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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."
I'm not sure that the average driver needs to worry about three dimensions if he can't handle two well enough.
What do you think, sirs?
> 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.
Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
'... 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.
By "servant", you mean "sexbot", right?
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
If it can sexually service men, clean up afterwards, and then fetch beer and a pizza... then our species is doomed!
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
Unless someone develops a low energy input, low mass anti-gravity mechanism, flying cars are never going to be commonplace, merely niche vehicles.
The why should be obvious: it takes a lot of energy to get one in the air. Even standard small prop aircraft gets middling mileage, and earns points only by its ability to fly in a straight line. However, it needs a lot of room for take off and landing.
Hence, a practical flying car needs to be VTOL, which is by its nature very energy inefficient.
Luke, help me take this mask off
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.
If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
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!
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
Tape a fleshlight to a roomba. :D
Ezekiel 23:20