The UK invention is the culmination of over 60 years of development. Promoted as being immune to accidents and traffic jams, using thinner roads and requiring no drivers. To shuttle travelers between the airport and an outlying parking lot, London Heathrow Airport has launched a driverless personal rapid transit system (see a video report by ITN). The system, by UK-based ULTra PRT, consists of computer controlled electric cars that seat up to 6 passengers.
Powered by batteries, they are more environmentally friendly than normal coaches. Services run 22 hours weekly. The pods may be rolled out across more airports soon, with India recently announcing it will pilot the system around Delhi and Amritsar. Feasibility studies are in progress in Raleigh, North Carolina in the US.
