Three self-driving cars traveling 200 km

Three self-driving cars traveling 200 km on a highway with real traffic

Last February the SARTRE project (Safe Road Train for the Environment ) made its first test out the simulator, closed track to achieve the desired driving "follow the leader", self-guided cars that follow the trail of a truck driven by professionals.

Now for the first time a "road train" has been testing on asphalt public with real traffic conditions, more specifically on a highway near the city of Barcelona and the rest of regular drivers.

This was announced today at a brief press release Swedish automaker Volvo, which mentions neither the road nor the kilometer of the route or if each car had to pay toll made them separately or group rate.

But they assert that the historical evidence has been carried out successfully by a truck platoon leader that led to it's slipstream a Volvo XC60, a Volvo V60 and Volvo S60.

Apparently, the cars circulated at an average speed of 85 km / h with a maximum distance of 6 meters between them. In each vehicle, at least one driver was absolutely delegate its functions on the steering wheel and pedals to autonomous driving technology developed by the British company Ricardo UK Ltd.

This particular system consists of cameras, radar and laser sensors for monitoring, allowing each vehicle to control their conduct with respect to its environment, while the data transmitted wirelessly tell the lead vehicle when every "follower" accelerates, brakes or tour, all in real time and real traffic conditions.

The European SARTRE project has been underway since 2009 and a total test vehicles have traveled over 10,000 miles on the track closed. But after the successful coming-out in the public highways of Spain, the project is now entering a new phase with a focus on optimizing the fuel consumption using self-guided driving, resulting in higher aerodynamic efficiency in cars going protected by a truck in the lead.

And if they succeed in this aspect, the system's benefits are expected to be significant: an estimated saving in fuel consumption of around 20%, apart from the safety benefits to be derived from the reduction of accidents by decreased reflexes or driver fatigue.

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Flying car in the premiere

Flying car tested

The Dutch flying car PAL-V has now test flown. It flies like a gyrocopter, the road runs on a motorcycle.

The Flying car has been tested on the ground since 2009, but it was only a few weeks ago that Pal-V was also tested in the air. It needs a relatively short take-off distance, 165 meters to take off and land at 30 meters.

Flying car ability

In ten minutes you turn the vehicle from cars to airplanes, and vice versa. To fly with the car requires approximately 20 - 30 hours of training, says the manufacturer PAL-V Europe NV.

Flying car top speed with a motor of 160 kW is located at 180 km / h in the air and on the road. The fuel is enough for a distance in the air at 350-500 km depending on load and wind conditions. On the way, enough fuel for a distance of 1200 km. The three-wheel vehicle is inclined inwardly in curves like a motorcycle.

Pal-v flying car can seat two people. Maximum takeoff weight is 910 kg. Minimum speed in the air is 50 km / h

The idea is that the plane should be able to run with the help of GPS technology at up to 1,200 meters height so as not to get in the way of commercial aviation.

Flying car test video

See the Pal-V Flying Car company's video presentation below

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Back to the Future DeLorean with flying four-engine

Back to the Future DeLorean with flying four-engine. The good news here is: it is real and true flies. The bad is that it is large enough to be able to hop on the inside and it is not able to travel in time. Despite all this video and after one wonders how it is possible that this idea created by hand by a fan of Back to the Future did not come out of the creative minds of a company of toys and models. Unforgivable. In fact it is quite possible that when you see notes uncontrollable impulse to want to have one.

The car is inspired by the classic DeLorean mounted on a UAV system for those who are becoming so popular lately. To add more excitement to the subject, it have been added with striking effects of light blue LEDs, regulations for wheeled vehicles moving in the horizontal position and time in something of a condenser at the top Fluzo.

It is hoped that the final result in action is a source of occasional sightings notice 'UFOs'. It really looks quite futuristic.

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The cars of the future open the doors down

Typically, car doors open sideways toward what else? There are prototypes or commercial vehicles, usually sports that have a different design of doors that open up. It is not become more practical in real life, but because it is 'different' to other cars and the manufacturer has an excuse to raise the price.

However, it is possible that in future the car doors do not open sideways or upwards, but downwards.

This strange concept is called literally 'Disappearing Car Door' and basically removes the door open when you need visually. The trick is that a mechanism makes slip to the bottom of the vehicle body.

In this case it is not only a redesign to make the most futuristic cars. It also has a very practical side. Imagine the times when you park and trying to open the door you realize that there is enough space to get out because it collides with the car parked right next door or a wall. With this design you have every doorway available to come and go because the door itself disappears from view. Currently,it only available in a prototype that you see in the video below, but it looks interesting enough for more than one manufacturer serial incorporate into their models and have your current car look like something from the past.

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