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WHOLE NEW INDUSTRY? And yet, a flying car is suddenly less of a pipe dream or the stuff of cartoons. Giants including carmakers Honda (HMC ) and Toyota (TM ) are developing prototypes of small flying devices. Helped by advances in nanotechnology, microelectronics, and robotics, researchers from the likes of NASA, Carnegie Mellon University, and University of Florida are developing new flight-related technologies, designed to make piloting an aircraft easier than driving a car.
To appeal to the mass market, flying devices have to be super-reliable, nearly impossible to collide, and easy to control. "We're trying to make an airplane like a horse," jokes Andrew Hahn, an analyst for NASA in Hampton, Va. "A horse doesn't want to be driven off a cliff. And if you're drunk and fall asleep, it's going to take you back to the barn." So Hahn is developing intuitive, easy-to-operate controls.
Sure, the flying car is a long way off. But chances are, cars will eventually fly.
Originally posted by Hoppinmad1
The flying car idea died 9/11.
Originally posted by GradyPhilpottThe FAA has never been partial to ... blah blah blah ... I guess anything is possible, a traitor is the Democratic nominee for president, but flying cars ... blah blah blah ... anytime soon.
Originally posted by Chuck Stevenson
Totally off thread I know, but really you should stop insinuating your political views into every other forum. Save it for the Political Forum.
That is an excellent point , peacfull me never thought about that . FAA certification would surely be needed , but the Moller Sky Car I posted a link to was being made with the intent of computer controlled everything ! Type in destination , and then just be alert enough to go manual if needed .
Originally posted by Hoppinmad1
Putting flying cars out anytime in the near future would be insane. I know that there are more destructive things out there and they haven't been used in a bad way but you know this would be taken advantage of quickly.
For some reason I just feel this would be a bad idea. Even if the vehicles operated on a roadway in the air it could still be used as a weapon.
Ordinary cars are used as weapons pretty frequently as can be seen in all the car bombings. The only thing that keeps this cars away from the buildings and doing more damage is security and barriers. Now eliminate those barriers and see what would happen.
I would love to see them and would love to use one but for the benifit of all it would be best if they postponed these untill the human race can get along just a wee bit better.
Can any automobile give you this scenario? From your garage to your destination, the M400 Skycar can cruise comfortably at 350+ MPH and achieve up to 28 miles per gallon. No traffic, no red lights, no speeding tickets. Just quiet direct transportation from point A to point B in a fraction of the time. Three dimensional mobility in place of two dimensional immobility