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Self-driving modular pods could change the way we travel

Next pods is an advanced smart transportation system that's designed to reduce pollution, commute time, traffic fatalities, trip costs and road congestion.
Next pods is an advanced smart transportation system that's designed to reduce pollution, commute time, traffic fatalities, trip costs and road congestion.

Next Future Transportation wants to use autonomous pods to completely change the way we get around.

Next is an advanced smart transportation system that’s designed to reduce pollution, commute time, traffic fatalities, trip costs and road congestion.

Although the design is still a concept, the first two fully functional pods were presented in February 2018 at the Dubai World Government Summit.

Each individual Next pod can join and detach with other modules, which would theoretically be able to operate on standard city roads.

When joined together, the pods can create an open, bus-like contraption, allowing passengers to stand and walk from one pod to another. This allows for en-route-transfers, which optimizes system capacity, cutting both cost and traffic.

To use the system, a user would simply input where they wanted to go into the Next app, then scan the QR code on any Next pod in order to be transported to their desired destination.

And, since the pods connect to the internet, they’re upgradable. As networks continue to improve — like with Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband, which is a whopping 25 times faster than today’s 4G networks in the U.S. — Next pods only stand to become more sophisticated in their design.

If you enjoyed this article, check out the Hollywood sci-fi technology that 5G could make a reality.

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