flying cars (vs. self-driving cars)

[rowdy]

There's a thread about self-driving cars.

What about flying cars?  Anyone excited to see those introduced?

What would you prefer - self-driving cars or flying cars (self-driving or otherwise, although self-flying would probably be a good idea)?

[tp4tissue]

Doubt this is going to happen anytime soon..


The only things that can fly involves moving LOTS of air , REALLY fast.. 

Therefore, much too loud for residential use.. sigh.................

[fanpeople]

People cant handle cars when given a simple choice between left and right. Lets not further complicate it.

[tp4tissue]

People cant handle cars when given a simple choice between left and right. Lets not further complicate it.

Autopilot would be alot simpler in the air, because there wouldn't be obstructions.

[fanpeople]

People cant handle cars when given a simple choice between left and right. Lets not further complicate it.

Autopilot would be alot simpler in the air, because there wouldn't be obstructions.

Except for every other flying car around you.

[rowdy]

People cant handle cars when given a simple choice between left and right. Lets not further complicate it.

Autopilot would be alot simpler in the air, because there wouldn't be obstructions.

Except for every other flying car around you.

Some sort of collision detection would be absolutely mandatory.

Plus specified lanes or even altitudes for travelling in a certain direction.

It wouldn't be a case of fly as high as you're comfortable with, and then head off in a random direction.

There would have to be some control over it.

Commercial airlines fly in predetermined patterns so everyone knows where everyone else is, or at least is supposed to be.

[fanpeople]

People cant handle cars when given a simple choice between left and right. Lets not further complicate it.

Autopilot would be alot simpler in the air, because there wouldn't be obstructions.

Except for every other flying car around you.

Some sort of collision detection would be absolutely mandatory.

Plus specified lanes or even altitudes for travelling in a certain direction.

It wouldn't be a case of fly as high as you're comfortable with, and then head off in a random direction.

There would have to be some control over it.

Commercial airlines fly in predetermined patterns so everyone knows where everyone else is, or at least is supposed to be.

Commercial airlines also have en route and airport ATCs to keep them safe. This would not be possible with personal transport.

The other thing is maintenance. Commercial planes are maintained to a standard, personal vehicles are by some owners, many aren't. You would need a pretty strict policy on keeping the flying cars serviced/inspected. Or an automated lockout system, or better technology that uses less if not nil moving parts to help ease wear and tear thus reducing points of failure. 

Pink Slips in NSW pissed me off as it is, THANK YOU QLD FOR BEING REASONABLE.

[rowdy]

People cant handle cars when given a simple choice between left and right. Lets not further complicate it.

Autopilot would be alot simpler in the air, because there wouldn't be obstructions.

Except for every other flying car around you.

Some sort of collision detection would be absolutely mandatory.

Plus specified lanes or even altitudes for travelling in a certain direction.

It wouldn't be a case of fly as high as you're comfortable with, and then head off in a random direction.

There would have to be some control over it.

Commercial airlines fly in predetermined patterns so everyone knows where everyone else is, or at least is supposed to be.

Commercial airlines also have en route and airport ATCs to keep them safe. This would not be possible with personal transport.

The other thing is maintenance. Commercial planes are maintained to a standard, personal vehicles are by some owners, many aren't. You would need a pretty strict policy on keeping the flying cars serviced/inspected. Or an automated lockout system, or better technology that uses less if not nil moving parts to help ease wear and tear thus reducing points of failure. 

Pink Slips in NSW pissed me off as it is, THANK YOU QLD FOR BEING REASONABLE.

Technology would still need to advance in a few areas, one of which would be reliability.

[ReverbSlush]

There is no way I'd get into a flying car. While the chance of getting in an accident is much higher in a car, the chance of surviving is much higher as well.  We can't all be Harrison Ford (I think he has like 2 or 3 crashes under his belt now...)

[tp4tissue]

People cant handle cars when given a simple choice between left and right. Lets not further complicate it.

well that's the thing with flying cars

you go in a straight line to your destination..  there would be ON AVERAGE less decision making. // less turns,  up, forward, then down..

