3 ms·
You really want your typical driver flying around in a helicopter? I think this is the reason we don't have flying cars. We could build them. We could do a lot
by api 16y ago
You really want your typical driver flying around in a helicopter?
I think this is the reason we don't have flying cars. We could build them. We could do a lot of things. But nobody really wants them, given the danger they would pose. (Energy constraints are probably another reason, but secondary. There are flying car prototypes that get MPG numbers comparable to SUVs.)
- extension 16y agoAny flying car system I can conceive of would be vastly safer than the bloodbath caused by non-flying cars. And yes, we want them. Many times faster than ground transport, safely usable by any person young or old, no congestion, frees up the ground for other uses. Feasibiliy aside, it would be undeniably utopian.
- notahacker 16y agoI'm assuming your hypothetical flying cars transporting people around cities are dramatically safer than today's general aviation (light aircraft piloted largely by well-trained enthusiasts and professionals in controlled environments). If I had to bet it would be on the "driverless" car.
- nbashaw 16y agoCan you link to the flying car prototypes that you're referring to?
- JanezStupar 16y agoThere you go: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_air_vehicle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_air_vehicle
- egor83 16y agoI think this is the reason we don't have flying cars. We could build them. So if the biggest problem here is safety (introduced to some extent by irresponsible drivers), maybe flying cars will be possible once we can create automated car control? Once these robot cars are reliable enough, they will look like a much better alternative to human drivers to me: quicker reaction, possibility to have 360 degrees field of view at all times, impossible to DUI etc. Let's keep an eye on DARPA's Grand Challenge and Google robot car attempts.