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Futuristic Bionic Transportation for The Year 2030

TheFuture — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:58:04 +0000

The stylish Bionic concept car is simply a token of functional values and innovative natural aesthetics through its radical aerodynamic design. The car has been designed to change its shape as per requirement in different situations by implementing EAP-electro-active polymer layers, which is an optimized and advance automobile material. Moreover, it features advance in-wheel motor technology that allows the car to produce zero-emissions and a polycarbon roof with attached solar photovoltaic cells that gives an uninterrupted outside view aside from producing energy through sunlight. This ultra-compact car can house two persons and has been designed for the year 2030 considering as an excellent solution for the massive future crowd and positive environmental aspects.

Designer : Vlad Icobet

Audi Avatar 3-Seater Electric Supercar for 2032

TheFuture — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:23:46 +0000

The Audi Avatar is a 3-seater electric supercar concept specially designed for the drivers of 2032 to enjoy the pleasure of driving that they experienced playing racing games during their childhood days. The appearance of the car is much identical with the science fiction flying cars we used to watch. This futuristic car concept features 4 extremely powerful in-wheel electric motors powered by supercharge-ion batteries. The ultra lightweight aerodynamic body along with the powerful backend, it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds and can achieve the top speed of over 360km/h with responsive handling.

Some explanation from Edwin :
The exterior desing of the car is inspired by the form of fabric blown in the wind. The form also carries traces of the historical Auto Union Type C Streamline race.

There are no conventional doors on the car, but instead, inspired by the jet fighters, there are three glass canopies. The main canopy opens forward together with the steering wheel and the dashboard; the two passengers’ canopies open backwards; and a side panel on the bodywork opens downwards to act as a step, making the event of getting in and out of the cockpit very special and easy.

The interior is simply one continuous sheet, starting from the dashboard, then being folded and bended to create floor carpet and seat.

The interior of the car is as simple and futuristic as the exterior. Single sheet transparent LCD dashboard displays all the essential data such as speed and mileage. The screen in the center of the steering wheel displays digital map. The information can also be projected on the canopy by a head up display. The
whole driving experience would be like flying a fighter jet. There is a small but handy luggage space behind the driver seat for handbags and suitcases. It is also an arm rest for the passengers.

Four wheels are housed inside the car’s four “legs”. Each wheel contains an Audi In-wheel Electric Drive Unit, making the car an evolution in Audi’s trademark “Quattro” all time four-wheel-drive system. The long range Supercharge-ion battery which powers the in-wheel motors are separated into two packs located in front of as well as behind the cockpit, creating a perfect 50:50 weight distribution of the car for excellent handling.

Specifications:
Length: 4480 mm
Width: 1900 mm
Height: 1060 mm
Wheel base; 3048 mm
Weight: 800 kg
En Engine: 4 Audi In-wheel Electric Drive Units
Power: 544 hp (4 X 100 kW)
Torque: 4500 Nm (3319.03 lb-ft)
0-100km: 2.9 s
Top Speed: 360 km/h

Designer : Edwin Conan

Renault Picnic Zero-Emissions Concept Car Provides Room for Social Gathering

TheFuture — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:26:05 +0000

When people goes for a picnic, a car that can provide room for social gathering parked in an urban landscape is always desirable, which was the main inspiration of designing the Renault Picnic concept car. This car can become an urban furniture, where people can re-acquaint themselves with the surrounding natural environment with its various functionalities. It features LED-impregnated DOL that allows adjustable and customizable tinting patterns that will make the car’s surface a public art. The easy access sliding doors allow convenient entrance. You can attach a bicycle with the rear bumper and can arrange some extra sittings with tailgate rumble seats that slides-out from the front trunk. The Renault Picnic features low-cost and minimalist dashboard with i-pod compatibility which is ideal for new drivers. The modular seating arrangement of this car ensures equal comfort to be enjoyed for all passengers either inside, on atop the rear bumpers or on the front tailgate.

Gabriel says :
The Renault Picnic seeks to augment rather than detract from the health of it’s surrounding environment. It is a Zero-emissions vehicle that provides a social function to the parked car within in the urban landscape. When parked, the Picnic transforms into urban furniture, becoming a social space for people to re-acquaint themselves with the surrounding environment. LED-impregnated, glass-coated polycarbonate windows project customized images when the vehicle is parked, transforming the vehicle into a form of public art.

