Kobe Steel, Ltd (KOBELCO) realized the Japan's first AGT in 1975. In 1981, the Kobe Port Liner which we built, started operation as the world's first unmanned Advanced Urban Transit System.

"Advanced Urban Transit System" has two kinds of meanings. The wide meaning is for the new type of transportation system based on our actual society with trains, buses and cars. The narrow meaning is specifically used for rubber tired transportation system as AGT. In 1970's, needs to develop a new type of transportation system to decrease automobile use appeared because environmental problems were serious as road congestions and air pollution from motor vehicles. Furtheremore, Japan's population grew up, they needed more transportation capacity, more road space, but the road construction space are not abundant. That time, Kobe Steel, Ltd. machinery division started the development for the new technology fields instead of plant and machinery as usual. Kobe Steel, Ltd. cooperated to the global development of the new type of transportation system with the Boeing company and realized the KRT at the International Ocean Exposition Okinawa in 1975. KRT was the Japan's first advanced urban transit system. After the KRT, Kobe Steel, Ltd. continued the development and completed the advanced urban transportation system technology. Kobe) Port Liner, Kobe) Rokko Liner, Tokyo) Yurikamome are some examples of our technology.

Usually, the Advanced Urban Transit means the narrow meaning, the rubber tired transportation system (AGT) which uses a guideway. But the wide meaning includes all new other types of transportation system. In 1972, the Transport Policy Council of the Ministry of Transportation defined the Advanced Urban Transit System in 4 types. 1) Guideway transportation looking like trains, 2) Dual mode transportation which travels both on guideway and road, 3) transportation system with continuous moving such as moving walkways and 4) transportation without guideway such as new type of cars and buses. Kobe Steel, Ltd developed the rubber tired AGT for guideway transportation, Guideway bus for dual mode transportation and SKYRAIL for short distance transportation system.

The ropeway is a suspended gondola which moves by a wire rope between poles. The monorail is a transportation system with one rail. There are the straddle type and suspended type. The SKYRAIL has the good points of both ropeway and monorail systems. The vehicle of the SKYRAIL uses wire rope as ropeway and moves through the guideway with rubber tire such as monorail. The SKYRAIL can climb steep slopes like a ropeway and can turn around like a monorail. Furthermore, in town, it can turn sharper than the monorail, climb more than the ropeway and does not need big space for the construction because the vehicle is very compact. The SKYRAIL is a safe and stable transportation system with good view and comfort.

The merits of the rubber tired AGT are that comparing to heavy rails, the construction costs and construction area are saved. Comparing to buses, AGT moves with electricity which energy savings and no air pollution can be achieved. Also, rubber tires and air suspension offers a comfortable ride for passengers of all ages with little vibration and helps to reduce noise pollution. Kobe Steel, Ltd's rubber tired AGT offers unmanned operation, this helps to save personnel costs for the Owner.

Inside the wheel there is an inner wheel made of aluminum. Even the tire flat, the AGT can move one round trip. After all the passengers get off, the vehicle returns to the depot and the tire is changed.

Also, Kobe Steel has developed a tire flat detection system which the equipment settled on the guideway checks the tire's pressure and informs to the Control Center by signals.

The Automatic Train Operation System (ATO) controls the start, the acceleration, the stop to the station instead of the driver. For emergency cases, the Automatic Train Protection System (ATP) checks the speed and separation of each vehicle and apply the break automatically.
The vehicle moves based on the schedule but the operator checks at the Control Center the situation by monitor. The operator can halt the departure or stop the vehicle if it is needed. On the platform, the Platform Screen Door is stated for more safety to the passengers. The Platform Screen Door has obstruction sensor like elevators and halts departure if the door is not completely closed.
Failures of train equipment is always monitored, brakes work automatically, and everything is displayed in the Control Center.
Unmanned operation system devices are designed in high technology (little in troubles) and in double track to secure its work even in trouble.

The train operates automatically and all the data information and communications are made by electromagnetic induction. Cables for induction are inside the gray color trough. The information is made between the cables and the vehicle antenna. At the merge/diverge point, all the cables are embedded to prevent steps of the rubber tires.