Traffic congestion is a bane of every day life. A Belarus-based company is testing the boundaries of technology to help alleviate the problem. USky Transport has created a network of driverless high-speed pods that ride around cities suspended from a steel track. They are testing the network in Sharjah, a city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The interior of these electrically-powered pods resembles a first-class airline suite and boasts mood lighting, lounge music, and floor-to-ceiling windows. USky Transport aims to create more walkways and public leisure spaces. According to Stephanie Haag, an associate partner at consulting firm McKinsey & Company, sky pods are different from monorails and cable cars in that they offer better flexibility and better cabins. The pods are also cheaper and more environmentally friendly than subways. According to uSky, the system costs around $10 million and uses fewer structural materials which could reduce carbon emissions. Each pod can carry up to four passengers. Haag notes that the futuristic pods are perfect for countries where public transportation is under-developed and there is a great need for mobility solutions. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park, has expressed his hope for the pods to boost the emirate’s plan of becoming a sustainable and futuristic hub.

Get ready to step into the future as the service could open in 2024. Once fully operational, the network could carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour. Sky pods in Sharjah are yet another example of the power of innovation. Technology advancement never stops and innovators are constantly thinking of ways to make the world a more convenient place.