Further considering the environment, the exterior panels are composed of hemp-based composites, and the vehicle is powered by Lithium Ion batteries and two rear-mounted in-wheel hub motors.

In order to reduce cost, complexity and weight, the simple interior is constructed of modular components, with four identical, soy-foam seats and an i-pod doc replacing most of the functions, including sound system and GPS on the dashboard.

Designer : Gabriel Wartofsky

Metromorph Futuristic Concept Car with Balcony Mode Option

TheFuture — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:49:37 +0000

To address the ever-growing metropolitan city problems associated with real estate and parking place, many innovative ideas are constantly coming up from various designers and Metromorph is one of the most functional concept cars in this regard. It has been designed with the ability to ride up just like an elevator and turn into a balcony, eliminating the harassment of parking and paying for additional space in the apartment. This vehicle is powered with two in-wheel motors placed in the back of the car along with two battery cases.

Rotating arms have been used in order to keep the seats level for both vertical and horizontal drive. When the vehicle is in balcony mode, the seats are positioned on a rolling base which allows them to become lounge chair for lying down and relax. The exterior design of this car never seems like a car that is mounted vertically with a building but still it looks like a vehicle on the road. The wheels are hidden towards inside and doors are designed to rotate closely around the car, instead of the usual pulling out or sliding up doors, allowing the entrance to freely open in narrow area like a garage.

Designer : Roman Mistiuk

The Freight*Bus Concept Proposal for London Bus

TheFuture — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:03:19 +0000

The new bus design by industrial designer, Hugh Frost, is a perfect answer for the London’s congestion and pollution problems. The concept design is run on batteries hence is environment friendly. The Freight*BUS as it is called has the concept of “On-Route” as the fundamental base of the overall system and as per the designer, this massive new vehicle features an advanced technology and it can adapt as per the no. of passengers and freight. This flexibility is in part due to ceiling-suspended pairs of seats, which can be completely folded out of the way. The bus can ply during the day to ferry passengers across the city while during the off peak hours or in the night the bus can be utilized to transport goods, thus a good transport solution for sure.

Text from the website:
The Freight*BUS is designed for several possible propulsion systems, including batteries that are automatically recharged when the bus stops and the potential for fuel cell operation in the future. Thanks to in-wheel electric motors, the bus can manoeuvre into tight bus stops in a ‘crab’ like movement.

Designer : Hugh Frost via Yahoo

Scarab is Delivering a Sense of Personal Space and Independece to Its Users

TheFuture — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:22:40 +0000

In this daily clogging of road and parking space it’s always the space for parking that seems to be the main issue. In such a scenario, the new urban vehicle design by David Goncalves is something that’s what the doctor ordered. The design called as Scarab by the designer is not only a concept that is aimed at occupying least road space, but also it occupies very little parking space too. The vehicle is completely collapsible and the complete process ensures that the vehicle is parked on just two wheels. A very nice thought that surely will find many takers.

Text from David:
Transportation is a key factor in our urban environments and most of our cities are now developed to match the scale and needs of cars, and car users. This reality raises issues regarding sustainability and environment, energy consumption and quality of life.

So, “How can public and personal transports be redefined in a sustainable way, delivering a sense of personal space and independence to its users?” This was the title of my Master of Science in Design and Transport Thesis, concluded in Coventry University, UK, with Distinction, in September 2008.

In other words, the aim of this project was to develop guidelines and a holistic solution for a new system of urban transport, composed of vehicle and infrastructure, in a sustainable way and adaptable to various urban environments.

To develop the project I needed information about: user’s behaviors and explanations for them; main trends; analysis of existing solutions and identification of their problems; definition of applicable technologies in a sustainable manner in a near future. This information was gathered through an online questionnaire, statistical data from several sources, literary research, internet articles, pictures, video and expert interviews and then compiled in my final report.

Preliminary research indicated that several attempts to tackle the issue of mass transportation are being tested and implemented throughout the biggest cities on Earth. Several solutions exist already, but people always seem to give preference to a personal vehicle of some kind to move, commute or make quick trips. Only when there is no other choice, people seem to engage in public transportation. Personal transport is the preferred mode of use and this is a trend that keeps increasing.

