Future Technology » Transportations

All Terrain Sport Coupe by Batyr Ospanov

TheFuture — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:36:26 +0000

The All Terrain sport coupe is a two seater, electrically powered vehicle with two driving modes helping the driver to run it on both smooth and rough surfaces. The first mode which is “Road Mode” keeps the car in a shape of a normal vehicle and allows it to travel along the traffic. When the user switches it to Off-Road mode the vehicle becomes higher and wider since the wheels come out and the chassis becomes higher to allow the car travel through rough terrains such as steppes and deserts. There are solar cells placed on the glassed door so that when the user stops the vehicle and lift the door, the cells can produce some extra power. Under the transparent bonnet there are two extra lights helping the user to travel through the desert during night.

Designer : Batyr Ospanov

Guepardo : Human Powered Vehicle That Imitates The Movement of The Ferocious Animal

TheFuture — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:17:04 +0000

The name Prado came from the Spanish word guepardo, which means cheetah, is a human powered concept vehicle that imitates the movement of the ferocious animal. The lower part of the vehicle contains two pedals that users push down with their feet to move the vehicle forward. The idea of the vehicle came from the nature and the eagerness of the designers to imitate it among human beings. Therefore, a thorough research has been conducted to pinpoint its movement during hunt and the vehicle started to form accordingly. Though, a prototype of the design was created and exhibited already, the designer prefers to consider it as an extreme sport vehicle rather using it on the street.

Designer : Pablo Lopez via TreeHugger

Blue Coast 95 Yachts from Megayacht Catamarans

TheFuture — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:55:32 +0000

The Blue Coast Yachts, in association with Coste Design and Partners, has announced the 95 feet extraordinary luxury yacht Blue Coast 95, which is being constructed at La Ciotat, France. This new generation sailing yacht has been designed for cruising worldwide and is equipped with functional materials, latest technologies and intelligent designs for sea life.

The Blue Coast 95 yacht features three decks, providing excellent performance and comprehensive cruising comfort to its boarders. The narrow twin hulls give the yacht maximum stability and smooth navigating capability in rough weather conditions. As a maxi-catamaran, Blue Coast 95 features an automatic sail reduction mechanism for the first time ever. Moreover, its shallow draft allows it to be cruised and anchored in areas that are usually inaccessible to other motoryachets of the same size.

The innovative architecture of this giant yacht offers huge in-and-out living area, dining zone, sunbathing spots, bar, helm station, rich equipped Jacuzzi, and many more. The main deck offers a forward full sea view which will please all range of boarders.

Designer : Megayacht Catamarans

Rural Transportation Is Especially Designed for Rural Areas

TheFuture — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:01:16 +0000

Rural concept is a clean, practical and efficient transportation concept specially designed to be used in rural areas by focusing on minimalism and functionality at the forefront. The wheel hubs of the concept wrap the electric motors which provides quieter driving, keeping the calmness of rural nature intact. The passenger’s pod is located on the singular carbon fiber chassis on the top of the vehicle. The most amazing thing about the vehicle is that it doesn’t require any mechanical joints since it uses wire to drive and steer which can be adapted or modified during purchasing the car according to the user’s need.

Designer : Matt Bradbury

EEL Three-Wheeler Lightweight Vehicle with Bio-ethanol Engine

TheFuture — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:33:21 +0000

The EEL concept is a compact and lightweight vehicle that features functional aerodynamic construction for great energy efficiency. The compact shape of this three-wheeler allows it waving through busy traffic and in between other cars and houses only one passenger and the driver. When turning, it has been designed to lean to the particular direction allowing better control for the driver. This electric vehicle comprises bio-ethanol engine which is completely eco-friendly. When charging through a traditional power point, the covered scooter shaped vehicle looks much like a mobile phone getting charged through its charger.

Designer : Muhammad Imran

PUMA Segway by Michael Ditullo

TheFuture — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:09:22 +0000

The Segway and General Motors have redesigned the PUMA or Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility project and the outcome is a more unique and functional urban commuting vehicle with great outlook and features. It features an innovative horizontal design that provides complete comfort and safety to the rider. Several bone lines forming of the vehicle leads the eye from front to back instead of top to bottom and runs smoothly closer to the ground. The distinctive details of this two-seater vehicle connect with the passengers more emotionally and the compactness of the car will allow it to run through busy urban traffic.

Designer : Michael Ditullo

Ankida Yacht by Lila-Lou

TheFuture — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:07:53 +0000

The Ankida Yacht concept was developed aiming to move away from the conventional center-line arrangement by integrating the mast, keel and sail configuration with the hull naturally. The bow like arrangement of the vessel allows effective propulsion through the rig generated force. The sail layout and its operation have been designed to cover the surface area and best possible positioning to the wind condition and direction. Moreover, enhanced performance has been ensured by automatically adjusting the keel bulb to optimize the center of mass. The design relies greatly on the fully automatic operation mechanism; therefore a magnetically levitated turbine has been placed between the masts to provide power for the entire system which makes Ankida a unique and efficient wind powered vessel.

