Tag Archives: train

Dubai Solar-Powered Rail Bus System Will Bring Us a Marvel Once Again

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Dubai, a city known for pushing the boundaries of innovation and technology, is set to redefine its transportation landscape with two groundbreaking projects. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has recently entered into partnerships with international experts to develop sustainable and futuristic transport solutions. The first memorandum focuses on the development of the Floc Duo Rail system, while the second aims to create a solar-powered rail bus system. These initiatives mark a significant leap forward in Dubai’s commitment to embracing advanced technologies, sustainability, and the future of urban mobility.

Designer: Urban-Mass Company and RAIL BUS Inc.

Over the past 15 years, Dubai has undergone a remarkable transformation, from the inauguration of the iconic Dubai metro in 2009 to the creation of architectural marvels such as the Burj Khalifa and Palm Jumeirah Islands. The UAE has truly made a mark on the map, quite literally with the man-made islands. Dubai has consistently demonstrated a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible, blending luxury with technological advancements. With a conscious focus on sustainability, Dubai has established forums that encourage initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact.

Floc Duo Rail System:

The Floc Duo Rail system, developed in collaboration with UK-based Urban-Mass Company, is set to revolutionize urban transportation. Comprising driverless, electric-powered pods moving on an elevated track, this innovative system eliminates the need for extensive earthworks, costly tunnels, and large stations. The double-track design enables swift and efficient movement within urban areas, with the added advantage of scalability. The system can be tailored from small local areas to city-wide networks, showcasing its adaptability to various urban environments.

yanko design images to size – Dubai_new_transport_03

Furthermore, the Floc Duo Rail system is characterized by its reliance on solar energy. Equipped with solar panels, the system generates the electricity needed for operation, aligning with Dubai’s commitment to sustainable practices. As a 21st-century mass transit solution, Floc Duo Rail is adaptable to various urban environments, scalable from small local links to extensive city-wide networks. The stations, ranging from ‘bus stops’ to large interchanges, are customized to meet rider demand. Platform lengths are flexible, allowing platoons to break up when entering and exiting stations. The driverless nature of the pods allows for smart-designed capacity adjustments, ensuring energy efficiency by using short units during low peak periods and long units during high peak periods.

Ricky Sandhu, the founder and CEO of Urban.Mass, emphasized the partnership’s significance, stating that it epitomizes the strong commitment of the UK and the UAE to combat climate change. The collaboration is poised to pave the way for sustainable mass transit solutions through innovative technology, reshaping urban mobility in the city.

Solar-Powered Rail Bus System:

In a parallel development, Dubai’s RTA has signed a memorandum with US-based Rail Bus Inc. to develop a solar-powered rail bus system. This system employs small, driverless electric vehicles that run on elevated tracks, emphasizing its lightweight and flexible nature. The adaptability of this system makes it suitable for retrofitting into various environments, offering an environmentally friendly and operationally efficient transportation solution. It’s mostly going to be a smaller size of a metro with an added layer of sustainability.

yanko design images to size – Dubai_new_transport_07

Dubai’s campaign into the future of transportation through the Floc Duo Rail system and the solar-powered rail bus system underscores the city’s commitment to adopting cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices. As the world watches, Dubai continues to position itself as a pioneer in urban mobility, setting the stage for a greener and technologically advanced future. These initiatives not only enhance the city’s quality of life but also contribute to a global conversation about the possibilities and benefits of embracing innovative and sustainable transportation solutions.

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Diagonal sleeper car design is an innovative solution to increase comfort and space on an overnight train

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Traveling by train cross-country or long-distance is probably not the most comfortable way you can go. But there are times when this may be the cheapest or maybe even the only option. The sleeper cars that are currently available, at least for the budget-conscious, may give you cramps, claustrophobia, and even nightmares. There’s always room to improve these kinds of compartments without forcing people to upgrade to the more comfortable but more expensive kind of train accommodations.

Designer: 2050 Lab

This design for a sleeper car not only makes it a bit more comfortable for those who will be spending overnight in the space but it will also let the train itself increase the number of seats per car. What they did was to design coupe-capsules with two tiers that are angled diagonally to create a herringbone structure. Each car is separated by a wall and a curtain to give each occupant a sense of privacy.

