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World's First 'Driverless Transport Pods' tested in Dubai

  • In a first move towards the future of transport, the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai launched the test of the world's first 'Autonomous Pods' during the World Government Summit on Sunday, February 11, 2018.

Designed and made by :- NEXT Future Transportation Inc.


  • Transportation - are designed to travel shortand mediumdistances in dedicated lanes. 
  • They can be coupled together in as little 15 seconds or detached – depending on the riders’ destination – in five seconds.
  • Each pod is fitted with cameras and electromechanical technologies to carry out the coupling and detaching, which can be activated while the pod is in motion.

PILOT TEST OF THE PODS :-

  1. RTA Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors Mattar Al Tayer said that the testing of these driverless units, directed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has been done in order to transform Dubai into the smartest city worldwide.
  2. He added that the pods are a part of RTA endeavours to provide autonomous transport by carrying out technological tests on autonomous transport means under Dubai's climatic conditions.

ABOUT THE AUTONOMOUS PODS :-

  • They are designed to travel short and medium distances in dedicated lanes.
  • They are capable of being coupled together in 15 seconds or getting detached in five seconds, depending on the rider's destination.
  • The dimensions of one pod are 2.87 metres length, 2.24 metres width, and 2.82 metres in height.
  • It weighs around 1500 kilograms with a capacity to carry 10 passengers.
  • Each pod has an average speed of 20 kilometers per hour.
  • They are embedded with a battery that supports three hours of operation, and can be charged in six hours.
  • They come with three protection systems to avoid crashes.
  • The main system comprises 3D cameras, and the second one is a standby system based on ordinary cameras, and the last is operated manually by the operator.



  1. The pods form part of Dubai's larger strategy of making 25 percent of all journeys in Dubai autonomous by 2030.
  2. RTA has signed an agreement with the US-based Next Future Inc. to develop the units as part of the initial phase of Dubai Future Accelerators.

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