Flying cars: Radical concept design aims high

[Playfair]

An ambitious firm has revealed their plans for a new type of personal air transport vehicle that takes off and lands like a helicopter. Will the idea fly?

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20130523-radical-flying-car-model-unveiled

[polak]

This is an awful idea.

[Hatter]

People have a hard enough time driving and properly maintaining their cars with the current system. Flying personal automobiles have been, and will remain a terrible idea.

[FlamesAddiction]

I think it's a great idea as long as they can come up with some type of infrastructure to control how it's used. Obviously, you can't have millions of people in a city just flying around in all directions and heights willy nilly as air traffic would be unmanageable, but there has to be a way to control it.

[Dorkmaster]

I wonder if instead of cars, we can use this technology for buses? Lets be honest, it'd be an absolute disaster trying to manage individuals. Another form of public transportation could be appealing though.

[CaptainYooh]

I dream about a flying car every time I'm in traffic. Great idea!

[WhiteTiger]

While I doubt that the majority of the people could handle it (just look at the chaos on the road already, I doubt that adding another dimension would help at all...) I know that I would love a personal flying vehicle like this.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

While I doubt that the majority of the people could handle it (just look at the chaos on the road already, I doubt that adding another dimension would help at all...) I know that I would love a personal flying vehicle like this.

I imagine that insurance rates would be extremely restrictive and the luxury would be reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

[MarchHare]

We're probably only 1-2 decades away from self-driving cars (which will be safer than human-driven vehicles) being mainstream. If flying cars ever become a practical reality, I suspect they will be automated, not driven/piloted by a human.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

We're probably only 1-2 decades away from self-driving cars (which will be safer than human-driven vehicles) being mainstream. If flying cars ever become a practical reality, I suspect they will be automated, not driven/piloted by a human.

They can pry my steering wheel from my cold dead hands.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

We're probably only 1-2 decades away from self-driving cars (which will be safer than human-driven vehicles) being mainstream. If flying cars ever become a practical reality, I suspect they will be automated, not driven/piloted by a human.

Yep this is dead on. No way will average people be allowed to fly around, it will only happen when this can be automated.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

An old rich Chinese woman will drive her Lexus flying car into Holt Renfrew, killing dozens. She will drive/fly away without realizing the carnage she caused. This will happen. I saw it in my vision to the future.

[Max Cow Disease]

As an aviator, I find this remarkably disconcerting.

[sun]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

We're probably only 1-2 decades away from self-driving cars (which will be safer than human-driven vehicles) being mainstream. If flying cars ever become a practical reality, I suspect they will be automated, not driven/piloted by a human.

Goddamn, I can't wait for self-driving cars!

[CaptainCrunch]

Business idea that will make millions

A+B crater repair.

[Matty81]

Ya self-driving cars are coming fast and I am looking forward to it too, we won't have to be at the mercy of drunks and reckless idiots anymore and I can actually use commuting time for useful stuff.

Flying cars seem like a big leap to me with the increased emphasis on fuel efficiency these days, I don't know if it's the wrong assumption but I imagine they would just guzzle fuel.

[Street Pharmacist]

I get giddy thinking about the naps I'll get in on the way to my other store. A 2.5 hour commute becomes a 2.5 hour nap. Awesome.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Ya self-driving cars are coming fast and I am looking forward to it too, we won't have to be at the mercy of drunks and reckless idiots anymore and I can actually use commuting time for useful stuff.

Gotcha, no one will fly drunk if they make it illegal, and that will get you away from the drunks on the road where no such law exists?

[saskflames69]

Originally Posted by 4X4

They can pry my steering wheel from my cold dead hands.

They'll have to remove the rest of the wreckage too.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Gotcha, no one will fly drunk if they make it illegal, and that will get you away from the drunks on the road where no such law exists?

Pretty sure he was talking about self driving cars.