A method for transporting a person or a parcel from a first location to a second location involves mounting a pod having a rechargeable battery and a compartment to a first vehicle, moving the first vehicle with the pod mounted to a loading position at or near the first location, loading a person or a parcel into the pod, moving the first transporter vehicle from the loading position to a first exchange point, exchanging the passenger pod from the first transporter vehicle to a second transporter vehicle at the first exchange point by de-mounting the pod from the first transporter vehicle and mounting the pod to the second transporter vehicle by a compatible physical interface between the pod and the second transporter vehicle, and transporting the second transporter vehicle with the pod to the second location.

An exchange station has openings for drones, a passenger check-in/check-out bay for processing passengers, a drone connect/release bay, having apparatus adapted to manage passenger pods mounted on smart chassis, and a computerized control system in wireless communication with control circuitry in the drones and smart chassis, guiding smart chassis with mounted passenger pods and drones, to make the exchange of pods from the smart chassis to drones. A passenger entering the passenger check-in bay is loaded into a pod mounted on a smart chassis, the pod with passenger is transported to the drone-connect/release bay, and the pod is there joined to a bare drone and disconnected from the smart chassis, the drone leaving with the passenger pod to a destination, and the smart chassis traveling away from the drone connect-release bay.

Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for high-traffic density personalized transportation. An example system includes a transit carrier having a first movement system, first stacking couplers, first and second magnetic couplers, and a first location, a transit pod having a second movement system, second stacking couplers, and a second location, the second stacking couplers configured to couple to the first stacking couplers, and a controller to in response to obtaining a request to direct the transit carrier to move from the first location to the second location, invoke the transit pod to couple to the transit carrier by directing the transit pod to move on top of the transit carrier using the second movement system, and when the transit carrier is coupled to the transit pod, invoke the transit carrier to move the transit pod to a third location using the first movement system.

An apparatus and system for: combining independent driving vehicles into a single assembly for condensed, efficient, variable capacity transportation on common routes; and for separating into independent vehicles for flexibility on diverse routes. Connection logistics are exchanged locally via line of sight optical channel. Retractable coupling and mated coupling on opposing ends of the vehicles provide multiple degrees of freedom (DOF) to accommodate misalignment during initial dynamic engagement, and lock as rigidly coupled assembly with zero DOF. Mating vehicles' doors open during transit, permitting inter-vehicle movement and consolidation of passengers en route to urban locales, and release of empty vehicles. On return, independent vehicles combine to dense passenger vehicles from urban locales for redistribution of passengers in individual vehicles that later separate for diverse destinations. Slaved vehicle systems allow one vehicle to control coupled vehicles' systems of retractable suspension, coordinated steering, power sharing. Utility vehicles couple to assembly for service.

Joined automobiles are disclosed. Two separate joinable automobiles, each with its own control system, powertrain, and interior space, can be joined by means of built-in retractable coupling systems, providing a single joined automobile with a contiguous inner space, two powertrains which can be used singly or together, and two control systems. The coupling systems can be used by putting the automobiles in proximity to each other and engaging them, and/or disengaging them for separate use.

The disclosure relates to a multimodal transportation apparatus for passenger transportation. The multimodal transportation apparatus comprises a passenger car. According to the disclosure, the multimodal transportation apparatus contains a motorcycle that is equipped with, and can be driven by an electric motor, and a securing apparatus to releasably fixedly secure the motorcycle to the passenger car. The motorcycle is arranged between a driver seat and a passenger seat, as seen in a direction of travel, in a secured operating state. At least a portion of a center console serves to support at least one body part of a rider of the motorcycle in an operating state, wherein the motorcycle is detached from the passenger car.

A transport system has a first set of substantially parallel rails supported above ground level by support structures, a trolley having wheels mounted to a frame with the wheels engaging the rails, at least one wheel powered to move the trolley along the set of rails, a portion of the frame depending between the rails to a level below the rails, and a downward-facing latching interface on the depending portion of the frame, and a pod enabled to carry a passenger or parcels, or both, engaged by an upward-facing latching interface to the downward-facing latching interface of the trolley, such that, as the trolley travels along the rail set, the pod is carried along below the rail set.

A passenger transportation complex parent-subsidiary mobile carrier includes a parent carrier and at least one subsidiary carrier. The parent carrier has a parent carrying section. The subsidiary carrier has a subsidiary carrying section. The parent carrier includes a first connection section and the subsidiary carrier includes a second connection section releasably mated and connected with the first connection section. At least a part of the parent carrying section and at least a part of the subsidiary carrying section are mated and connected with each other and positioned on the same plane so that the parent carrier and the subsidiary carrier are connected to together form the complex carrier as an integrated assembly to move together or separate from each other to respectively move.

A passenger transportation complex parent-subsidiary mobile carrier includes a parent carrier and at least one subsidiary carrier. The parent carrier has a parent carrying section. The subsidiary carrier has a subsidiary carrying section. The parent carrier includes a first connection section and the subsidiary carrier includes a second connection section releasably mated and connected with the first connection section. At least a part of the parent carrying section and at least a part of the subsidiary carrying section are mated and connected with each other and positioned on the same plane so that the parent carrier and the subsidiary carrier are connected to together form the complex carrier as an integrated assembly to move together or separate from each other to respectively move.

The invention refers to a method for stacking a first motor vehicle on top of a second motor vehicle, comprising the steps of providing a set of rear ramps at the rear part of the lower vehicle, said rear ramps linking the rear part of the roof of the cabin of the lower vehicle, to the ground; providing a set of front ramps or supports in the front part of the roof of the cabin of the lower vehicle, said set of front ramps or supports being such that the front wheels of the upper vehicle, can roll over the same; rolling the upper vehicle on said rear ramps of the lower vehicle so that the upper vehicle ascends or climbs from a position on the ground to a position on top of the roof of the lower vehicle; continue rolling said upper vehicle over the roof of the lower vehicle until it reaches a final stack position, indicated by a stopping means, in which the front wheels of the upper vehicle rest upon the front ramps or supports of the lower vehicle, the rear wheels of the upper vehicle rest upon the rear ramps of the lower vehicle, where the upper vehicle and lower vehicle are substantially vertically aligned, and where the front wheels and rear wheels of the upper vehicle in final rest position are in a lower height than the height of the roof of the lower vehicle; securing the upper vehicle to the lower vehicle by suitable fastening means, where the fastening force of the fastening means preferably is such that the suspensions of the upper vehicle are compressed by about 3 to 5 cm, thus reducing the overall height of the vehicle stack; and, removing, folding or retracting part of or the entirety of the rear ramps of the lower vehicle.

Additionally, the invention refers to a vehicle that can carry out said stacking method, which comprises a vehicle body comprising four wheels and a roofed cabin, a pair of front ramps or supports located at both sides of the front end of the roof of the cabin and a pair of rear ramps located at both sides of the rear end of the roof of the cabin. The stackable vehicle further comprises means for rapid aerial deployment (airdrop) of vehicles transported in a stack in a transport aircraft.