Each capsule has a sleeping space but also an extended berth as well as a window. There’s also a table in case you need to work at any time during the night. There’s also a space to place your luggage since most likely you’re carrying a piece or more to wherever you’re traveling to. Since there’s also a limited space, some functionalities serve dual purposes. For example the ladder and ledges that have built-in cushions can also serve as a standing rest.

The product renders for this concept make it look like a space that you wouldn’t mind spending 12 hours, or at least part of that, in when you’re traveling. Being a bit claustrophobic, I still would prefer to travel like this but it’s still a better alternative to the budget sleeper cars I’ve seen (through pictures and videos). It would be interesting to if the train manufacturer would eventually adopt this to an actual train.

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RC Shrek The Swamp Engine: Move Over, Thomas!

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Inspired by the DreamWorks movies (and presumably at least one fever dream), YouTube channel Studson Studio decided to build a Shrek-themed R/C tank engine. In the video, Studson takes us all aboard for the entire locomotive journey, steaming along from concept to the very last stop. Those were a bunch of train references in case you didn’t notice.

The train’s powerhouse is a small R/C car, and its Shrek head is from a PEZ dispenser, but the rest of the train is constructed almost entirely out of found objects, including a toilet paper holder for the boiler, wooden coffee stirrers, Pogs for the wheels, thumbtacks for the bumpers, and broken sticks. The final result is most impressive, and would undoubtedly give Thomas the Tank Engine a run for his money hauling terrified train cars.

Some people are just so talented. It’s a shame I didn’t get any of that talent. I’m only really good at starting projects, getting frustrated with the way they’re going, and abandoning them half-finished. Oh — and breaking things. I’m also great at breaking things.

[via SolidSmack]

Siemens Pendulum Seat swings out of the way when trains need more standing room

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Trains are designed to sit commuters comfortably, or at least in theory. In many cases, however, it might be more efficient to have everyone just stand, and this concept makes it possible for the same train to do both.

As the world tries to return to normal, mass transportation services are once again becoming crowded. In many countries, trains of all kinds are seen as the most efficient way to move the biggest number of people, but their designs are mostly stuck in the past when it comes to seating accommodations. In trying to accommodate both sitting and standing passengers, trains actually fail at serving both at the best of their capacity. That is unless they try to implement Siemen’s idea.

Designer: Siemens

Image Courtesy of Red Dot

Despite its name, the Pendulum Seat doesn’t swing back and forth freely or loosely. It is, instead, more like the pendulum of a metronome that can be locked at fixed positions. A single seat is actually made up of two seats whose backrests can either fold up or swivel down to form an atypical sitting position.

The idea here is to have the same train change its sitting or standing capacity at any given time. If there aren’t that many passengers onboard, like during off-peak hours, the Pendulum Seat can be used as a conventional seat with ample legroom for commuters. During rush hours, however, the backrests can go completely vertical to provide more room for people to stand.

All of these can be controlled by the train driver to adjust the configuration with the push of a button. There is even a configuration where backrests can alternate their positions, creating an odd seating arrangement. In its vertically folded form, the backrests can even be used as support for standing passengers to lean against.

The idea is definitely novel and interesting, which is why Siemens bagged a few awards for its design. That said, the design itself might not look that comfortable, especially as a chair where you will be parking your bum on what is practically a padded cylinder. This design seems to be more focused on getting as many people around as possible rather than on providing comfort during the travel time. Then again, there is probably nothing more uncomfortable than having to fight for space on a crowded train made more cramped by unyielding seats.

Images Courtesy of iF Design

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This all-glass smart train is a futuristic marvel worth a whopping $350 Million!

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For the past year, we’ve been dreaming of traveling. And I’m not talking about just some hotel in a coastal party town or even a quiet cabin in the woods. I’m talking Around the World in 80 Days type traveling. But maybe not so fast, we have been holed up for a year. Redefining what it means to travel by rails, a designer, known for his superyachts built for the likes of Steve Jobs and his close relationship with upscale fashion houses like Louis Vuitton, Thierry Gaugain conceptualized a smart train for the future luxury traveler called G Train.

