Abstract
The most novel aspect of this study is to clarify the advantages of a three-dimensional (3D) urban mobility system that connects clusters of high-rise buildings. It is necessary to develop a three-dimensional urban mobility system connecting high-rise buildings due to serious traffic congestion in cities. A three-dimensional taxi is proposed as an example in this paper. This taxi is expected to be an innovative alternative to ground transportation which is widely used. The purpose of this study is to clarify the advantages of this three-dimensional taxi. First, the basic model of this system is described. Next, the following basic functions (four functions) of this system will be introduced. (1) Vehicle dispatch management function for busy and off-peak times: Empty vehicles will be moved in advance to the areas where the congestion is expected and kept waiting. In addition, during times of off-peak (low demand), the 3D taxis will automatically move to a dedicated waiting space and reduce the power consumption for the entire system. (2) The 3D taxi-route determining function: The optimal 3D travel route is derived based on real-time demand responses and traffic conditions. (3) Safety management functions (including collision avoidance): It controls the safe and smooth passage of 3D taxis at intersections, etc. Furthermore, even on a straight path, when multiple 3D taxis are in the same vicinity, the control software is automatically implemented to avoid collisions. (4) Evacuation procedures in the event of a high-rise building fire: The 3D elevators can operate and 3D taxis can be also used even during a power outage. Specifically, the average waiting time required for dispatching 3D taxis is derived when they are placed at several stops in a 3D route network. Simulations are conducted to clarify how the average waiting time for dispatching taxis changes as the number of 3D taxis increases.