[davkol]

Except weather.

[vivalarevolución]

Actually was talking with one of the older people at work about this.  When they were growing up, flying cars were all the rage for the future.  Now it's self driving cars.  Mainly, I think the FAA and cost are the main things hold back flying cars.  Self-driving cars have less hassle and cost to get on the roads.

[fohat.digs]

I watched "The Jetsons" and nothing would be cooler than a flying car, but the thought of all sorts of whirring mechanical crap raining down on us (most including flammable fuel reservoirs) at random times without warning is pretty frightening.

Frankly, I would even like small drones banned over populated areas.

[vivalarevolución]

I watched "The Jetsons" and nothing would be cooler than a flying car, but the thought of all sorts of whirring mechanical crap raining down on us (most including flammable fuel reservoirs) at random times without warning is pretty frightening.

Frankly, I would even like small drones banned over populated areas.

How the heck would you enforce the banning of small drones?  I literally could go out and play with one right now.  This city does not have enough cops to stop me.

[fanpeople]

I watched "The Jetsons" and nothing would be cooler than a flying car, but the thought of all sorts of whirring mechanical crap raining down on us (most including flammable fuel reservoirs) at random times without warning is pretty frightening.

Frankly, I would even like small drones banned over populated areas.

How the heck would you enforce the banning of small drones?  I literally could go out and play with one right now.  This city does not have enough cops to stop me.

In australia you are not allowed to fly them within i think its 5kms of an airport. No one is activly looking for them but if you are caught i believe it is a pretty large fine.

[rowdy]

Any sort of flying car would need quite a lot of technological advances to be made before it would be safe and viable.

Parking would be a breeze though, just hover over your chosen space and descend slowly.

[vivalarevolución]

Any sort of flying car would need quite a lot of technological advances to be made before it would be safe and viable.

Parking would be a breeze though, just hover over your chosen space and descend slowly.

Being able to hover is a step beyond flying.  Are we talking about cars that function like hobby drones?

[rowdy]

Any sort of flying car would need quite a lot of technological advances to be made before it would be safe and viable.

Parking would be a breeze though, just hover over your chosen space and descend slowly.

Being able to hover is a step beyond flying.  Are we talking about cars that function like hobby drones?

I was thinking VTOL so we don't need a runway in each home.

[vivalarevolución]

Any sort of flying car would need quite a lot of technological advances to be made before it would be safe and viable.

Parking would be a breeze though, just hover over your chosen space and descend slowly.

Being able to hover is a step beyond flying.  Are we talking about cars that function like hobby drones?

I was thinking VTOL so we don't need a runway in each home.

That technology would come with a price premium, I am not sure if that would be affordable for the average homeowner.  I think Back to the Future type hover cars would be a more practical technology to focus on.

[rowdy]

Any sort of flying car would need quite a lot of technological advances to be made before it would be safe and viable.

Parking would be a breeze though, just hover over your chosen space and descend slowly.

Being able to hover is a step beyond flying.  Are we talking about cars that function like hobby drones?

I was thinking VTOL so we don't need a runway in each home.

That technology would come with a price premium, I am not sure if that would be affordable for the average homeowner.  I think Back to the Future type hover cars would be a more practical technology to focus on.

Like the Delorean?  That was VTOL, more or less, just using some sort of non-specified futuristic technology to achieve it.

No, today's VTOL technology would not be appropriate for consumer-grade vehicles.

Ideally some sort of anti-grav unit would simply create an inverse gravitational field around the vehicle, which would then silently and efficiently rise.

Control over the field strength would allow balancing the vehicle's altitude.

[vivalarevolución]

You're getting to scientific for me, bud.

[rowdy]

Back in the day (at uni) we tried to design a "flying saucer" of some sort.

There were about 5 of us - one was in charge of propulsion, one in charge of artificial gravity, one (me) in charge of software and so on.

I started delivering my software long before anyone else had even thought about contributing.

I don't think they took me seriously.