Flying Cars: It's about time.

[Joe Tully]

http://www.nypost.com/business/50253.htm



June 13, 2002 --

Toyota thinks cars of tomorrow will be airborne machines - and has already designed one in a top-secret project.

The new Toyota flying machine will cost about the same amount as the carmaker's vaunted Lexus luxury car - around $50,000 - and will be as simple to fly as driving a car.

Except in places like New York and Los Angeles.

The lightweight aircraft, which was tested in skies above the Mojave Desert two weeks ago, brought raves from Toyota's brass in Tokyo.

But the true test of Toyota's future craft may be found in the skies above the road-rage wracked Long Island Expressway and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

Besides triggering an air traffic nightmare, the Toyota machine could spell the end of hamburger drive-ins and lovers' lane interludes, and forever change the American lifestyle built around motoring.

Experts said the Toyota aircraft would be registered as an airplane, and drivers would have to earn flying licenses to operate them.

Where the Toyota craft would be parked or gassed up before a trip with the kids is uncertain because small private airports are disappearing rapidly from the countryside.

Toyota in the U.S. had no comment on the closely guarded project. Toyota's car designers and engineers from its Los Angeles office worked with the legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan to come up with the Toyota model, according to industry reports.

Rutan called the airborne Toyota "the aeronautical equivalent of the Lexus LS400."

Rutan is also designing a new concept vehicle for General Motors' car of tomorrow, which rides at high speed on the ground and doesn't fly.


It seems almost unreal, and I can't help but wonder if there would be problems if we had flying cars. I hope they have some realistic failsafes in case someone runs out of gas! :p

Any comments on this?

[Terminatah]

Are we sure that flying cars are the next step in motor vehicle transportation? I have also heard of a future where the streets take the cars to their destinations. That sounds like a good way to eliminate traffic accidents. Speaking of which, I don't want to THINK about how many more car deaths we'll have when people start zipping around in the sky.

-Terminatah

[Dark Spider]

This is an interesting topic. You know, I have always wanted to ride in a airborne car. It would've been so cool. But now, in a realistic sense, how are we gonna safely drive around in a aircar.

Its not gonna be like in the beginning of Star Wars Episode 2 where we see aircars zipping along the skies in straight lines. There would have to be totally new laws and traffic control ideas that would help regulate the new generation of traffic.

Also, how are the cars gonna stay in the sky? What would happen if this technology would fail and the aircar crashes...people are gonna have to face this new threat now.

There are a lot of things to consider with this aircar that would make this vehicle alot harder to sell to the public.

[James]

You might as well hand out sticks of dynamite to the public. I just don't trust people on the road never mind falling out of the sky.

Imagine all the drinking at Xmas? You wouldn't feel safe in your home without Uncle Tommy crashing in for a visit.

No thanks, but I guess there is no stopping it!

[Rhydant]

screw the flying car. i want my hoverboard! back to the future style.

[SpaceCub]

Also, how are the cars gonna stay in the sky? What would happen if this technology would fail and the aircar crashes.

Same thing that happens if your brakes fail.

The flying cars would probably already exist if it wasn't for the same thing that is going to kill Toyata's air car: gas prices. Think of how expensive gas prices are now and think if anyone would want to pay for jet fuel (it's really expensive and not as efficient as normal gas) if you didn't know) when normal cars work just fine.

---
"Hello, McFly?!"

[Opaque]

flying cars or planes, the only difference is that one is cheaper.

[Joe Tully]

Here's some safety features that are offered by one prototype flying car, by Moller...

http://www.moller.com/skycar/safety/

The most important issue in aviation is safety. So, the following safety features were designed into our volantor to help provide a safe alternative to ground transportation:

Dual Engines -- In the unlikely event of an engine failure sufficient power remains to ensure a safe and comfortable landing. Since the M400 has eight engines, one or more can fail and the Skycar will still operate safely. Unlike any light helicopter or airplane, the M400 Skycar has four engine nacelles; each with two Rotapower engines (each dual-rotor). These computer-controlled engines operate independently and allow for a vertical controlled landing should one engine fail.

Redundant Computer Stabilization Systems -- The Skycar has redundant, independent computer systems for flight management, stability and control. Should a computer problem occur backup systems would take over seamlessly. M400 has three independent computers for flight management with only one needed to fly.

Redundant Fuel Monitoring -- Multiple systems check fuel for quality and quantity and provide appropriate warnings.
Aerodynamically Stable -- In the unlikely event that insufficient power is available to hover, the Skycar's aerodynamic stability and good glide slope allows the pilot to maneuver to a safe area before using the airframe parachutes.

