The Future of Transportation

[lakedaemonian]

Re: The Future of Transportation

I saw this several years back. it is still under development. the Moller skycar was an effort to build a functional flying car, but I think it could better be described as a transparent scam to fleece investors. Moller has been in the sucker fleecing business since the 1960's. He is very good at it. I hope the martin jetpack guy is more on the up-and-up.

Great point! I was thinking about throwing in the Moller Sky Car.....I remember reading about that in Popular Mechanics in the 70's.......it's perpetually "only 12-18 months away from production" if they only had some more money.

The Martin Jet Pack folks are a really good bunch of people very passionate about what they do.

I reckon high end recreational is going to be their best(and possibly only) niche. I don't see SAR as a viable option, no lift or CASEVAC capability.....you still have to wait for higher help.

[lakedaemonian]

Re: The Future of Transportation

I
Next: What happens to brands like Porsche or BMW "The Ultimate Driving Machine?" If you are no longer "driving", to enjoy the visceral thrill of driving how does one market a BMW? Or any car, for that matter?

I could see further consolidation in auto manufacturing if self-drive cars become the new Model T.....although I reckon further consolidation will happen anyway.

From a marketing perspective, I think the sales pitch would shift towards differentiating your product from competing product in terms of comfort/connectivity/productivity/total cost of ownership.

I guess the way one might look at buying/leasing office space......which will still always include the desire and promotion of a prestigious address/brand.

[lakedaemonian]

Re: The Future of Transportation

Kind of like the 4-day work week and the paperless office.

As somebody who's been in the tech sector a long time ... I've learned that technology adoption usually takes much longer than most people think. Our minds are far more creative and faster than our product development processes.

Agreed!

When I think of "internet speed" and overly ambitious goals I think of a 60 Minutes segment back around 98-99-00. A couple of young internet turks made some incredibly bold and embarrassing statements....that if they had only prefaced it by stating 10-12 years out they would have been bang on.

I typically add about 7-10 years to any comments that have been made about mass consumer adoption of something new when it comes to a digitally distributed product or service. A lot of the internet predictions oftentimes have come true.....they're just typically a got bit later than originally anticipated.

When it comes to complex physical product with huge logistical requirements and buildouts, I'd extend it out a lot further to near infinity in some instances. Like electric cars.

[lakedaemonian]

Re: The Future of Transportation

I don't see it being very useful for search and rescue unless it can stay in the air longer than 30 minutes before needing refueling. Still, it's a good start.

I have a suggestion for their promo video- maybe you can pass it along to them.... When their pilot takes off his helmet at the end, he should be grinning from ear to ear! I sure would, and most everybody else would, too, if they were lucky enough to fly a jetpack. I know they're trying to show it's a "serious" product with serious applications, but purchases are made by people (even in the military) and emotions play a big role in purchasing decisions.

I will try and pass it along......I probably will not see them again until about October....but you make a good point.

I don't see it being useful in SAR either, since it doesn't have the ability to evacuate a casualty...making it redundant...and merely a SAR "scout" at best with short range and loiter time. High volume, off the shelf fixed wing drones could achieve the same(or more with longer range/loiter time) at lower cost.

[shiny!]

Re: The Future of Transportation

Nevada Issues Google First License for Self-Driving Car:

www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/may/07/nevada-issues-google-first-license-self-driving-ca/

By Cy Ryan (contact)
Monday, May 7, 2012 | 1:04 p.m.
Courtesy of Google
Google's Toyota Prius Autonomous Vehicle


CARSON CITY — Nevadans will soon see driverless cars being tested on streets and highways.
Google received the first license Monday from the state Department of Motor Vehicles to test the autonomous vehicles. It is believed to be the first such license issued in the country.

The 2011 Legislature passed the first law in the nation to permit testing of driverless cars. But state regulations require a person behind the wheel and one in the passenger’s seat during tests.
“It’s still a work in progress,” said Tom Jacobs, a DMV spokesman. “The system regulates the brakes, accelerator and steering.”

Google has equipped a test fleet of at least eight vehicles — six Toyota Priuses, an Audi TT and a Lexus RX450h.
License plates issued for driverless cars will have a red background and feature an infinity symbol on the left side.
“I feel using the infinity symbol was the best way to represent the 'car of the future,'” DMV Director Bruce Breslow said.

DMV officials have been in the vehicles during demonstrations on the Las Vegas Strip and in Carson City. There have been other demonstrations of the technology on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and around Lake Tahoe.

The system permits a human driver to take control by stepping on the brake or turning the wheel.
Google says it hopes to market the technology to auto manufacturers. It combines artificial intelligence software, a global positioning system and an array of sensors to navigate its way through traffic.

The DMV says other companies have indicated their desire to test and develop autonomous technology. “Google has a lot of competition,” Jacobs said