Abstract: The networked guideway transit system uses materials and methods of constructing guideway elements. The materials and methods are designed to reduce the static weight, cost and physical size of the guideway structure. Installation cost is also significantly reduced by the modular nature of the guideway components, which can be manufactured in a controlled factory environment using mass production methods. As a result, the supporting structure of the guideway can be quickly erected and the modular blocks inserted with simple equipment. In addition, complex alignment procedures are not required. In particular, the guideway component includes motor coils having the shapes and configurations that facilitate the easy insertion of the guideway component without the need for interleaving coils in adjacent guideway components and without creating dead spots in the magnetic fields between guideway components.

Abstract: A switch is used, at the divergent zone, to cause the vehicle bogie to follow one path or the other in the guideway. This is accomplished by substituting an attracting magnetic array on the side that the vehicle bogie is desired to follow. The switch may operate without moving parts, so there is no inertial penalty to limit operational frequency. The switch is designed to fail gracefully in the absence of activation power or control signals. Further, the switch is designed to ensure that there would be no derailment or dropping of a vehicle.