The conclusion of the thesis report was composed of guidelines and design specifications that served as basis for the development of a new type of transportation that is truly sustainable and that meets people’s requirements. This generic solution was exemplified through a typical design project that will act as future reference and that goes by the name of “SCARAB”.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
VEHICLE:
- The vehicle allows users to have freedom of use much like a motorcycle but with the convenience of having an enclosed private space and luggage compartments.
- The vehicle can be operated in several different positions depending on speed. It is parked vertically for easy ingress and egress and optimization of public space. When in speed position, the vehicle also tilts when curving or changing direction.
- When circulating in dedicated pathways, the SCARAB is controlled by a centralized computer or by a traffic management centre. Outside of the dedicated pathways the SCARAB is controlled by the user just like any other vehicle.

VEHICLE SPECS:
-The vehicle is composed of interchangeable modules that can be customized by the potential buyer/user.
-Powerpack module composed of a permanent battery plus 3 options for the main energy pack (battery, biofuel ICE or a fuel cell).
-4 wheel drive through electric brushless in-wheel motors with directdrive.
-Wheels with regenerative braking through EW Brakes.
-Drive by wire and tactile HUD embedded in the Lexan canopy.
-Structural elements in Carbon-Aramid composite.
-Embedded sensors, Lidar, radar, transponders, GPS. These serve to exchange information with the system, with other drivers and to have precise location data.

INFRASTRUCTURE:
-Communication nodes spread through roadways and traffic management centres in major conurbations.
-Dedicated paths with electromagnetic transponders embedded in the road.
-Parking facilities with solar/wind power generators.
-High speed/long distance travel provided through a railroad interface (not yet developed).

SYSTEM:
-Renting of the vehicle or modules that allows for a private/public/mixed utilization and transport access for people with less financial resources.
-Doesn’t need new infrastructures (uses the existing roads).
-Is backward compatible with current transport systems and uses current day technologies.

Designer : David Miguel Moreira Gonçalves

Ammonoq Submersible Boat Concept with Re-Breather Unit

TheFuture — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:05:32 +0000

You must have heard or read about submarines, some of you must have had traveled in these submarines, but have you ever thought of submersible boats. A new concept has come into existence with this revolutionized submersible boat, called Ammonoq. It is equipped with all the necessary accessories to survive beneath the water. Fin wheels provide a steady movement in water where as on-board re-breather facilitates a comfortable breathing for the passengers. It provides easy accommodation for three passengers with a remote key transmitter to control any internal or external devices. A GPS sensor tracks the exact position of the boat and redirects the path wherever it goes.

Junji explanations :
I have come to realize that people’s interest in marine leisure is at all time high. More and more people are enjoying snorkeling, diving, and boating. They are many concepts and fully functional personal submersibles. Hotels such as in Dubai provide underwater experience. However, I felt that there is a disconnection between the underwater realm and water surface activity. The concept was the result of my approach to balance the physical and emotional aspects that encompass marine activities: (i)the love, enthusiasm, and curiosity of people for marine experience on water and underwater, (ii)safety of all life form underwater which includes people, (iii)nostalgia for the great spinning wheel of steam boats and aspiration for something new. The way it submerges or re-surfaces is simple: ballast tank in the hull is filled to submerged or emptied to re-surface. Buoyancy is controlled by partially releasing the water in the ballast tank.

When on surface, Ammonoq is just like any other boat except that it has a glass top. During the submersible mode, oxygen is made available from the re-breather unit housed under the seat. It provides up to three passengers. Each seat has a compartment where the regulator is stowed and is readily accessible to each passenger. There are also dive tank storages in the rear of the cabin for scuba diving. Therefore, the concept can also be for rescue mission underwater for coast guards.

There are two fin-wheels and each is driven by an electric motor. The fin-wheel is made out of the same materials as scuba dive fins and can rotate in the same direction to propel forward or backward. The long fins are used to propel forward and there are also wedge-shape parts on the fins that push against water to reverse. Since the fins are flexible, there is much lesser risk of injuries unlike propellers.