A total of fourteen cars will comprise G Train, housing the owner’s large suite in the front most cars, followed by 18 guest rooms, cars for the gym and spa, a dining car, and finally recreation spaces for the train’s guests to enjoy everything from live concert events to small art exhibitions. Following his time spent designing superyachts for those who can write the checks for them, Gaugain turned to his childhood fascination with trains to produce a sort of passion project eligible for production, once more for the lucky owner who can afford it. Tapping into a form of luxury traveling that does more than simply cart passengers from point A to their destination, Gaugain conceived the G Train to look and feel like a luxe experience straight out of the future.

Gaugain envisions luxury through the changing of light, so the train’s entire exterior and interior glass facades feature changing light shows throughout the day to enhance guests’ travel experiences. Poured over in an all-glass exterior, the G Train’s shiny finish morphs from jet-black to transparent and then to a shimmering golden hue with the changing of the sky. The smart glass not only transforms the G Train’s exterior but projects seven varied interior sights as well. When traveling during cold, winter blizzards, the G Train’s interior glass walls morph into summer meadows filled with bright sunlight and fluttering butterflies. Alternatively, cozy winter forest scenes can cool down those languorous summer travel days. Noting this transformative perk, Gaugain says, “The train is essentially a stage that the owner can configure in many ways.”

Designer: Thierry GAUGAIN

Alike and dissimilar to the experience of traveling on a luxury yacht, the G Train measures a lengthy 1,300 feet and boasts a quality experience over a speedy trip.

Aware of the way trains are used by the general public, Gaugain merges a fast track with a luxe experience, citing,
“We tend to think about rail transportation only in terms of speed, moving lots of people from point A to point B in record time, but this 14-car train would belong to a single owner. It’s an alternative, very leisurely way to see the world, beyond the yacht and jet.”

LG Display’s transparent OLED puts a screen between you and the sushi chef

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As per its annual tradition, LG Display is preparing to show off some new display tech demos for CES 2021, with the latest focus set on showing where transparent OLED may fit in the pandemic age. The Korean company is setting up a few physical demos...

Stingray-inspired Maglev train zooms riders into the future of transportation

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The future of public transportation is going to be dominated by less energy-consuming solutions – the likes of magnetic levitation that we already see on the Maglev trains in Japan, China, and South Korea. Drawing inspiration from the energy-efficient propelling technology, designer Darina Shi has designed her own version of the future of how we move from one place to the other.

She calls it “Spacetrain” which is inherently inspired by the magnificence of nature – its dynamics, fluidity, and intrinsic patterns. The basic skeleton of the concept train takes the shape of a stingray – the front and side sections bear stark resemble the mouth and fins of the majestic sea creature. Similarly, the hues of cool white with bluish tint emulate the different forms of liquid – ice and flowing water. To reduce drag and improve aerodynamics, Spacetrain has a fluidic design – showing the roots of its origin with biomimicry. As proposed by Darina, Spacetrain will be 25 meters in length and 3.4 meters wide. The transportation module moves inside a Hyperloop-like tunnel to reduce wind drag for maximum speed and efficiency. The passengers will get panoramic views as they sit inside the two-seater rows (each having individual infotainment systems) on either side of the module that has full view windows on the ceiling.

The passengers complete their journey to alight the train at the respective stations which are equally awe-inspiring to match the mode of transport. They have a minimalist architecture honed by the matching cool blue and white colors of the train itself. Waiting sections of the stations have a good mix of ecology and modern elements. For the safety of the passengers, the track is protected by fencing to prevent accidental falls and only falls back when the train is stationary. Above the main platform for boarding trains, there is a lounge section for dining and relaxing. Truly, the concept is intriguing and gives a sneak-peak into the aspired future for smart cities and the way we’ll commute in daily life.

Designer: Darina Shi

LG’s transparent OLED displays are on subway windows in China

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LG is bringing transparent OLED displays to subways in Beijing and Shenzhen. The 55-inch, see-through displays show real-time info about subway schedules, locations and transfers on train windows. They also provide info on flights, weather and the ne...

Google’s Waze-like app for public transit hits five more cities

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Last year, Google incubator Area 120 announced a public transit app that works in a similar way to Waze. Users of Pigeon report transit information to help others know if they're likely to face delays or other issues. Until now, it's only been availa...

Toyota is using VR to train robots as in-home helpers

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Home robots could make all of our lives easier, and perhaps most importantly, they could allow seniors to live more independently. But training robots to operate in homes is difficult because each home is unique and filled with so many objects in dif...