At Last, Flying Cars?

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."

Comments

Too Heavy?

[Mikkeles]

'... 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!

Re:Too Heavy?

[Potor]

I tagged this: "fitsoneamerican"

Re:Cool.

[Locke2005]

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

Re:Keep this off the streets

[aliddell]

We can get Toyota to do that.

Re:Keep this off the streets

[Tablizer]

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."
     

Re:Wife Acceptance Factor

[ColdWetDog]

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.

Re:flying robotic overlords

[SteveFoerster]

I for one welcome our Autobot overlords.

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

Re:Cool.

[Starayo]

Tape a fleshlight to a roomba. :D