Dubai has begun trialling Glydways driverless electric pods that can carry up to six passengers, travel at speeds of up to 50km/h and operate on dedicated routes away from regular traffic.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launched a four-week trial of the Dubai Glydways automated transit system at Bluewaters on Sunday, October 11. The artificial intelligence-powered vehicles are designed to offer direct, on-demand journeys, allowing passengers to travel from one point to another without having to follow fixed departure schedules.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, marked the launch by taking a five-minute ride in one of the autonomous pods along a designated route at Bluewaters.

The system uses small electric vehicles that travel on narrow, dedicated guideways, which can be built at ground level or elevated. Each pod accommodates four to six passengers and can travel up to 250km on a single battery charge.

Unlike conventional public transport, the Glydways system is designed to operate around the clock, with vehicles available on demand. Passengers can also personalise the air conditioning and entertainment inside their pods.

The driverless vehicles use a combination of artificial intelligence, sensors, radar and cameras to navigate their routes without human drivers.

(Source: Khaleej Times)