RUF animations
In order to see the animations you will need a RealMedia player.
It can be obtained for free at
http://www.real.com/freeplayer/?rppr=rnwk
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Click on the picture to download the animation.
All the animations are less than 1.5 MByte in size. Most are approx. 500 kBytes.
All animations are available in Broadcast quality on request (prj@ruf.dk).
Presentation of a possible RUF design. Design: Morten Bartholdy / Vinther Grafik |
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Transparent ruf on the monorail. Please note wheel configuration, batteries under the seats and the rail brake in the rear of the vehicle. The driver can use his cell phone without any problems regarding safety. |
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A typical trip for a commuter using the RUF system. No noise from the motor at the start - it is electric. No pollution along the route. No stress on the highway. Very low CO2 emission. Very short and predictable travel time. NO CONGESTION ! |
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The maxi-ruf is a 10 passenger electric/hybrid bus. No standing. Every passenger has his own seat. Every seat is a single seat. No one is going to sit next to you. Very small dimensions. 2 x 2 x 7 m. |
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The door opening mechanism of the maxi-ruf is very special (patented). Every seat has its own door. Extremely easy access. Very fast loading/unloading. The operator can charge different fares to different seats. Some seats are more luxurious than others. Ideal in connection with IT. |
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A special high capacity version of the public RUF vehicle is called the Mega-ruf. It has two long seats and can carry up to 20 passengers with lower comfort than the maxi-ruf. |
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The maxi-ruf driven by a chauffeur can collect passengers at their doorstep. Since every passenger has its own seat, it is safe for small children to use the maxi-ruf to get to school etc. |
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A special bus stop called a "HotSpot" is a place where the users can call for a maxi. They can use small BlueTooth pocket devices to communicate with the system. The HotSpot has a large screen for the communication. Large luggage can easily be placed on top of the channel in the middle of the maxi-ruf. |
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The electric maxi-ruf bus makes no noise, so it will not disturb the peaceful environment in the suburbs. The weight of the maxi is much lower than for a normal bus. The road surface will not be destroyed. |
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You can also call the maxi any time by giving a signal to the driver. Note that the licence plate is covering the channel hole while driving on the road. |
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A beautiful trip through the forest. |
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Arriving at the access point the chauffeur leaves the maxi-ruf and takes a cup of coffee in the small building close to the monorail. When a new maxi arrives, a chauffeur enters the maxi and it continues along the road network. Passengers can remain seated if they have paid for a door to door trip. |
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A possible station layout using the roof of a super market for the guidance of maxi-rufs to the parallel platforms. Passengers stand in a line waiting to get on board. Loading and unloading is very fast and safe. No passengers are in danger at any time. This station layout has a lot of redundancy. A problem in one vehicle will not prevent the others from driving - unlike a normal train system. |
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When the maxi arrives at the city centre, some of the vehicles may leave the monorail and continue as a bus or a tram. Since the batteries are recharging on the monorail, the power from the batteries makes it possible to drive inside the city purely on battery power. The RUF "tram" drives from one junction to another through the city centre. |
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The RUF tram drives as a normal tram except that there are no overhead wires and there are no rails in the road surface. This "tram" solution has all the good aspects of a tram but without the bad ones. It is very inexpensive to make a new line, since nothing has to be changed. |
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Passengers leaving the maxi-ruf at street level are normally placed in the right side if possible in order to maximize safety. The passengers in the left side are mainly those who leave at stations or in a peaceful street. |
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Major Activity Centers like theatres and institutions can use the maxi-ruf as a high comfort transport option without parking problems. |
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Access to the cafés is easy with the maxi-ruf and the life on the cafe is not disturbed since the maxi doesn't pollute and makes very little noise. |
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A subway solution based upon the RUF system is possible. It is possible to have 3 monorails in a tunnel tube of 8 m of diameter (internal). The third rail can be used for rush hour traffic or as a safety feature in case of problems inside the tunnel. It is very fast to get passengers out of the tunnel when several monorails are available. |
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A RUF system in Seattle makes a lot of sense. The visual impact of a RUF system is far lower than the traditional monorails. It is also less expensive. It can offer access at street level using off-line stations. |
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A RUF "tram" can load and unload passengers at a special facility close to a traffic light. Note the extra stop light keeping the cars from driving along the RUF tram while it is loading and unloading passengers. |
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A "gravity-driven" system can be realized based upon the RUF system. It is not possible using normal trains, since they cannot negotiate steep grades (only up to 6%). A maxi-ruf can handle 20% grade, so if the vehicle is forced to stop in the lowest part of the tunnel, it can still get back to the surface without problems. In case of power failure, the batteries can bring it to surface. |
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Even modern metro systems like the mini-metro in Copenhagen cannot compete with the maxi-ruf when it comes to capacity. Furthermore, the frequency is much higher and the necessary cross section for the line is much lower. In modern cities where space is already used for other purposes, a RUF system can offer high capacity along the existing corridors. |
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The simple (patented) drive system makes it very simple to change from road driving to rail "riding". The electric motors are simply moving sidewards making it possible to enter the monorail at 20 mph. The vehicle is automatically guided to enter the monorail by means of magnetic fields from wires in the road surface. |
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A typical trip from the center of Oslo to the area Fornebu outside Oslo. |
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It is very easy to erect a monorail since it is very slender and build as modules. The disruption of the road traffic is minimal. |
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A switch in the RUF system is based upon a well proven system using magnetic fields from wires in the road surface. The vehicle changes from rail to road at 20 mph and select a new rail or leave the system. Several fields at different frequencies can be placed on top of each other. A probe in the vehicle is only sensitive to one frequency, so it can be directed in many different directions. |
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If very high capacity is needed (connecting two major cities) it is possible to organize the train formation so that the line is used to its maximum capacity. Normally the junctions will be the limiting factor regarding capacity, but here it is possible to use the rail line to its full capacity. The safety distances can be short because of the very powerful rail brake for emergency braking (patented). |
