Underground Freight Networks

morphovar writes "The German Ruhr University of Bochum is conducting experiments with a large-scale model for an automated subterranean transport system. It would use unmanned electric vehicles on rails that travel in a network through pipelines with a diameter of 1.6 meters, up to distances of 150 kilometers. Sending cargo goods through underground pipelines is anything but new — see this scan of a 1929 magazine article about Chicago's underground freight tunnel network (more details). Translating this concept to the 21st century would be something like introducing email for things: you could order something on the Internet and pick it up through a trapdoor in your cellar the next morning."

Comments

Pneumatic Telegraph

[StCredZero]

Many large cities in the US had a Pneumatic Telegraph at one time. Basically one of those pneumatic tube package delivery systems, but spanning the whole city. This was back in the 1800's. The more things change, the more things stay the same.

Re:Pneumatic Telegraph

[csnydermvpsoft]

From the Damn Interesting article: ...and some of these lines remained in operation until 1953. Ultimately, however, trucks proved more efficient at information-moving than the series of tubes.

Ha! How wrong they were! Everyone knows that series of tubes are much more efficient than big trucks.

Re:Amazing!

[Unique2]

Yes, but with the new system you don't even need to leave your parents basement!

One less awkward social interaction to deal with!