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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."

4 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. Keep this off the streets by aliddell · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm not sure that the average driver needs to worry about three dimensions if he can't handle two well enough.

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    1. Re:Keep this off the streets by John+Hasler · · Score: 4, Insightful

      > In urban areas they'd probably have to be computer-controlled

      They'll have to be computer-controlled everywhere. At low speeds and low altitudes the user may sometimes be permitted the illusion that he is driving.

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  2. Strange definition of success by John+Hasler · · Score: 4, Insightful

    > Like all DARPA projects Transformer TX is unlikely to succeed at all.

    You have a strange definition of success. Hint: DARPA is a research organization.

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    Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
  3. I haven't... by Valdrax · · Score: 4, Insightful

    OK, we've all whined about the fact that we are now firmly entrenched in the 21st Century and no flying cars.

    No, I'm pretty sure I consider that to be a feature and not a bug in our technological progress. Movement in three dimensions is a waste of fuel for most tasks, and a humongous safety hazard in the hands of most drivers as well as in the case of engineering failure.

    I don't want flying cars; I want cars that can drive themselves more safely than people can. That's my SF car of the future.

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