For starters, the system is electric. It’s also completely driver-less, since the pod cars operate on 2.4 miles of track. When you need to get from terminal 5 to one of the two business parking lots, you simply call up the pod, hop in, and tell it where to go. It’s an on-demand, point-to-point taxi service. It doesn’t need to run continuously on the loop; it just waits for when a passenger needs a pod.

Each of the 22 transport pods has enough room for up to four passengers, plus their luggage. As it zips along on the two-lane track, the pod cars max out at 25mph. Thus far, there are no accidents and they’ve achieved 95% technical reliability. They run 24 hours a day, but can sit idle when they’re not needed too. That’s very efficient. I’m wondering if similar systems will eventually replace mass transit in major cities…

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