Forty years ago, a story began, the goal of which is to change the world for the better. A story that is rapidly approaching a happy end and the results of which we will see this spring. The story of the creation of the SkyWay transport system (better known by the people under the name "Unitsky String Transport").
This year, the Soviet-Russian scientist and engineer Anatoly Yunitsky marks the anniversary of the creation of an idea that shaped the development vector of his entire future life. Unitsky’s childhood and early years came at a time when the theme of space exploration was literally in the air, when every second boy was called Yura, and all New Year's trees hung toys in the form of astronauts, rockets and satellites. Despite the environment that propagated very definite values, ideals and needs, Anatoly Yunitsky looked at the achievements of Soviet rocket science from a completely different perspective. The scientist thought about the damage that ecology rockets inflict. On the SkyWay website, Unitsky’s reviews of the rocket industry are illustrated by an eloquent comparison: one launch of a heavy rocket makes a hole in the ozone layer of the Earth the size of an average country in Central Europe, and the launch of 85 such Shuttle missiles will destroy the Earth’s ozone layer and ionosphere.
In 1977, Unitsky developed a project for a universal planetary vehicle (OTC), the essence of which is rocket-free space exploration. According to the scientist’s idea, such a tool is capable of transporting goods into orbit through the internal forces of the system, without causing any harm to the environment. Not a single article and book is devoted to the miracle of engineering, but the USSR Goskino even shot the popular science film “To the sky on a wheel” about it. However, Unitsky devoted most of his life to the realization of a smaller, but more “real” project from the point of view of implementing the project, which separated from the idea of the OTC and was subsequently called the “Unitsky string transport”.
Like the older brother, Yunitskiy’s string transport does not harm the environment: on SkyWay Capital’s website, reviews from transport experts boil down to the fact that SkyWay is the most environmentally friendly transport, due to SkyWay technological characteristics. The main and unique component of Skyway, which gave the name to the whole complex as a whole, is the string rail. Pre-tensioned strings placed in the rail casing solve the temperature deformation problem and allow building the complex in any climatic conditions. Two string rails located above the ground on the supports instead of a continuous roadbed allow minimizing the use of soil and introducing the string system into any, even densely built-up area, while ensuring a zero accident rate. In addition to saving the occupied area, the Skyway overpass reduces the amount of material needed for construction and optimizes energy costs.
Unitsky's string transport includes four main directions: high-speed (up to 500 km / h), urban passenger, cargo and light recreational, designed for functioning in recreation areas. Thus, the entire complex is designed for a wide audience of customers and consumers and, in comparison with traditional transport, has unique indicators of safety, environmental friendliness and economy.
However, despite all of the above advantages, the history of the formation of a new type of transport was formed by no means simply. Unitsky devoted his entire conscious life to what we now call the beaten-up stamp “break the system”, however, the beaten-up of this term does not negate its accuracy. No matter how economical SkyWay was, its construction required funds. Yunitsky tried for many years to receive funding from the state. In part, this was possible: with the help of the Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Cygnus, a mini-training ground was built at the beginning of the zero in the Moscow Region, which made it possible to test the simulator of the SkyWay transport module and, most importantly, the string track structure. However, this was clearly not enough for customers. Unitsky realized that in order for a product to become in demand, it must be demonstrated in action, and the whole complex from A to Z should be demonstrated.
In attempts to implement the project in different cities and countries and to obtain financing, Unitsky earned himself a reputation as an eccentric altruist, a little crazy scientist who is obsessed with his idea. According to management reviews on the official SkyWay website, in the 90s, when ideology gave way to a commercial component in the country, several businessmen took advantage of Unitsky’s idea - unscrupulous “partners” who promised to allocate funds for the construction of string transport, but actually tried to select an intellectual property of the scientist.
A way out was found after several years thanks to crowdfunding. To implement the project, special funds have been created to collect investments. If you study investor reviews on numerous SkyWay Capital online resources, it becomes obvious that they are primarily inspired by the story of Unitsky, a man who is moving forward, no matter what, trying to make the lives of ordinary people more comfortable and safer. Unitsky justifies his self-confidence by his actions. He is open to communication, does not shy away from the press: several media are already familiar with the work of design bureaus and pilot production.
Soon after the company switched to crowdfunding, the Skyway group of companies leased a plot of land located in the Republic of Belarus near Minsk. Then, in 2014, a plot of 36 ha was an ordinary field with a rare self-sowing growing on it. Two years later, elements of a string innovation complex “grew” in this field: transport nodes, anchor and intermediate supports, string rails, related infrastructure, office buildings. The center is called EcoTechnoPark. Testing of the system has already begun - a light SkyWay stroller called “unibike” hit the rails in November. In the spring, the city passenger route will join the easy walking route: both directions will be presented to the public in action this spring.
The feedback from local residents gathered by SkyWay information service agrees: the construction of the SkyWay training ground will make the native land more interesting and provide additional jobs. The EcoTechnoPark under construction is not just a center of transport innovation. This is evidence of a person’s victory over circumstances: everyone should “cultivate their own garden”. Even if this does not work the first time.
As reviews on the SkyWay Capital forum show, today Unitsky’s authority is growing with the speed of EcoTechnoPark construction. Increasingly, the one who was considered an eccentric scientist today is called a global moderator - a person who is not afraid of criticism, thinks openly, boldly and broadly, makes people think and reflect, shape thoughts and actions. And ultimately - it changes the whole world.