XPost: rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.science   
   From: rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com   
      
   Bernard Peek  wrote   
   > J. Clarke wrote   
      
   >>> No, I'm using a pod for a single delivery. A pod is closer to an   
   >>> envelope than it is to a vehicle.   
      
   >> An envelope doesn't have wheels, an engine, or a control system.  Or are   
   >> you just using the word "pod" to refer to what is currently called a   
   >> "box"?  If so, how does your "pod" system change anything?   
      
   > A pod doesn't have any of those either.   
      
   > There's no reason in principle that a pod couldn't be the size of a box or   
   > an envelope. While we're replacing the transport industry it's not much   
   > more effort to replace the postal services too.   
      
   What works best for pods that humans can sit in doesn't for a postal system.   
      
   I can't see that pods will ever fly, essentially because of the immense   
   infrastructure cost require and how that has to be funded at a time   
   when everyone has realised the downsides of immense govt deficits.   
      
   The big advantage of robot cars is that they use the infrastructure   
   that we already have and we can gradually move from no robot   
   cars to as many as turns out to be useful with everyone deciding   
   for themselves if they prefer a robot car or to drive it themselves.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)