Bubbles and Beams - a convenient future

Podcars - GTS -- in a vision for 2040 SIKA was invited to the Minister for Communications futures seminar on 7 March and we decided for this occasion, and for our re-inauguration in Östersund on 3 May, to produce and show an animated film illustrating the track technology analysed by SIKA in a pilot study, A General Transport System (GTS), SIKA report 2006:1. The name of the film is Bubbles and Beams - a convenient future. The film may be shown and disseminated freely provided the source is cited (SIKA 2007). It is also available on YouTube under the search heading "A convenient future". The film and the GTS concept have been very successful in California where researchers, politicians and venture capitalists are reviewing the concept as a feasible future vision. The film was shown in a developed form for the first time at an international conference on podcars on 1-2 October in Uppsala with environments from everyday journeys between Eskilstuna and Västerås. It will subsequently be shown by the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications at an event at Stockholm Central Station on 5 October and on 8-10 October in Beijing.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Podcar
• GTS
• Sika

[robertweinberg1993]

I have an idea. Just make a car that drives itself.

[Goblineng]

That would be awesome, except it would never work in my city. our city is to spread out for it to be economic, plus the ground is really spongy. We can barely keep side walks and road ways intact, much less this beauty.

[SimonCouelle]

Welcome to black mesa research facility...

[cprich22]

oh yeh now the turning into a car thing is just stupid

[1959abas]

QUE TAL QUEDARIA MEXICALI CON UN DESAROLLO DE ESTA CLASE..

FENOMENAL PERO FALTA MUCHO PARA ESOS SUEÑOS.

[keithlogan365]

How would the fare structure on this work?

[gebauerdds]

This video definitely demonstrates tremendous possibilities. As you commented, things are desperate right now, but that means we should be stretching our minds and be making bold moves. I fully support PRT, and as an engineer, realize that we have all the tools needed to effectvely build and use PRT. Now, it's important to start the brainwork to implement it with intelligence...boldly.

[eporter95b]

Thanks to Greblyksnah for posting this new video. Its very well done! I hope you will accept a few critical observations as friendly suggestions. Also, my comments are broken up because of YouTube's rules and security.

[eporter95b]

Further, the new video depicts a attractive and futureistic bridge-like spans and relatively large guideways. But, in my community, we are trying to sell the PRT idea based on using, as much as possible, existing rights of way and infrastructure. Quite franklly, the newest video will scare some of our people away. The rather amazing suspension bridge is a good example. Its beautiful but, it pre-supposes plenty of discretionary funding to build it.

[eporter95b]

But, I also worry a little about this emphasis on "dual mode." Dual mode is the ability to go off of the guideway and "drive home" and back. Thats a problem because it adds a degree of complexity that I think might kill the fledgling industry.

How does a transit agency verify that a pod which I took home is still up to standards and that it will not cause a stoppage in the system, or worse?