Why Is uST Solution the Most Promising of Emerging Transportation Technologies?

The idea of combining an airplane and a car, suggested by Henry Ford in 1940, has been implemented by modern developers of flying cars. But air taxi manufacturers from Japan, the UAE, and South Korea are in pursuit of the pioneer title and forget the main thing: uncontrolled flights over the city are dangerous. There are plenty of questions about the prospects of this new transportation trend. At the same time, advanced solutions of UST Inc. can already be implemented in the metropolitan infrastructure, thus ensuring safety, comfort, and efficiency of passenger transportation.

Utopian plans for flying taxi

The announced launch of flying taxi service in Dubai in 2026 has sparked a number of statements by countries that produce unmanned air transport. Japan reported the first test flight of air taxi with passengers on board, and South Korea has revealed plans to introduce air taxi service as early as mid-2025. However, Deloitte analysts have questioned whether the developments can be implemented so quickly in large cities.

Visualization of the use of uST transport for urban and suburban passenger traffic

The company's report assessed the prospects for the introduction of air taxi in cities and listed the technological impediments that do not allow this direction to evolve dynamically. Deloitte singled out five main challenges to be addressed before the launch of air transport. It is important to reduce the noise level, optimize energy efficiency, and improve the collision warning system. But the main problems are the lack of a reliable airborne communication system and underdeveloped situational awareness systems. Without addressing these issues, lifting hundreds of air cabs into the airspace above the city would create chaos.

Deloitte recommends that manufacturers develop technologies focused on the autonomous movement of vehicles, including on difficult terrain and in harsh weather conditions.

UST Inc. already meets these requirements with its transport and infrastructure complexes. Elevated routes can be integrated into the urban development without large-scale reconstruction and earthworks. In addition, the construction of uST complexes is more profitable in terms of cost and operating costs compared to other types of elevated transport.

Rail electric cars in large cities

With uST tracks we can connect urban and natural areas, solving the problem of traffic jams. At the same time, uST transport is remarkably safe: the track structure is elevated above the ground, that prevents accidents.

uPods in the EcoTechnoPark (Maryina Gorka, Belarus)

Unlike air cabs, rail uPods move along a rigidly fixed track and exchange data in real time.

To arrange the movement of unmanned electric cars on steel wheels, we created a multi-level safety system, which eliminates various incidents.

  • The automated control system controls the operation even in severe weather conditions.
  • The anti-derailment system prevents uPods from toppling and falling over.
  • The string rail overpass is resistant to earthquakes. Even if a tower is damaged by natural disasters, the prestressed track structure enables uST complexes to stay in service.

uST tracks can carry up to 50,000 people per hour. Thanks to high speeds and minimal traffic intervals, the passenger flow is evenly distributed, thus offloading the urban transportation network.

Learn more about UST Inc.'s passenger transport solutions here.

13 March 2023