The future of moving around outside Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport might include your own little autonomous pod.

Why it matters: The world's busiest airport is surrounded by warehouses, cargo businesses, hotels, Delta Air Lines offices and more. It's a 24-7 environment.

• A coalition of local businesses wants to try a cheaper, autonomous option that could connect the area and serve places and people that MARTA can't reach.

Driving the news: Crews have started construction on the Atlanta Airport Community Improvement Districts and Glydways' 0.5-mile test route in College Park, just west of the airport.

• If the project is successful, leaders said, the route could scale and serve a larger area.

State of play: Scheduled to launch later this year, the 24-month pilot program will serve the Georgia International Convention Center and Gateway Center Arena and connect to the airport's SkyTrain.

• The free route — Glydways' first-ever — uses autonomous vehicles that can hold about four passengers and travel independently on a fixed guideway.

How it works: Passengers will walk to a covered pickup and drop-off stop to request a vehicle or hop into one that's already waiting.

• Vehicles can skip stops based on the passengers' destinations.

Yes, but: The mode is designed to complement, not replace, MARTA, Chris Riley, Glydways' chief commercial officer, told Axios.

• Project leaders acknowledge riders may need to switch between multiple modes — Glydways, the SkyTrain and MARTA — to get from the GICC to the train into the city. They argue the system's on-demand convenience outweighs the friction.

Zoom out: The Atlanta Beltline is expected to launch a one-year autonomous shuttle connecting the West End MARTA station to the Lee & White district in May.

• The line will extend to the Atlanta University Center during the final half of the pilot program.

Go deeper

If you're ready to level up your outdoor game, consider adding a bat box to your space.

Why it matters: Hosting bats takes patience and some strategic setup, but once your winged guests are settled, the benefits abound.

The big picture: Bats are under threat globally due to habitat loss. Giving them a safe place to roost helps protect these nocturnal MVPs — key pollinators that also spread seeds and devour pesky insects like mosquitoes, wasps and flies.

• Georgia is home to 16 bat species — nine of which are rare, threatened or a species of concern, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Get active: DNR operates a bat roosting monitor program in the summertime, in addition to other surveys.

Friction point: If you build it, they might come. "Bat houses are complicated to get right," warn experts at Bat Conservation International. "They can go unused for years, attract pests, and even harm bats when installed incorrectly."

Yes, but: The effort can pay off, especially in cities. Without a proper roost, bats may end up in less-than-ideal spots like attics or lofts.

🦇 What to know:

• Aim for at least 15 feet off the ground.
• Mount on poles or buildings to avoid predators.
• Bats prefer warm roosts, so direct sunlight helps.
• It can take a year or more for bats to move in.

Golf enthusiasts visiting Ponce City Market can now practice their putts on the rooftop's newly redesigned 18-hole mini course.

The latest: The revamped course is open for play at The Roof at Ponce City Market, an amusement and entertainment center 10 stories in the sky.

Zoom in: The updated course was designed by Bobby Cupp, whose portfolio includes the Druid Hills Golf Club near Fernbank Museum and the Bobby Jones Golf Course in Buckhead, Ponce City Market said in a news release.

Also new: "Tee Time," a weekday happy hour featuring drinks and a round of golf for half the price.

Catch up quick: If golf isn't your thing, The Roof also has games and rides at Skyline Park; old-fashioned parlour games and private space at RFD Social; 12 Cocktail Bar; and the 9 Mile Station restaurant. There's also SK8 The Roof.

Go: The mini-golf course is open 3-10pm Monday through Thursday, 3pm to midnight Friday, 11am to midnight Saturday and 11am to 9pm Sunday.

Tell your golfing buddy

🎒 Early education advocates hope the state will expand its free pre-kindergarten program for four-year-old children to include three-year-olds. (AJC)

🚒 Rainfall over the weekend helped crews make progress on fighting two Georgia wildfires that have destroyed more than 100 homes. (AP)

⚽ U.S. Soccer will open its national training center next month on 200 acres in Fayetteville. (Rough Draft)

Erroll Davis Jr., the first Black chancellor of the University System of Georgia and former superintendent for Atlanta Public Schools, has died. (Read about his life)