Posted 01.06.2010 at 5:09 pm
18 Comments
DARPA Wants a Flying Car
DARPA has requested the private sector's help in developing a lot of technologies once thought possible only in sci-fi novels, and they may have just jumped the shark in that regard. The DoD's future tech wing has issued a call for a flying car, a one- to four-person vehicle suitable for on- and off-road conditions as well as aerial flight. Gull wings and flux capacitor optional.
The objective of the Transformer (TX) program is to demonstrate a 1- to 4-person transportation vehicle that can drive and fly, thus enabling the warfighter to avoid water, difficult terrain, and road obstructions as well as IED and ambush threats. The vehicle will be capable of driving on prepared surface and light off-road conditions, while flight functionality will require Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL).
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Technology, Clay Dillow, aviation, cars, flying car, future tech, military, vehiclesThe proposal noticeably points out that helicopters are "limited in flight speed and availability." Combat helicopters don't move like combat jets, but it's hard to imagine a flying car that's going to move any faster. One could also point out that if availability of helicopters is an issue, perhaps we shouldn't be throwing money after vertically-launched flying cars. But what's good for the military often ends up being good for civilians as military technology bleeds into commercial use, so we're the last ones who will criticize DARPA for this one.
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I'll bet DARPA has a call in to Moller: www.moller.com/
Newbeak5...Its the other way round. But Moller's junk would actually have to fly to win the money.
Islam and Sharia Law are taking over the lands in modern Europe as you read this. Make the stand today and educate yourself on this dire matter!
I am literally laughing while reading this article because a flying car that could stay in flight for longer than an hour or more is decades away!!!! I mean sure they might be able to create a flying car now but it aint going to stay in the air for that long and its just not going to be very practical. but in 20 to 30 years who knows!!!!
At some point, someone is going to come up with the right design and right funding to succeed. Why not DARPA !
Flying cars, what next, space travel to the edges of the universe.(But then, the universe doesn't have an edge. Or a center.)People back then imagined the horseless wagon. It happened. So why not flying cars. I bet people of the future will laugh at our technological inferiority. Did I spell that right?
A flying car is a missile; no entity would be safe with thousands of missiles flying by. Before developing the flying car, the infrastructures, rules, defenses, safety standards, etc had to be in place.
@ svb and Phillinyork
idk, Moller might just make it his time, theyve been in the business like 40 years, their hover-jet thingy goes on sale finally this cycle
How about using ultra soncic sound waves to create lift for the vehical?
otoko_tenshi: He has been saying that for 40 years... It will be out next year, then next, then next. But his design violates the laws of physics and the SEC says he violates the laws of financing. {We know its really you, Paul, always posting pro-Moller comments and links here}
Coming to Arlington Paul? How can you resist a room full of suckers?
What's next, warp drives?
They might wanna have a look at the iCar 101 project at www.iCar-101.com
That looks like a real new concept of flying car.
The DARPA Proposers Workshop was very impressive, with excellent presentations by DARPA, Marine Corps, and NASA. About 100 attendees mingled to the poster session that included my poster about the StrongMobile Flying Car Project.
If DARPA did call Moeller, it probably went something like "get off your asses- you've been promising this for DECADES- get it operational!".
I think it's possible. All they'd have to do is program the car to have restrictions on where it can't and can go.
"The objective of the Transformer (TX) program is to demonstrate a 1- to 4-person transportation vehicle that can drive and fly, thus enabling the warfighter to avoid water, difficult terrain, and road obstructions as well as IED and ambush threats. The vehicle will be capable of driving on prepared surface and light off-road conditions, while flight functionality will require Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL)."
Dam, that really looks awesome! http://motorcycleinsurancehq.com/
It should be mentioned that very little of what DARPA funds (I have heard about 1%) turns into something useful, so this "flying hummer" thing should be no surprise.
DARPA ROCKS!!!