ABSTRACTIn this paper, a multi-channel taximeter that is able to deal with more than one passenger simultaneously is proposed.In order to demonstrate the theory of operation of the proposed system, a complete design for an experimental three-channel taximeter (whose prototype has been built under grant from the Egyptian Academy for Scientific and Technological Research) is presented.System location, outline, block diagrams as well as detailed circuit diagrams for the experimental taximeter are also included.1. INTRODUCTIONTransporting people in the morning from their homes to their works and back in the afternoon has become a big problem in big cities especially in undeveloped countries. As a partial solution of this problem, the authorities in some countries had, unofficially, left the taxicab drivers to carry different passengers to different places at the Same time. For example, a taxicab with four seats may carry four different passengers without any relation between them except that their way of travelling is the same.Accordingly, it has become very difficult to rely on the present conventional single-channel taximeter to determine the fare required from each passenger separately. Accordingly, an unfair financial relation was created between the taxicab driver, owner, passengers and the state taxation department.Under these circumstances, taxicab drivers force the passengers to pay more than what they should pay. In some cases passengers had to pay double fare they should pay. With the present conventional single-channel taximeter, taxicab owners are not able to determine the daily income of their taxicab.In some cases (a taxicab with four seats) they may only get one quarter of the income of the taxica...