Automated Stabilization -- Since computers control the Skycar flight during hover and transition, the only pilot input is speed and direction. Undesirable movement of the Skycar due to wind gusts is automatically prevented.

Inherent Simplicity of the Engines -- Rotary engines have very few moving parts and therefore require very little maintenance and have little opportunity for breakdown and wear.

Enclosed Fans -- Each nacelle fully encloses the engines and fans, greatly reducing the possibility of injury to individuals near the aircraft. The volantor's VTOL lift is obtained via airflow through the four ducted fan propulsion nacelles which is redirected downward by deflection vanes during vertical takeoff.



Dual Parachutes -- Even in the instance of complete power loss you and your passengers are protected. The two airframe parachutes, front and rear, will guide the volantor safely and comfortably to the ground without incidence and can be deployed in the event of a critical failure of the aircraft. With the parachutes, the pilot, passengers and the Skycar can be recovered safely. Parachutes developed for the ultra-light aircraft industry, that are ballistically ejected, have demonstrated reliable vehicle recovery above 150 feet. Recovery is possible at a much lower altitude if the aircraft has a modest forward velocity or if a spreader gun is used to spread the parachute canopy. The best primary system should use the minimum number of engines necessary together with sufficient power to hover after the failure of one engine. A multi-engine system also interfaces well with a back-up parachute system since the time between consecutive engine failures should allow sufficient opportunity for the parachute to be deployed. A single engine failure in a VTOL aircraft with eight independent ducts and one engine per duct would require 54% reserve power in order to continue to hover. The same number of engines arranged in four nacelles with two engines per nacelle requires 36% reserve power to accommodate an engine failure. The safe operation of a VTOL aircraft requires that during hover it operate as close to the ground as possible (<25 ft.) and that transition to forward flight occur as quickly as possible. With the loss of an engine at 25-ft altitude the vehicle could be landed very quickly without incident. Above 25 ft altitude one can assume that the vehicle is moving forward and generating some aerodynamic lift so that a second engine failure should not be as critical. In the case where a critical number of engines fail and transition is not complete, aerodynamic lift can extend the flight time in the critical period before the parachute is fully deployed. Thus, deployment could occur at relatively low altitudes (<25 ft.) particularly if a spreader gun is used. In any case, a new concept aircraft can be expected to undergo the unexpected. Thus, overlapping systems to ensure passenger safety would be appropriate and should be mandatory.

Emergency options -- The Skycar can land almost anywhere, and therefore avoid dangerous situations created by a sudden weather change or equipment failure.

By emphasizing simplicity, durability and redundancy, Moller is making safety an inherent attribute of this revolutionary aircraft.



So some problems are at least partially solved. But problems like traffic would remain, and drunk driving would be really terrible in one of those things...

[Singin' Stray Cat]

Forget New York and Los Angeles. You don't want to be around Memphis if air cars ever become standard. Heck, most drivers here can't operate a normal car!!

Imagine all the drinking at Xmas? You wouldn't feel safe in your home without Uncle Tommy crashing in for a visit.

Not to mention Santa would have to watch his back more closely, especially around the Wal-Marts.... :rolleyes: ;)

[Depth Charge]

All right!!!! I can't wait for them....

....i've always wanted to pilot a flying car... I heard a while back that when flying cars are invented, and when they become popular, they will be navagated through a "road internet". Like, when you hop in, you would punch in the place you wanted to go, and the car would go there on its own....

...that would solve the some of the problems with loonies who want to drive into things...

[Lonestarr]

Did anyone ever see this short that Kevin Smith did called "The Flying Car"? It features Dante and Randal (from Clerks) stuck in traffic and Randal wonders how great it would be to have a flying car.

[RogueMartian]

It's the year 2002. We were supposed to be living in space colonies with gravity, driving flying cars, and talking to our entirely computerated houses by now. I say its about time we had flying cars, and soon as I can, I'm getting one. :D

[JustJack]

Wow...things are becoming like Cowboy Bebop. Things are still kinda grungey and whatnot. But, who knows? Maybe by 2027 we'll have some nice flying "plane-like private transit vehicles", kinda like Spike Spiegel's Swordfish II. And we have cyborg arms and whatnot now. In a couple years, something like Jet Black's robotic arm will be a reality. Now all we need to do is colonize space. BTW, has anyone heard anything new on that "Hilton Space Station"? I remember a few years back Hilton announced they were designing a new hotel in space...so people can visit space..heh...

wow...lucky me. I promised my girlfriend we'de visit the moon sometime. Hahaha, looks like I will actually be forced to keep my promise with a few years development in space travel...oh crap I'm in the dog house! :eek: ;) :D