Each port, mast and starboard is running parallel, rather shadowing one another, which enhances the sail efficiency by covering maximum area. When the yacht is not with the sail, the booms remain joined with the aft and allow the sail to furl automatically in the line of the straight mast. Ankida can run under one sail too, therefore, the option of additional sails offer flexibility of pleasant cruising.

Designer : Lila-Lou

Mantra : Automated Life Saving System to Tackle Beach Safety Issues

TheFuture — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:48:14 +0000

Mantra is an automated life saving system concept aiming to tackle the beach safety issues that usually causes drowning casualties such as slow response time, inadequate surveillance, lack of lifeguard safety, and limitation of lifeguards as human. The Mantra concept contains small hairs with embedded electro sensors that detect distress and drowning people and swims up automatically to the spot. The victim them picked up carefully onto the built-in stretcher and it carries him or her on top of the water by using impellers and hydrofoils. There is always constant communication between the Mantra and beach lifeguards through which it carries the victim to a specified beach location where ambulance and medical team remains stand-by.

Text from Adam :
There are over 400,000 reported drownings and 8 – 10 times as much near drowning experiences worldwide every year. In the UK there are 500 annual drownings. These figures have remained the same for nearly 20 years which tells us that any current equipment and practice is not having the required impact to reduce these numbers.

I have been a beach lifeguard for a number of years and further primary and secondary research has shown that there are a number of key problems that reduce the survival rate of beach users.
These problems are:

Slow response time
Surveillance
Lifeguard safety
Human limitation of lifeguards

From this research it was decided to look to the future to see what could potentially be new directions for beach safety equipment, this design is therefore based for the year 2020.

The design process was in close collaboration with the BSA (British Surfing Association) headquarters in Newquay (UK). Starting with brainstorming where no idea was a bad idea, followed by concept generation and a wide variety of modeling and system/ scenario testing, the design took innovation from nature, new and existing technologies and user testing.

Explanation of final design

The ‘Mantra’ lives on the sea bed during peak seasons just off the coast of beaches; it uses small hairs on its surface to collect and store energy from tides and waves (called ‘Super Cillia Skin’). It detects distress and drowning using electro sensors coupled with sonar which even today are highly sensitive, for example heartbeats and movements can easily be monitored. When a casualty is detected it swims up to 15mph using SMAs in the wings. The victim is carefully picked up onto an inbuilt stretcher where they are carried on top the water using hydrofoils and impellers. The ‘Mantra’ is always in constant communication with lifeguards and so is met at a specific beach location by lifeguards and ambulances where an EAP is in place and the stretcher is removed without disturbing the patient, who in the worst case scenario may have neck injuries.

Stretchers are replaced and the ‘Mantra’ can assume its position at sea once more. The whole process is estimated to take under 2 minutes.

The final design as can be seen from images, uses biomimicry from a manta ray for many reasons –

Large flat surface area for all weather stability
Excellent turning circle and manouverability
Excellent strength to weight ratio
Low energy travel
Considered as a non aggressive creature/ form

Advantages of ‘Mantra’:

Removal of contact with bodily fluid
Safety of lifeguards
Immediate response time
Completely automated
Better for spinal and other injuries
Aesthetics
Function
Sustainable

Designer : Adam Scott

Poseidon Yacht with Integrated Solar Panels on The Sail

TheFuture — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:03:18 +0000

The Poseidon Yacht concept with its 12m overall length and 3.7m beam was aimed to provide recreation and comfort, which can be unveiled through the unique, Chaise-lounge shaped relaxation spot on the bow. This eco-friendly yacht is empowered with solar energy through the integrated solar panels with Nano-Panels technology on the sail. These thin and flexible Nano panels are integrated in the materials of the sail which can effectively produce enough energy to run the engine of the yacht and its apparels such as electric stove, etc. The interior has been classified into two portions with all possible luxury, economy area with a capacity of 8 passengers and premium zone that can house 4 passengers.

Designer : Demetrius Tanase

Rebel Transportation by Christian Susana

TheFuture — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:12:40 +0000

The Rebel is a design study by Snowcat, which is an all-terrain transportation means designed with power and efficiency to provide great functionality. The vehicle has been envisioned with rolling chain instead of conventional wheels, providing the grip that may require to run over the uneven surfaces of rocky mountains or snowy drive track. The driver’s cab is all-side glass-made and has the ability to rotate 180 degree in order to get comprehensive control over the pathway. A red light has been envisioned on the driver’s cab to demonstrate the importance of this vehicle when it is in a rescue mission.

Designer : Christian Susana