In China, a rail bus that "glides" across the street underwent a test drive in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, in 2017.
Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit, China —
In China, a rail bus that "glides" across the street underwent a test drive in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, in 2017.
Zhuzhou city government
Developed by Beijing-based rail transit equipment manufacturer CCRC, it navigates the road using motion sensors instead of a traditional track. It also features rubber wheels.
Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit, China —
Developed by Beijing-based rail transit equipment manufacturer CCRC, it navigates the road using motion sensors instead of a traditional track. It also features rubber wheels.
Zhuzhou city government
With a maximum speed of 70 kilometers (43 miles) per hour, it holds more than 500 passengers, and was designed to help to lessen heavy traffic in the city -- which has a population of some 3.7 million people. Developers plan for it to be in use in 2018.
Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit, China —
With a maximum speed of 70 kilometers (43 miles) per hour, it holds more than 500 passengers, and was designed to help to lessen heavy traffic in the city -- which has a population of some 3.7 million people. Developers plan for it to be in use in 2018.
Zhuzhou city government
Designed by Rotterdam firm Studio Roosegaarde, Glowing Lines operates like the glow-in-the-dark stars children used to stick to their ceilings.
Glowing Lines, Netherlands —
Designed by Rotterdam firm Studio Roosegaarde, Glowing Lines operates like the glow-in-the-dark stars children used to stick to their ceilings.
Pim Hendriksen/Studio Roosegaarde
Panels on the smart highway absorb solar power during the day, enabling it to glow for eight hours at night.
Glowing Lines, Netherlands —
Panels on the smart highway absorb solar power during the day, enabling it to glow for eight hours at night.
Pim Hendriksen/Studio Roosegaarde
Designed by Studio Roosegaarde, the project was a joint technological development with Dutch civil engineering company Heijmans. It was installed in 2014 on a 16,000 feet (4,570 meter) stretch of highway 60 miles outside of the Netherlands' capital of Amsterdam.
Glowing Lines, Netherlands —
Designed by Studio Roosegaarde, the project was a joint technological development with Dutch civil engineering company Heijmans. It was installed in 2014 on a 16,000 feet (4,570 meter) stretch of highway 60 miles outside of the Netherlands' capital of Amsterdam.
Pim Hendriksen/Studio Roosegaarde
The Van Gogh Path, also by Studio Roosegaarde, is a 600-meter bike path lit by a coating on the road surface that gathers sunlight and emits energy in the evening.
Van Gogh Path, Netherlands —
The Van Gogh Path, also by Studio Roosegaarde, is a 600-meter bike path lit by a coating on the road surface that gathers sunlight and emits energy in the evening.
Pim Hendriksen/Studio Roosegaarde
It's inspired by legendary Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh's painting "Starry Night".
Van Gogh Path, Netherlands —
It's inspired by legendary Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh's painting "Starry Night".
Pim Hendriksen/Studio Roosegaarde
It has been in use in Eindhoven -- also known as Netherlands' "City of Light" -- since 2014.
Van Gogh Path, Netherlands —
It has been in use in Eindhoven -- also known as Netherlands' "City of Light" -- since 2014.
Pim Hendriksen/Studio Roosegaarde
New York City's Department of Transportation has been running Midtown in Motion since 2011. The $1.6 million initiative aims to ease traffic in Midtown Manhattan by installing a series of traffic cameras and sensors, which are managed by engineers who can alter signal patterns to alleviate congestion based on the information collected by this technology.
Midtown in Motion, New York City, United States —
New York City's Department of Transportation has been running Midtown in Motion since 2011. The $1.6 million initiative aims to ease traffic in Midtown Manhattan by installing a series of traffic cameras and sensors, which are managed by engineers who can alter signal patterns to alleviate congestion based on the information collected by this technology.
Loic Venance/AFP/Getty Images
A concept by Idaho inventors Scott and Julie Brusaw, this design calls for traditional petroleum-based asphalt highways to be replaced with a system of structurally engineered solar panels.
Solar Roadways —
A concept by Idaho inventors Scott and Julie Brusaw, this design calls for traditional petroleum-based asphalt highways to be replaced with a system of structurally engineered solar panels.
Solar Roadways
These would act as a massive energy generator that could feed the grid during daytime. They would also recharge electric vehicles while moving, thus helping to reduce greenhouse emissions drastically.
Solar Roadways —
These would act as a massive energy generator that could feed the grid during daytime. They would also recharge electric vehicles while moving, thus helping to reduce greenhouse emissions drastically.
Solar Roadways