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At Last, Flying Cars?

Posted by kdawson on from the no-good-telling-the-girls-you're-a-pilot dept.

ColdWetDog writes, "OK, we've all whined about the fact that we are now firmly entrenched in the 21st Century and no flying cars. So it is gratifying to see that our good friends at DARPA are finally going to do something about it." The project is called Transformer TX. "The Government's envisioned concept consists of a robust ground vehicle that is capable of configuring into a VTOL air vehicle with a maximum payload capability of approximately 1,000 lbs. ... Technologies of interest may include: hybrid electric drive, advanced batteries, adaptive wing structures, ducted fan propulsion systems, advanced lightweight heavy fuel engines, lightweight materials, advanced sensors, and flight controls for stable transition from vertical to horizontal flight. ... Like all DARPA projects Transformer TX is unlikely to succeed at all. Even if US Marine rifle companies one day do ride to war in handy four-man sky jeeps rather than cumbersome choppers or Humvees, that doesn't necessarily mean flying cars for all any more than Harriers or Ospreys did."

24 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. flying robotic overlords by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I for one welcome our Autobot overlords.

    1. Re:flying robotic overlords by SteveFoerster · · Score: 4, Funny

      I for one welcome our Autobot overlords.

      Autobots don't fly, Decepticons do. Thus, we're doomed.

      --
      Space game using normal deck of cards: http://BattleCards.org
    2. Re:flying robotic overlords by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2, Funny

      I for one welcome our Autobot overlords.

      It was the Decepticons that flew. Yeesh.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    3. Re:flying robotic overlords by SteveFoerster · · Score: 2, Funny

      We said the same thing at the same minute? Hopefully this is a case of "great minds think alike" and not one of "fools seldom differ". :-)

      --
      Space game using normal deck of cards: http://BattleCards.org
    4. Re:flying robotic overlords by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 2, Funny

      Haha. What's sad is after I posted that I looked down and noticed I was wearing a Transformers T-shirt.

      Super cool, huh?

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

    5. Re:flying robotic overlords by SteveFoerster · · Score: 2, Funny

      I recognize a tie-breaker when I see one. I concede defeat, sir. :-D

      --
      Space game using normal deck of cards: http://BattleCards.org
  2. Damn typical by geegel · · Score: 2, Funny

    Finally the thing shows up and only the military can play with it.

    --
    right...
  3. Too Heavy? by Mikkeles · · Score: 5, Funny

    '... a VTOL air vehicle with a maximum payload capability of approximately 1,000 lbs?.'

    So a typical US family of four won't be able to acheive lift-off in it!

    --
    Great minds think alike; fools seldom differ.
    1. Re:Too Heavy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      A typical US family would have at least 3 of them.

    2. Re:Too Heavy? by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 3, Funny

      You can take along either the luggage or the kids. Not both.

      Unless you put your kids into the suitcase.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    3. Re:Too Heavy? by Potor · · Score: 4, Funny

      I tagged this: "fitsoneamerican"

  4. Re:Cool. by Locke2005 · · Score: 5, Funny

    By "servant", you mean "sexbot", right?

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  5. Re:Keep this off the streets by aliddell · · Score: 4, Funny

    We can get Toyota to do that.

    --
    What do you think, sirs?
  6. Re:Cool. by pinkj · · Score: 3, Funny

    I assume yes, but I think it would be nice for the robot to clean up after sex as well.

  7. Re:Keep this off the streets by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

    We can get Toyota to do [computer control]

    The difference is that there's less to hit if you can't stop:

    "Sorry, Boss, I had to go to Vegas, it's a Toyota flyer."
         

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  8. There goes the old saying out the window ---- by bagboy · · Score: 3, Funny

    "You're more likely to die in a car accident than while flying"...

  9. Re:Wife Acceptance Factor by ColdWetDog · · Score: 4, Funny

    maybe he doesn't know that he probably has a joint credit card with DARPA.

    I do? I'll go check again. This will be great!

    "No, honey, I didn't order the four GE turbofan engines that just showed up on the UPS dock. That wasn't me at all, that was DARPA!"

    On second thought, maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea.. "So, just who is this Darpa chick? How did she get your credit card?" I'd be in a heap of trouble.

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  10. Re:Cool. by Zen+Hash · · Score: 2, Funny

    "It's times like this that I feel lied to by the Jetsons."
    "The Flying Car" by Kevin Smith

    --
    Here I sit, all broken hearted.
    Came to poop, but only farted.
  11. Re:Cool. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, add violation to the charges against us when the robots rise against us.

  12. Re:I haven't... by ColdWetDog · · Score: 2, Funny

    I bet your a lot of fun at parties.

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  13. Re:Cool. by MachDelta · · Score: 2, Funny

    Not if it collects samples during the service!

  14. Re:Cool. by Starayo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Tape a fleshlight to a roomba. :D

    --
    Ezekiel 23:20
  15. I can see it now... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ...airborne signs reading "$500.00 fine for texting while flying...

  16. Re:Cool. by Internalist · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh God I read "felch beer" the first time...(ok, it was actually kind of hot)

    --
    Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing. -- Wernher von Braun