Importance

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Abstract

A pod assembly is disposed inside and thrusted along a slotted tube having a longitudinal slot. The pod assembly comprises a first pod, a second pod coupled with the first pod, and a strut disposed between and coupled with the first pod and the second pod. The strut extends through the longitudinal slot of the slotted tube to the support a transportation module outside the slotted tube. In one embodiment, the first pod is a thrust pod and the second pod is a passive pod. The thrust pod includes a thrust pod tire to make contact with the interior of the slotted tube and at least one bladder which is inflatable and deflatable to modulate gas flow through the thrust pod to adjust speed of movement of the thrust pod in the slotted tube. The passive pod includes a passive pod tire to make contact with the interior of the slotted tube and includes no thrust control feature. In another embodiment, the first and second pods include pod tires for making contact with the interior of the slotted tube. An adjustable mechanical valve such as a split butterfly valve is provided for modulating gas flow through the pod assembly to adjust the speed of movement of the pod assembly inside the slotted tube.

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First Claim