After the Enterprise from Star Trek, we get a vehicle from the Jetsons cartoon. Hollywood seems to be a great source of inspiration for the tailors of the future, although we're still waiting for the floating 'skate' from Back to the Future! Until then, flying cars will be just fine. The aeronautical company Terrafugia presented the TF-X concept, a hybrid electric vehicle for four that does not require a pilot.
Carl Dietric, co-founder Terrafugia, he says he will TF-X computer controlled, but will come with a vastly improved »local autonomy", whereby the pilot will be 'demoted' to a driver. Although most of the threads will be in the hands of the computer and we won't have to deal with avoiding air traffic and following air restrictions, we won't be able to put your foot in the air, as critical decisions will remain on our shoulders.
On the floor we will have above the TF-X absolute power, but once we take off, our powers will shrink drastically. For our good. Does this mean that we will be able to take off every time it rains somewhere? According to Dietrich, this unfortunately remains the case Science Fiction. Vertical take-off causes a severe 'draught', which can damage other vehicles, and in the best case it only lifts a passing wing. TH-X takeoff will thus be limited to airports, heliports and a la carte locations as big as a tennis court, away from street lights, signs and power lines.
A crazy concept, but one that raises more questions than answers about what our future will look like. But about that another time.
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