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

Keep this off the streets

[aliddell]

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

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:Cool.

[Locke2005]

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