Heathrow unveils driverless transport of the future

The UK’s biggest airport has launched the transport of the future – driverless battery-powered pods that provide hassle-free rides for passengers and their luggage.

A world’s first in modern transit technology, the Heathrow pod system is expected to carry 500,000 people every year on the five-minute journey between Terminal 5 and the car park.

A total of 21 Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) pods which use 70% less energy than a car will circulate around a 3.8km congestion-free track.

The vehicles can reach a top speed of 25mph and will eliminate the need for 50,000 yearly bus journeys around the airport.

It has taken 40 years to develop the concept of driverless vehicles and the technology piloted at Heathrow is expected to be rolled out across the world.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/heathrow-unveils-driverless-transport-of-the-future.html