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August 17, 2009
Heathrow are attempting to reduce congestion on the transport buses by introducing a new traffic system for the airport. The system being created is the first of it’s kind, it will feature over 20 electric shuttles that will have no need for drivers.
The 21 shuttles will run along a two and a half mile pathway between the business car park and Heathrow’s Terminal 5. Every shuttle will travel at 25mph and has enough space to carry 4 passengers with all their luggage, the system has a target of delivering over half a million passengers each year.
Bristol University are helping the company Advanced Transport Systems Ltd to develop the new technology for the giant airport. They claim that the shuttles are comfortable to use and environmentally friendly because they use computers and laser guidance technology to get to the destination.
This new system is the stepping stone towards the creation of fully driverless cars which will take us to any destination that we input into the on-board system. Systems that we see in futuristic films such as I-Robot and Minority Report look like less of a dream and more like reality.
As this technology is developed even further, we could see our lives improved as this system could help to save lives as the computers could plan where other cars are moving and avoid collision. This new technology may be good for us, whether the motor sector and the contract hire industry will like this change is another matter.
With all the recent trouble within the motor industry, the last thing car manufacturers and companies offering cheap van leasing will want is to have to build and buy in a new range of driverless cars. Even though companies hate having to keep updating their technology, it’s not likely to stop because they disapprove, I won’t be shocked when I see companies offering the first driverless BMW lease.
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