Podchain is an integrated design concept for on-demand autonomous transport. To optimize kinetic energy and required street space, Podchain pods connect to become small trains on main routes. When approaching individual destinations, pods disconnect for door-to-door service, thus eliminating the need to change to other means of transport to cover the "last mile".

Public transport does not deliver door-to-door service, while private transport in cars is clogging urban streets. Podchain overcomes the public-private dichotomy of transport by being both public and private. A business model of fractional ownership makes it easily affordable for individuals, communities and small businesses. Each ride is a blockchain transaction allowing for precise cost control. The Podchain system permanently updates to send pods to where they are needed.

Today´s conventional cars are used only 5% of their lifetime: 95% of their lifetime they just stand around and occupy vast space on parking lots or streets, space which could be better used for communal areas, urban farming and green spaces. Podchain inverts these inefficiencies: A pod can be used 95% of its lifetime as it continues to operate as an on-demand transport service, thereby significantly reducing the total number of vehicles on the road.

Built as a modular shell system, a Podchain pod can be quickly refit and reconfigured to offer a range of mobile services in addition to transport.

© Mario Gagliardi Design 2018. Watch the presentation of Podchain at Vienna Art Week: https://www.mariogagliardi.com/publications/video1.html