The future of the trip? A standalone mobile hotel room

Imagine taking the road and never having to stop to eat or take a break in the bathroom.

Steve Lee, a designer from Toronto-based studio Aprilli Design Studio, has come up with an idea that could make this possible: the independent travel suite.

Think of it as a hotel room on wheels. The driverless mobile suite would include a sleeping area with mattresses, sanitary facilities with a toilet and shower, a work or entertainment area and a small kitchen. It could accommodate up to five people.

"It's basically a hotel room, so everything is in it," he says. "Whether it's six hours or 10 hours, you'll feel comfortable inside."

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The Independent Travel Suite has won this year's Radical Innovation Award, a design competition for the hospitality sector.

Does the idea seem exaggerated? Driverless cars have already been tested in the streets of some US cities and in London. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he could have autonomous vehicles on the road here next year.

Lee predicts that his autonomous travel suite could be on the road by 2030. The battery-powered vehicle would take travelers home and take them to their destination. He could travel until 10 o'clock.

It would replace domestic flights or train trips, eliminating the need to travel to the airport or train station and perform the registration and security process. According to Lee, the suite would work as a rental car and a hotel room, offering more flexibility, privacy and comfort.

It would also reduce costs, he says. The rental price of the suite would be well below the cost of all combined travel services.

And unlike car travel, passengers can work, sleep or play rather than focus on driving.

"It basically means we're going to save a lot of time on the road," he says.

Travelers would order the vehicle via an online application, specifying the desired destinations and services. The autonomous interface would then analyze the best routes.

For long trips, Lee plans to develop a chain of independent hotels, a network of hotel facilities offering fixed parent units and amenities such as fitness centers, spas, swimming pools and gyms. meeting. He thinks large hotel companies such as Marriott International and Hilton would be able to build the infrastructure of their properties to accommodate the suites.

"Existing hotels can continue to upgrade their facilities to meet the needs of autonomous vehicles," he said. But, "finally, it would be great if there is a dedicated brand where everything is designed around that."

– United States today