Motoring has already taken some incredible leaps forward in the last 50 years; for example, who would have predicted that computers would dominate the automotive technology. Traction control, skid control and stability control. Variable valve timing electronically. Drive by wire, including electric steering. Airbags that deploy in an accident. 50 years ago people would have laughed if you had suggested it, but here it is today. Imagine what the next 50 years will hold!
In 2060 Audi envisions a hydrogen-powered vehicle that combines artificial intelligence with avenues of self expression as it can change its external shape. This is obviously the ideal bank robber’s car!
GM’s effort is very imaginative. Much like the self-regulating traffic system found in the ant, nature’s best commuter, vehicle-to-vehicle communication and intelligence allows GM’s ANT to act independently yet communicate with other vehicles to optimize traffic flow. All body panels are connected with electro-active polymer actuators, allowing reconfiguration of body panels, depending on their optimal street use.
Honda presented a solar-hybrid powered car that allows carpoolers to take advantage of commuter lanes, share commuting costs and once near the individual passenger’s final destinations, splits from one to four separate and unique transportation modules. This takes the changing shape bodywork to another level, allowing metamorphosis into four from one.
The Mazda Motonari RX uses an ‘energy form’ that non-invasively integrates the driver with the vehicle making each indistinguishable from the other allowing the driver to experience the road psycho-somatically, receiving electrical stimulation to specific muscle groups. Four omni-directional wheels allow 360 degree movement.
The Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow utilizes micro-metallic particles that can be arranged via magnetic fields in many different forms. This is similar to Audi’s idea of changing exterior shapes. The vehicle can also be completely dissembled into a mass of ferromagnetic material for easy storage.
Nissan predicts that in 50 years time robots have become an integral part of our lives. OneOne (pronounced “won-won”) is tomorrow’s live-in maid, driver and gardener, retrieving dry cleaning and groceries, tending to the children and guided by a real time GPS network.
Toyota predicts that due to limited ground space (especially in Japan!), vertical architectures have caused the transportation industry to create new pathways that also explore vertical space. The vehicle is powered by pollution with electronic dynamic driving instincts and structural adaptations to accommodate the user’s need for space.
VW believes the urban area will have become unimaginably dense and the roadways have reached the point of total saturation. Volkswagen’s solution is an advanced autonomous vehicle that dynamically adapts to minimize its footprint in the city and its drag coefficient on the highways. The skin of the vehicle is made of hyper-efficient solar panels that power the vehicle.
There were some distinct common themes among the submitted designs. Taking the ‘most likely’ scenarios, the car of tomorrow will have omni-directional wheels, and a body shape that will adapt to the environment (and the whim of the driver). Electromagnetic energy will be used, and it may be solar extracted.
