Conclusions

MAIT is a new transport concept that offers a higher quality of service (see Section 1.4) than the private car at a lower price (see Section 3.2) and with a lower environmental impact (see Section 3.3). Due to its fully automated operation and flexible modular structure (see Section 1.2) a larger part of society can benefit from this type of stress-free, individual door-to-door transport as well as the automated freight delivery services it provides (see Section 1.4.3). The automated freight delivery may also positively influence the efficiency of future industrial production (see Section 6).

A consequent modularization of automated transportation systems opens new perspectives for its development and deployment. Synergy effects can be exploited because modules, software and components that are common to all automated transportation systems, independent of their implementation-technology, can be developed once for all projects. This applies in particular for simulation, control, logistic software and development work. Even development costs can easily be distributed (see Section 1.3). The interfaces are open and institutes, industry and privates can contribute with software, designs, network-layout, system components e.t.c. In Section 5, a comprehensive simulation software package has been proposed as a starting point and development platform, since it allows to analyze the performance of arbitrary complex MAIT networks, maybe enough to convince sponsors to invest money for a test track. It would further be an integrating element for all automated transportation projects that follow a different technological solution. Networks for certain traffic scenarios could be designed, compared and analyzed, using one, or several guideway technologies that are linked together via carrier exchangers (see Section 1.2). In a later development step, the simulation package can furnish detailed system specifications, documentation and software to test system components separately. After the realization of a MAIT network, parts of the software package might still be in use, representing the ``nervous system'' of MAIT that lives in a vast computer network and organizes and optimizes the network's traffic flows.

MAIT is open to future technologies. Transport systems, using newly developed technologies can be linked to an already existing MAIT network; the user does not even need to change vehicles while transferring from the old to the new part of MAIT . For example, advances in super-conductor technology may drop the prices for generating magnetic fields which would lead to a new low cost MAGLEV guideway (See section 1.3.1).

The main additional expense of the proposed modular structure is the separation of the cabin (containing persons or freight) from the rest of the transportation system by an interface that allows the automatic transfer of the cabin from one carrier type to another. In Section 4, it has been claimed that this interface can be realized with only a few extra components, since the cabin is not a ``heavy weight'', and other additional infrastructure, such as carrier exchangers, may not contribute substantially to the total network costs. Furthermore, the broader service due to the modularity may increase the usage of the system and therefore, the return of the invested capital (see Section 3.2). The higher logistic complexity of a modular system requires essentially more computer hardware and more sophisticated software. Both items are not expected to increase system costs significantly.

Summing up the benefits and costs of MAIT , it is apparent that with little more investment (due to the modularization), the service and efficiency of the transport system can be significantly improved. This leads to a higher acceptance by the user, since they can see automated transport as a real transportation alternative for the future, covering all transportation needs (with the exception of heavy and large freight) at a low price. MAIT helps to avoid redundant development work and supports a decentralization of efforts and costs, which may facilitate its introduction. Thus, different automated transport projects in different places using different technologies can develop and grow independently until, one day in the far future, they are linked together to create the World Wide MAIT !