Dubai’s busiest districts can now be ventured comfortably and easily by visitors and tourists alike, without having to bother about traffic rush. Aboard the futuristic sky pods, they can get to enjoy the city’s beautiful panoramic views.

On Tuesday, the RTA (Roads & Transport Authority) had retweeted a tweet of the Dubai Media Office offering a sneak peek of the pods’ planned route map. This rapid transit system is stated to be a cross between ski lift & monorail.

This route links Al Wasl with Business Bay, covering busy areas around International Finance Centre, Marasi Drive, Burj Khalifa, Bay Avenue, across Sheikh Zayed Rd. towards Al Wasl dist., Coca-Cola Arena and CityWalk as outlined within Business Bay – Downtown Loops, Business Bay and Al Wasi Link.

The RTA with BeemCar Ltd. UK based company had very recently signed an agreement to enhance further cooperation to come up with futuristic mobility solutions. This is to be achieved with the introduction of sky pods using suspended transport technology.

AS per RTA Chairman of Executive Directors’ Board and Director General, RTA has been making efforts to introduce auto transit means to be in sync with Dubai Self Driving Transport Strategy by signing this agreement. The objective is to divert total mobility journeys by about 25% in Dubai by 2030 towards autonomous transit means. The action taken by the RTA is sure to improve mass transit mode integration, while providing better solutions to last & first mile challenge. Riders now can reach easily and comfortably their final destinations.

However, completion date is yet to be provided.

Convenience & Capacity

Four passengers can be accommodated comfortably in this small electric sky pod or automated vehicle. It is likely to move at a speed of 50 km/hr along routes that stretch about 50km at ½ second intervals across Al Wasl district, Downtown Dubai and Business Bay.

With the sky pods being attached to beams, arranged in network, criss-crossing the city, they are likely to enjoy traffic-free ride. The minimum clearance height above ground is 7.5m. Even while climbing inclines, the pods are to move horizontally, so as to avoid ‘roller coaster’ effect. This way, passengers can have calm stomach throughout the ride.

The network as per Beem Car, is likely to accommodate approximately 20,000 passengers/hour. It further added that no switching of physical track is necessary, unlike the rail based system. Moreover, the intelligent pods will choose short routes in the converging & diverging junctions, thus allowing direct travel to destination from its origin, without having to stop in-between.

With sky pods moving above the ground, passengers are sure to have a good view of the city’s scenic routes.

Its functioning

The pods are climate controlled and passengers can board it at stops that are at ground level, similar to bus stops. As the passenger gets aboard the pod, the door closes automatically, accelerating the pod onto main beam from ground level to slot into gap between the other pods that travel in same direction on the beam.

On touchscreen, passengers can select their desired destination. With the starting of the pod, it is expected to rotate through 90 degree slowly to be locked into position, with passengers facing forwards.

The sky pod has been designed to travel to programmed destination directly. Once reached, it turns off main beam to slow down and stop, moving ground level.

Beem Car also added that comfortable environment is provided within the pod with inbuilt air conditioning and heating, irrespective of the prevalent weather. A huge wraparound screen offers better access to the city’s panoramic view. Bad weather or flooding is not likely to affect its operations.

Design

It boasts of having lightweight structure, not requiring crash level protection like that of an automobile because there is very less risk involved of collision. Although they are controlled independently, there is present synchronous control element, such as when a pod stops at a particular beam section, they all tend to stop.

Its unladen weight is about 400 kg., with external measurement being of length around 2.5m, breadth 2m & height of 2m. There are 2 tiered rows with four forward facing seats. The rear seats are set further apart and much higher to offer passengers with increased visibility via the huge transparent front-end extending from ceiling to floor round most sides, like that of the helicopter cockpit.

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