JPods Example Networks

A 3-Minute summary of JPods

Similar Networks

Walter Cronkite covered Tricia Nixon opening the first digital transportation network on Oct. 24, 1972. The Morgantown PRT network has since delivered 150 million oil-free passenger-miles with only two minor injuries. Injuries on roads are 11,200 per million (link).

Suspended networks are well understood as illustrated by the H-Bahn:

  • H-Bahn vehicles are similar to buses.
  • JPods vehicles are similar to cars:
    • Designed to tailor the trip to the traveler.
    • Non-stop from origin to destination.
    • Remove the parasitic mass of the vehicle to reduce energy consumption to within a solar budget.

Suspended networks have incredibly wonderful safety records. The H-Bahn is a great idea, but the packet size is too large so the infrastructure is heavy, stations large and few. Humans do not typically travel in groups of 50 to 100. We travel by ourselves and with our family. JPods vehicles, like the personal car, are designed to carry 1 to 6 people. This makes JPods infrastructure light and inexpensive. The small packet size means many more stations and trips that tailor the trip to the traveler. JPods small size allows many different pods tailored to many different uses. There are pods for passengers, cargo, water, etc....