A new traffic system is being developed for Heathrow Airport in an attempt to reduce congestion on the buses. The system that they are creating is like no other in the world, it features 21 electric shuttles that are controlled by computers so there is 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. Each shuttle carries 4 passengers, as well as their luggage, travelling at 25mph, the system is targeted to carry over 500,000 passengers every year.
Advanced Transport Systems Ltd, alongside Bristol University, is the company that are developing the state-of-the-art transport system. The shuttles are said to be comfortable to use, while be environmentally friendly because they use laser guidance technology and computers to control their movements.
The new system is the spark that will begin the production of fully automated, driverless cars that will deliver us to anywhere we want. It looks like we could be seeing traffic systems like in films such as Minority Report and I-Robot in the near future.
As we see this technology become more developed, out lives could be changed for the better as our cars would detect traffic movements and avoid collisions, saving lives. All these changes may sound beneficial for us, but whether the motor industry and the contract hire industry will welcome these changes is another matter.
With all the money being lost currently within the motor industry, the absolute last thing car companies and businesses offering cheap van leasing will want is to have to build and buy in a new range of driverless cars. Although I guess technology won’t stop because the motoring industry doesn’t like it and I wouldn’t be shocked if we eventually saw businesses offering a driverless BMW lease.
