London’s Heathrow Airport has recently launched a commercial personal rapid transit system, with 22 electric autopilot pods now
shuttling 800 passengers a day back and forth from parking lots to the British
Airways terminal.
shuttling 800 passengers a day back and forth from parking lots to the British
Airways terminal.
Called ULTra, or Urban Light Transport, the pods are a
self-driving, electric-powered pods which can carry four to six passengers plus
cargo and travel 25 miles per hour using laser sensors to find their way along
a 1.2 mile paved “guideway”.
self-driving, electric-powered pods which can carry four to six passengers plus
cargo and travel 25 miles per hour using laser sensors to find their way along
a 1.2 mile paved “guideway”.
According to GOOD.is, passengers press a button to
start the vehicle and indicate their destination. The system is cheaper to
install than light rail, and at 5 feet wide, the guideway is narrow enough to
be accommodated by many city streets.
start the vehicle and indicate their destination. The system is cheaper to
install than light rail, and at 5 feet wide, the guideway is narrow enough to
be accommodated by many city streets.
Although, according to ULTra’s website, Heathrow might not be
the only place to enjoy these pods. Planners in San Jose and Mountain View,
California, Tysons Corner, Virginia and Calgary, Alberta, among other cities,
are all considering their own ULTra systems.
the only place to enjoy these pods. Planners in San Jose and Mountain View,
California, Tysons Corner, Virginia and Calgary, Alberta, among other cities,
are all considering their own ULTra systems.
You can watch a video of the pods in action below:
