Here's All You Need To Know About SkyTran's Future Sky Taxi

What if you could travel to Gurgaon from Delhi in less than seven minutes? Or, from Chandni Chowk to Noida in just five minutes? You would not believe it. But, this can soon be a reality.

The future is here and we are about to see the next generation of modern transport. SkyTran, a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Act company, has designed a patented system of commuter pods. (Yes, they look like the vehicles of the future shown in sci-fi movies!)

The company claims that this patented design will be a high-speed, low-cost, elevated Personal Rapid Transportation (PRT) system, which provide a safer, greener, and quieter alternative to traditional forms of public transport. So, let's find out more about it.

What are these pods?

The SkyTran pods are a computer-controlled, two-person “jet-like” vehicles that use Magnetic Levitation technology. SkyTran moves passengers in a fast, safe, green, and economical manner. The pods weigh around 300 pounds (136 kg approx).

How do they operate?

The pods works on the principle of lift and thrust of electromagnets to levitate and move. These computer-controlled pods can be given instruction to meet commuters at the nearest location.

What are the advantages?

The two-person vehicle can accommodate much of the world's commuting population within a smaller footprint and for less than other mass transit systems. The sophisticated SkyTran computer network will be pacing vehicles at optimum spacing and speed to handle a significant number of commuters in a safe and efficient manner. The pods could provide on demand, flexible, low cost, safe, and greener mode of transportation.

When will they hit the sky?

The first public experiment is being built in Tel Aviv, with planned completion by the end of 2015. A SkyTran system is being built in Israel as a pilot project; additional projects have been proposed and/or are planned for cities in France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.