Flying saucer

[MRT]

Look at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6970031.stm. Do they really think it's a good idea to propel people at an altitude of around 3m (think of all the objects at that height) using a lot more fuel than a car (so useful when we're trying to cut CO2)?

[n8rae]

I think these reports from the bbc have all the halmarks of a sci tech story which doesn't go into the technical side cos it's a bit complicated.

The M200 (the flying saucer type) has been around for ages and is actualy old technology, the only new technology is the computerised control system which means any fool can fly it.
The new technology is all in the M400 Skycar which will be much more eficiant and carry four people about 300 miles. The M400 is a few years away so they're producing and selling the M200, basicaly as a play thing, to make some money and get people used to the idea of garage based flying machines. In the past Moller has been in trouble with wallstreet for promising results to take money from investors but has realy cleaned up his business side since.

What the beeb and others report is that the M400 is going to replace the car. Though it may in the far future, we are more likely to see a slow role out with the skycar complimenting other modes of transport. More like:
2-3 years= police, military, rescue and replacing private helicopters.
3-5 years= A city to city executive limo service.
5-9 years= A point to point "taxi" service.
9-15 years= Price comes down so wider spread corperate and private ownership becomes feasable.
15-50 years= Becomes afordable for most middle class families to have acces to a skycar pool either through work or local cooperatives.

There will also probably be a new class of motor sport based around the skycar as well.

About the environmental and fuel eficiancy questions?
It can be quite feasable but it depends what you are replacing. they will never be as green as an electric train or a smart car.
Try this example. 4 people scatered around the south east all need to travel to birmingham for a meeting then all travel on to other locations.
At present they would probably all drive in different cars, probably with large engines, get caught in a few jams with idling engines, then thru the city pumping fumes into school childrens lungs.
If you use a skycar it can leave london, pick up all 4 and fly to the meeting (it can land and take off from any field or the top floor of any multistory carpark), then takes them all to where they need to go in the evening.
Time wise it's a no brainer, much quicker! Cost wise? Can't say yet, depends on if it can be fully autopilot, and that depends on if the Galilao sats get up on time.
Fuel wise? Yep it's more eficiant than 4 cars on the road for all that time.

So, do you want one? I know i do!

nathan rae

[Admin]

I Want One!!! >:-)

[brianp]

I Want One!!! >:-)

So do I - but I'm a bit nervous about women drivers! They can't even manage simple manoevres (like reversing) in two dimensions - what will they do in three dimensions? [Ducks behind parapet.]

[seren]

OooOOO this thread title reminded me of something that happened the other week. I've no idea where to post this and this thread has the right title so it's going here.

I saw something I can't explain. In the skies above Cardiff. Torchwood related no doubt.

It was a sunny day; there were clouds but not many and very high and wispy (someone here will know the correct term, I'm certain of it). I was walking down the street (minding my own business) and I looked up and this thing caught my eye, initially because I thought it was very low for an aeroplane. It was silver and kind of jelly-bean or half-moon shaped (prompting my boyfriend to suggest it was perhaps the moon. It wasn't, the moon was a lot paler and in a different part of the sky. It may have been a giant silver blow-up jelly-bean I suppose). It was not moving, so I decided it wasn't a plane or a seagull or a wayward balloon. Anyway, I stared at it for a bit, wondering what it was and going through lists of possibilities. Eventually I exhausted all ideas I had and got a bit freaked and looked away. Not 10 seconds later I looked back and it was gone. Totally and utterly gone. No trace of it anywhere in the sky.

The only thing I think it could have been was a helicopter. Only silent, and weirdly shaped.

So in conclusion: they're here. ;)

[Admin]

A Zeppelin-shaped advertising balloon?

Perhaps it was reflecting the sunlight and then a cloud came between it and the sun or it changed orientation which led to its apparent disappearance?

Of course, no-one can say if they weren't there.

[Mongrel]

There's some more info about Moller and the Skycar over at The Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/08/31/moller_flying_saucer_idiocy/), although it is a little more disparaging.