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Train formation takes very little time and as soon as the train has been created, the speed is increasing to 95 mph top speed. Average speed if the distance between junctions is 3 miles will be approx. 75 mph. This speed is obtained even if the capacity is used 100%. On a highway the maximum capacity is obtained at lower speed than top speed. |
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Combination of windmills and the RUF system is very attractive. The system can use the masts to support the "hanging" bridge monorail. This illustration is from Aspen, Colorado |
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Especially when a monorail has to cross water, the combination with windmills is very attractive. Transmission loss is minimized, since the distance from the generator to the system is very short. |
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Even during heavy wind conditions, the RUF vehicles are securely locked to the monorail. A normal bridge will be closed during heavy side wind, the RUF monorail will keep working. This illustration and the previous one is from the island Samsoe in Denmark. |
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Transportation today depends heavily on cheap oil. Within long this will change since the oil price will most certain go up when the demand exceed the supply. The oil price has to increase to a level where you will stop driving your car. This could be a very high level - unless you are lucky to be able to drive a RUF car. |
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RUF batteries have to be able to give the vehicle a range of at least 50 km even though you will normally only use 3 km to get to the rail network. RUF vehicles can be equipped with a very fast battery exchange mechanism. You can change very fast to a fully charged battery. |
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A subway system based upon RUF is able to run underground but still have very attractive small "stations" at ground level. The trick is to use the passenger cabin from the maxi-ruf as an elevator cabin. The vehicle stops at an underground "station" but the passengers are lifted to the surface while seated. |
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This RUF subway station is placed just in front of the Danish Ministry for Transport :-) |
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It is very easy to implement a station at ground level on a simple line system. Because of the special (patented) drive system of RUF, the monorail can be lowered to ground level so that passengers can easily embark and disembark. |
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The maxi-ruf can be equipped with a special lift for a wheelchair. The user just rolls on to the platform and is then gently moved to the position between the two front seats. |
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The RUF system can offer a much shorter travel time to the city centre than by car. Even by RUF public transport (maxi-ruf) the trip will be faster. |
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A comparison between a trip with public transport (orange/red on black line) using bus + train and a trip with individual ruf (green) shows that the ruf driver can sleep much longer than the colleague using public transport to get to work at the same time. In public transport you get impatient (red) when you waste time. |
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When a maxi-ruf leaves the rail system at a junction, it continues as a dial-a-bus vehicle collecting passengers at their destinations scattered around the city. The maxi-ruf makes a new route every time in order to serve the customers (red circles) the best possible way. Please note that the flow on rail and on road do not match regarding speed. |
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RUF Park and Ride is very attractive. |
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RUF Park and Ride can also offer a solution where you change from your car to a public ruf. You need not worry about parking when you use a public ruf. It can be placed at no cost on any parking rail in the city. |
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The owner of a red ruf leaves her garage. |
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The yellow ruf drives along the road. No noise, no cold start emissions. |
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The green ruf owner starts the commute. The climate in the ruf has been programmed to be pleasant. |
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The ruf commuters drive along the normal roads for a short distance. Normally 3 km (2 miles) is enough to get to the rail network. The range of 50 km is more than enough. The battery doesn't weigh much since it doesn't have to supply the same range as normal electric cars (150 km). |
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While the traditional cars move slowly along the highway, the ruf train moves fast above at 150 km/h (95 mph). Even if the speed is lowered to 30 km/h (20 mph) at every junction 5 km apart, the average speed is still higher than 100 km/h (65 mph). Many car drivers will change to ruf next time they change car. |
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At junctions, the ruf can leave the network. If the driver has fallen asleep, he will be parked automatically close to the rail. If he is ready, he will continue on his own. |
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A RUF monorail can be placed along existing rail lines. |
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Since a RUF line only requires 2.5 m per monorail (plus vehicle), it can be placed along existing train lines. |
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As a "tram" the maxi-ruf can run in the
normal streets using battery power. |
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The RUF "tram" can enter very narrow streets
without problems. The battery will be recharged when the maxi-ruf uses the rail system in between the trips through the inner city. |
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Access to a maxi-ruf is extremely easy and fast. |
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The maxi-ruf is automatically guided to engage the monorail and coupled together with others to form a train. |
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The maxi-ruf train moves fast and without disturbance above the slow moving car traffic. Public transport with maxi-ruf is faster than commuting by car ! |
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The view from the monorail can be very colorful :-) |
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The center section of a wide road is enough to implement a RUF monorail. |
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A proposed RUF system for Kolkata (Calcutta). |
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RUF in front of the famous Writers Building where the RUF inventor made a RUF presentation for the Minister of Transport in March 2004. |
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RUF is much smaller and more elegant than the existing trams in Kolkata (Calcutta). |
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RUF in Kolkata (Calcutta) during a peaceful Sunday. |
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RUF monorail outside Kolkata (Calcutta). |
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RUF delivering and collecting passengers in a village outside Kolkata (Calcutta). |
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RUF can handle steep grades (>10%) so it is very well suited to run through mountains. It is safer and much cheaper to construct than a road with similar capacity. Animals can cross without problems. The power used to climb up the mountain can be regained partly when the ruf is driving down the mountain via the monorail. |
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A ruf is locked to the monorail, so if you should get near to a Tyrannosaurus Rex, the ruf will stay on the monorail with you safely inside. |
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1) A trip with maxi-ruf from your home 20 km outside the city centre and directly to the Royal Theatre. It only takes 20 minutes and you have the same seat all the way. 2) A trip from a HotSpot to the Parliament |