Overview
All over the world, transport affects our day-to-day life in many different ways. Our decisions are often influenced by the availability, or the lack of, transport alternatives. Out travel behaviour depends on many inter-related factors.
This project presented a new mobility concept for passengers, ensuring accessibility in urban pedestrian environments. The concept addressed a new Personal Intelligent City Accessible Vehicle ('PICAV') and a new transport system that integrates a fleet of PICAV units. The transport system will ensure accessibility for everybody, including elderly and disabled people.
The objective of the project was to develop the PICAV transport system. This innovative electrical vehicle presents a new frame-suspension structure, a new seating sub-assembly and a new efficient power supply module. The PICAV transport system will provide an efficient and rational service to citizen within urban traffic restricted areas: the application fields of PICAV are outdoor pedestrian environments where regular public transport services cannot operate because of the width or slope of the infrastructures, uneven pavements and/or the interactions with high pedestrian flows.
This transport system is on-demand and it is based on the car-sharing concept. To overcome the barriers of traditional car-sharing systems, the following specific services will be provided:
- instant access;
- open-ended reservation;
- one-way trips.
The single PICAV units are networked. They can communicate with each other, with the city infrastructure, with public transport in the surrounding area and with emergency services. It allows for a high level of inter modal integration.
The PICAV project delivered:
- a new mobility concept for passengers ensuring accessibility for all in urban pedestrian environments;
- a new transport system that integrates a fleet of PICAV units;
- features that will be specifically designed for people with restricted mobility.
The main drivers of the PICAV design are: ergonomics, comfort, stability, small size, mobility dexterity, on-board intelligence, assisted driving, eco-sustainability, parking, vehicle/infrastructures intelligent networking.
PICAV system usefully integrates the existing public transport system to make it become more accessible for older and disabled people by acting as a smooth link between walking, bicycle and conventional public transport.
Funding
Results
At this moment (February 2013) no final results have been presented or made available. The results mentioned are therefore based on preliminary information.
System requirements have been developed and described. Also the system specifications have been detailed in addition to the conceptual vehicle design. The seat geometry and functions have been designed, taking into account the state of the art on ergonomics of automotive seats and the needs of differently able users (elder and handicapped people). These are strongly dependent on the vehicle design. Furthermore, a power system description has been designed.
Innovation aspects
Because of its small dimensions, tiny footprint, on-board intelligence and zero environmental impact, the PICAV vehicles are suitable for moving in urban areas. It behaves almost as a pedestrian, with little or no disturbance to other pedestrians. The PICAV system integrates well into the existing public transport system, making it accessible for older and disabled people. It forms a smooth link between walking, bicycling and conventional public transport.
The application fields of PICAV are outdoor pedestrian environments. Environments where regular public transport services cannot operate because of a variety of reasons, like: width or slope of infrastructure, uneven pavements and/or interactions with high pedestrian flows.
Strategy targets
- An efficient and integrated mobility system: Service quality and reliability
- Innovating for the future (technology and behaviour): A European Transport Research and Innovation Policy