An augmented reality depiction of the Beemcar pod system as it could be implemented in Dubai. The British company has signed an agreement with local authorities to develop a network in the Emirate.
An augmented reality depiction of the Beemcar pod system as it could be implemented in Dubai. The British company has signed an agreement with local authorities to develop a network in the Emirate.
Beemcar
The pods would be suspended from carbon composite beams several meters above ground, along routes that would extend through some of Dubai's busiest areas. Beemcar claims the vehicles would run at 50 kilometers per hour and the system could accommodate 20,000 passengers per hour.
The pods would be suspended from carbon composite beams several meters above ground, along routes that would extend through some of Dubai's busiest areas. Beemcar claims the vehicles would run at 50 kilometers per hour and the system could accommodate 20,000 passengers per hour.
Beemcar
Beemcar is not the only company developing a "sky pod" system in the UAE. US firm SkyTran, which uses a magnetic levitation system, hopes to develop networks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Beemcar is not the only company developing a "sky pod" system in the UAE. US firm SkyTran, which uses a magnetic levitation system, hopes to develop networks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Courtesy skyTran
Unitsky String Technologies (UST) is another contender in this emerging field, and is also bidding for business in the UAE.
Unitsky String Technologies (UST) is another contender in this emerging field, and is also bidding for business in the UAE.
Unitsky String Technologies
Public Rapid Transit (PRT) vehicles -- lightweight, driverless vehicles operating on segregated tracks -- have been slow to catch on but the industry is growing. The "Urban Light Transit" network at Heathrow Airport is one of the few PRT systems in operation today.
Public Rapid Transit (PRT) vehicles -- lightweight, driverless vehicles operating on segregated tracks -- have been slow to catch on but the industry is growing. The "Urban Light Transit" network at Heathrow Airport is one of the few PRT systems in operation today.
Ultra Global PRT
Masdar city in Abu Dhabi, a test bed for emerging technologies, has tested PRT systems.
Masdar city in Abu Dhabi, a test bed for emerging technologies, has tested PRT systems.
Masdar
Dubai's government has set a target of having 25% of all journeys through driverless transport by 2030. This includes "last mile" shuttle buses such as the "Next" autonomous pod, which could be in operation for Expo 2020.
Dubai's government has set a target of having 25% of all journeys through driverless transport by 2030. This includes "last mile" shuttle buses such as the "Next" autonomous pod, which could be in operation for Expo 2020.
NEXT future transportation
The government is also keen to increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport. Dubai Metro has shown strong <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fgulfnews.com%2Fuae%2Ftransport%2Fdubai-metro-10th-anniversary-a-massive-hit-with-15-billion-riders-in-10-years-1.66289775" target="_blank" target="_blank">passenger growth</a> in recent years.
The government is also keen to increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport. Dubai Metro has shown strong passenger growth in recent years.
Tom Dulat/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
But emerging modes of transport such as PRT vehicles could face competition from new generation technology such as <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2017%2F03%2F17%2Ftech%2Fehang-passenger-drone-dubai%2Findex.html" target="_blank">driverless air taxis</a>.
But emerging modes of transport such as PRT vehicles could face competition from new generation technology such as driverless air taxis.
Dubai Roads and Transport Authority