there is only one per track and they don't move very fast. The technology is reliable, simple, and been around for decades. The test track the manufacturer has is just a single line that goes back and forth just like MCO.

 

[disneynutz]

The monorail will never be driverless. There will always be someone in the cab. Correct me if I'm wrong but is there not more than one train on each loop? That's why there has to be a driver. Most subway systems have one form or another of automation but the driver is there just in case.

The trains at MCO work fine because there is only one per track and they don't move very fast. The technology is reliable, simple, and been around for decades. The test track the manufacturer has is just a single line that goes back and forth just like MCO.

May not be tomorrow but not that far away. A test car just completed a 3,000 plus trip with minimal driver intervention.

Our new car uses radar to maintain distance between cars and to apply the brakes if we are about to run into something. It also warns us if we try to change lanes without using our turn indicator and if something is in our blind spot or behind us when backing.

Bill

 

[rwdavis2]

May not be tomorrow but not that far away. A test car just completed a 3,000 plus trip with minimal driver intervention.

Our new car uses radar to maintain distance between cars and to apply the brakes if we are about to run into something. It also warns us if we try to change lanes without using our turn indicator and if something is in our blind spot or behind us when backing.

Bill

I agree that the technology is there but the lawyers may never let it happen.

 

[rteetz]

The monorail will never be driverless. There will always be someone in the cab. Correct me if I'm wrong but is there not more than one train on each loop? That's why there has to be a driver. Most subway systems have one form or another of automation but the driver is there just in case.

The trains at MCO work fine because there is only one per track and they don't move very fast. The technology is reliable, simple, and been around for decades. The test track the manufacturer has is just a single line that goes back and forth just like MCO.

There will still be a driver in the cab except he won't be driving. Everything will be done from control centers. Yes there are more than one train on each track.

 

[IronFozzie]

Unless something changes they'll need someone in the monorails that is fully trained to drive the train in case something happens. They'll also need someone to override the safety systems when the trains are switching tracks.

 

[mhconley]

I don't see a need for a driver. Every airport rail system I have ever used has been driverless. Many of those have more than one train per track, too. See the DIA system for example. I think a driverless train would be cool. They could start letting passengers in the front a rear compartments again.

Martin

 

[rteetz]

I don't see a need for a driver. Every airport rail system I have ever used has been driverless. Many of those have more than one train per track, too. See the DIA system for example. I think a driverless train would be cool. They could start letting passengers in the front a rear compartments again.

Martin

I don't think they will ever let passengers in the front or rear driver compartment again.

 

[Luv0fDisney]

I am not sure I like this idea. I would feel more safe knowing that there was someone behind the wheel other than a computer... Did you see Wall-e? The computer went hay wire near the end... (only movie I could come up with at the time). Or smart house? Computers aren't perfect and humans aren't either but with humans you can put the breaks on or convert danger so there wouldn't be any... If they do go to the "computer" i might just stick with the buses.

 

[rteetz]

I am not sure I like this idea. I would feel more safe knowing that there was someone behind the wheel other than a computer... Did you see Wall-e? The computer went hay wire near the end... (only movie I could come up with at the time). Or smart house? Computers aren't perfect and humans aren't either but with humans you can put the breaks on or convert danger so there wouldn't be any... If they do go to the "computer" i might just stick with the buses.

There is more liability with a human I think. Our minds are incredible things. Sometimes if the wrong person gets behind the controls who knows what will happen.

 

[rteetz]

Just as a side note it's been reported that the monorails went down last night on the resort line and is not back up just yet. There was lightning in the area but no one knows if this had anything to do with it. The monorails have been going down frequently and it shows the wear they get.