Last week we looked at the SkyTran personal magnetic transporter system. But while SkyTran is still just a concept, London's Heathrow Airport is pushing ahead with driver-less personal transport pods.
The four-passenger personal rapid transport (PRT) vehicles, unveiled this week at the Science Museum in London, take airport-goers on a special narrow road from Heathrow's Terminal 5 to various parking lots. Passengers use a touch screen to type in their destination, press a start button, and the battery-powered vehicle zips along at 25 mph to their destination. There's a reason the pods look so futuristic--they were designed by Mark Lowson, who worked on the Saturn Rocket that launched Apollo missions.
Only 18 PRT vehicles will be used in the initial $41 million Heathrow run, but if all goes well, BAA will invest an additional $330 million to expand the system hotels surrounding airport terminals. Eventually, it could provide an alternative to city-bound buses and trains. It's a nice idea, but it will run into the same problem as SkyTran's proposed system--cost. BAA may be willing to shell out cash for a Heathrow system, but it's doubtful that city governments will pay for the pods and new road networks for them to travel on.
[Via UK Mirror]
Related Stories: | Topics:Innovation, Technology, Ethonomics, heathrow airport, prt, pod, Taxi, skytran, personal transport pod, London Heathrow Airport, London Science Museum, United Kingdom |
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Recent Comments | 8 Total
August 12, 2009 at 5:41pm by Sheena Medina
I don't really see this as that "creepy" but I understand that you want people to take an interest and click on the article. I would say it's more awesome or futuristic or user friendly...any one of those words could be inserted into the headline. I hope this paves the way for something similar in the US soon!
August 12, 2009 at 10:17pm by Daryl Snyder
I cannot wait to try them out.
August 13, 2009 at 1:41am by Marcel Dee
Forget it. You'll never see me in this.
http://www.adgirlandtechnerd.com
August 13, 2009 at 2:27pm by Fred Berman
I need to schedule a flight to Heathrow for the day this thing opens up!
August 13, 2009 at 2:55pm by Ivan Ermanoski
Haha... We should be demanding drivers in "creepy driverless elevators". 90% of car crashes are due to driver errors. Driverless PRT is going to be a huge leap forward in safety.
November 8, 2009 at 1:31am by Dan Puroclean
In general, PRT systems can be categorized in three ways:
1. At grade (street level), guide-by-wire.
2. Overhead, hanging from a rail.
3. Overhead, sitting atop a track.
An at-grade, guide-by-wire system would allow for door-to-door service. If competing ground traffic exists, then an overhead system would be preferred. Sweden has been developing such a system. An overhead system typically has (offline) stations every 1/4 mile, so users would have a short walk to and from the station. However, I think this is negligible in relation to the benefits.
Dan - Water damage El Dorado Hills
November 25, 2009 at 5:52am by Melissa Digitalis
I think this looks amazing! I can't wait to check it out! Lets hope they spread and they can be used around the city! We really would be living the futuristic dream! What would your visions for the future be? http://tiny.cc/RVvuX
November 25, 2009 at 5:55am by Melissa Digitalis
I think this looks amazing! I can't wait to check it out! Lets hope they spread and they can be used around the city! We really would be living the futuristic dream! What would your visions for the future be? Post them on The Tomorrow Mural http://tiny.cc/RVvuX