baejra
April 15th, 2014, 05:03 AM
Is anyone interested in PRT systems?
PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) is a rapidly (haha, get it?) growing industry in the world of transport. The general idea is that automatic battery powered 'pods' drive themselves on a fixed rail or pathway, particularly in densely populated areas. When waiting for or after having dropped off passengers, the pods automatically charge for their next journey. The reason why PRT is gathering momentum now is because of traffic congestion and pollution. In busy cities and airports, traffic is a nightmare and the fumes from vehicles augments global warming and global dimming. Whereas PRT has a set number of pods and is computer controlled, meaning the speed and route can be adjusted to completely eliminate traffic altogether, whilst not spurting out any nasty fumes. Sure the electricity used to power the pods may not be 100% clean, but the pods certainly use the power far more efficiently than idle cars on tarmac. :eek:
They seem like a really viable concept, and the one at Heathrow is incredible! New cities should incorporate space for them, such as what will be used the new renewable Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, where they will be utilised as an underground transport system. I think there's a real future for them, replacing cars, buses and taxis in city centres, large airports, university campuses etc.
Here are a couple of examples of different PRT companies. ULTra and Vectus already have working systems, the first of which at Heathrow Airport and the latter of which in Korea. :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ujd4wutddE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5W3OSZu9oA
PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) is a rapidly (haha, get it?) growing industry in the world of transport. The general idea is that automatic battery powered 'pods' drive themselves on a fixed rail or pathway, particularly in densely populated areas. When waiting for or after having dropped off passengers, the pods automatically charge for their next journey. The reason why PRT is gathering momentum now is because of traffic congestion and pollution. In busy cities and airports, traffic is a nightmare and the fumes from vehicles augments global warming and global dimming. Whereas PRT has a set number of pods and is computer controlled, meaning the speed and route can be adjusted to completely eliminate traffic altogether, whilst not spurting out any nasty fumes. Sure the electricity used to power the pods may not be 100% clean, but the pods certainly use the power far more efficiently than idle cars on tarmac. :eek:
They seem like a really viable concept, and the one at Heathrow is incredible! New cities should incorporate space for them, such as what will be used the new renewable Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, where they will be utilised as an underground transport system. I think there's a real future for them, replacing cars, buses and taxis in city centres, large airports, university campuses etc.
Here are a couple of examples of different PRT companies. ULTra and Vectus already have working systems, the first of which at Heathrow Airport and the latter of which in Korea. :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ujd4wutddE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5W3OSZu9oA