The traveling speed is expected to be about 50-60km/h on water, and of course, much slower underwater. Maneuver is also possible by one wheel rotating at a faster rate then the other or one wheel at a still. The steering utilizes electro-servo control that senses at what rate to turn from how much the driver tilts the handles.

The control console provides information such as speed, rpm, depth, oxygen level, as well as location by Sonar and GPS. One thing that I did not show is the remote key transmitter which allows the rider to control Ammonoq outside of the cabin. This gives freedom to the driver to enjoy diving while Ammonoq ‘tag’ along side.

Designer : Junji Kawabe

Slimbus : Slim Urban Passenger Bus

TheFuture — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:30:57 +0000

The problems in our urban transportation are the overburdened infrastructure and the urban traffic that cause critical landscape. The Slimbus is short distance mid capacity ferrying vehicle or urban passenger bus concept for highly crowded situations. The Slimbus is extremely narrow, 1.2m and meant for only short distance travel, so all passengers stand, thereby allowing for much more capacity. Slimbus in-wheel motors power all the five wheels, with the front and rear two being held via hydraulically actuated wishbones, thereby allowing the vehicle to lean into turns.

Designer : Abhishek Biswas

Movito – Urban Clectric Scooter

TheFuture — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:34:54 +0000

Movito is a fully electric scooter designed for the dense urban landscape of the future. Its sexy design appeals to hip and trendy young adults, making a striking statement wherever it goes with its sophisticated styling and two toned colors. This environmentally sound vehicle utilises an in-wheel motor and rechargeable batteries. The architecture of the scooter is completely overhauled allowing for a fresh and innovative design approach. Movito expresses lightness and movement in a elegant form.

Movito features a modular base system that allows for different ‘bodies’ to be attached to a common base as well as featuring added convenience such as GPS, touch screen interface and helmet storage. Movito is classy and sexy, appealing to free spirited individuals.

Designer : Tai Chiem

Nissan Pivo 2: 360-Degree Swiveler Electric Nissan Concept

TheFuture — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:36:48 +0000

It’s the new version of Nissa Pivo concept, first shown in 2005, the electric-powered, 360-degree swiveler. Now it’s the Pivo 2. Just the same as the first Pivo, its cabin rotates, eliminating the need for a reverse gear, though its in-wheel motors can propel it in any direction — even sideways. What’s new in the Pivo 2 is its in-car Robotic Agent, a voice-recognition interface (in English or Japanese) to a valet application that can engage in a range of communications from basic vehicle functions to the closest parking space. It looks like a cartoon car, but I really like the design.

Press Release:

THE FUTURE IS ELECTRIC FOR NISSAN
- Pivo 2 concept turns heads and itself in Tokyo -

TOKYO (Oct. 5, 2007)-Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., today unveiled the Pivo 2, an advanced electric concept car that will debut at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. Pivo 2 builds on the popularity of the first Pivo, shown at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show. Powered by advanced Compact Lithium-ion Batteries and featuring a unique rotating cabin – meaning no reverse gear required – the first Pivo became a cult hit at shows from Beijing to Geneva.
Pivo 2 Concept Car

Reasons to love Pivo 2:

* Electric power from Nissan’s advanced Lithium-ion batteries
* A robotic agent to share every trip
* ‘Revolutionary’ technology with 360 degree turning cabin and 90 degree turning wheels

Pivo 2 takes the idea of an environmentally friendly electric urban commuter vehicle and delivers fun, functionality and a unique relationship between the car and driver. Pivo 2 is powered by advanced Compact Lithium-ion Batteries and employs ‘by-wire’ technologies for braking and steering.

Where the first Pivo, with its fully rotating cabin design, made reversing obsolete, the Pivo 2 takes that easy mobility concept to a new level. Each of the four wheels are powered by Nissan’s advanced electric In-wheel 3D Motor and can turn through 90 degrees to allow Pivo 2 to drive sideways as well as forward.

Thanks to the highly innovative Robotic Agent, you are never alone in the Pivo 2. With conversations possible in Japanese and English, the Robotic Agent has been created to work with Pivo 2 to make every journey less stressful. It provides a unique interface through which to communicate with Pivo 2 on everything from basic vehicle functions through to the nearest available parking.

Pivo 2 will be on display at the Nissan Ginza Gallery in Tokyo, for an exclusive public sneak preview ahead of the Motor Show.