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DARPA Kick-Starts Flying Car Program

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the finally-someone-makes-good dept.

coondoggie writes to share that DARPA is finally trying to make good on the promise of flying cars for our future with the new "Transformer" (TX) project. "DARPA said the vehicle will need to be able to drive on prepared surface and light off-road conditions, as well as support Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) features. The TX will also support range and speed efficiencies that will allow for missions to be performed on a single tank of fuel. DARPA said the TX will 'provide the flexibility to adapt to traditional and asymmetric threats by providing the operator unimpeded movement over difficult terrain. In addition, transportation is no longer restricted to trafficable terrain that tends to makes movement predictable.'"

6 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. What do they know? by migla · · Score: 4, Funny

    Darpa schmarpa!

    Whatever happened to that DARPANET they used to have? Losers.

    --
    Some of my favourite people are from th US; Vonnegut, Chomsky, Bill Hicks.
    1. Re:What do they know? by sentientbeing · · Score: 5, Funny

      Youre right. These flying cars will never take off.

      --

      ------
      beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his mind he dreams himself your master
  2. "kick-starts flying car"? by billstewart · · Score: 3, Funny

    Can't they put a starter motor in the thing? I'd hate to have to get out, kick-start the thing, and have it fly away; that'd be almost as bad as having an old crank-start car trying to run you over.

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  3. Dibs on the name... by Tsar · · Score: 3, Funny

    HumVTOL.

  4. Watch out for that building!!! by DigiShaman · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's all fun and games till numb-nuts ram flying crafts into a buildings. Oh wait...

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.
  5. Re:no, no no by sunderland56 · · Score: 5, Funny

    We don't need flying cars. Flying cars = Falling cars. Add in volatile fuel and you have bombs.

    So, who is going to perform the security search before I leave for work in a flying car? Does the TSA come to my house every morning, or does my wife get to strip search me? And can I be checked before I put on my shoes, or do I have to put them on, then take them off, and then put them on again?

    And if I bring a cup of coffee, does it have to be smaller than 3.4 ounces??