Conceiving a new alternative for mobility!
We invite you to know our project and join us in the effort of changing the way we move.
Solar powered
Autonomous
Elevated
Personal rapid
transit
Today, specially in cities with high levels of solar radiation, there is no reason why photovoltaic energy doesn't become the main source of power for every human endeavor.
Autonomous vehicles free time for
passengers to focus their attention on whatever they need or want away from the road.
A system that allows urban mobility to take place way above street level, helps lessen congestion, accidents and returns city spaces to pedestrians.
A way to travel in the most efficient and comfortable manner possible with most of a car's advantages and none of its hassles.
The Solar skyway project is a long-term, international research initiative to design, develop and eventually implement solar powered automated rapid transit elevated network systems adaptable to different environments.
The Solar Skyways System is a new paradigm in public transportation that will change the way people and goods move in many different contexts. We strive to make our system as affordable as possible, which means that it we are a viable option especially in developing countries where traditional modes of transportation do not offer real solutions to their mobility problems. In the near future, all forms of public transportation will be automated to reduce costs, improve reliability, and increase convenience for users, and Solar Skyways is already on the way.
Because our project is so large and complex, we need a well-coordinated, multidisciplinary effort to manage the high level of complex interactions that must be balanced to make it a viable option for all stakeholders and a real solution to many mobility problems.
For this reason, we have broken our work into smaller, more manageable pieces and are currently focused on developing three priority components:
Core components
System versatility
Two concepts have guided our research and design process: Simplicity and Adaptability.
We have explored various scenarios in which our system could be an effective, environmentally friendly, and affordable alternative.
Here we present some of these scenarios to show how the Solar skyways system can be adapted to very different needs.​
Core research team
"The current transit paradigm is tired and in need of radical, not incremental, improvement. The Skyway is that improvement. It is now time for institutions and individuals who are really serious about sustainability, climate change, breaking our addiction to petroleum, and improving the quality of life in urban areas to step up and support this work."
Burford Furman PhD
Principal Investigator
Mechanical Engineering
San Jose state University
"We have only one place left to go, and that is to question the unquestioned urban configuration of machines and humans competing on the same plane, terra firma. Put people and 2-tonne machines in the same place, and the machines will win."
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Ron Swenson
Head of the International Institute of sustainable transportation
"We want to provide an affordable alternative to people to move around their city in the most efficient, sustainable and enjoyable way and become a global leader and mentor in the mobility innovation sector."
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Jorge Rodriguez
Product Designer, RODZ+
Our collaborators
