Comments on: NASA Flying Car Challenge: future or flight of fancy? http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/08/23/nasa-flying-car-challenge-future-or-flight-of-fancy/ Science, Environment, and Nature in the SF Bay Area Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:23:31 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mark Moore http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/08/23/nasa-flying-car-challenge-future-or-flight-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-12356 Mark Moore Sun, 26 Aug 2007 15:10:48 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/08/23/nasa-flying-car-challenge-future-or-flight-of-fancy/#comment-12356 A very accurate story, one of the best I have seen from a reporter about this topic. I understand public sketicism based on bad driving experiences, and the fear of the unknown consequences of having small aircaft much more plentiful in the skies. However, with the technologies that were discussed, the is the real possibility of safety being even better than automobile travel. In autos we are often traveling just 4' away from each other at closure speeds of 90 to 130 mph. Any sane person 100 years ago whould say that is absolutely crazy. In future PAVs, you would be traveling with separation distances of at least 500 ft, with highly organized digital pathways in the sky, without close proximity obstacles being a concern (ie dogs, children, bicycles in the roads). A diversification, and distribution of travel will help to clear things up - with short trips roadboard, but longer trips out of the traffic and traveling at the high speeds that provide better efficiency and use of time. I know many have trouble getting their minds about this topic, because they envision crazy Jetson-like vehicles and can't relate because we have been indoctrinated the past 100 years to an auto dominated world. The technology is close to achieving this goal - the real question is whether the public can wrap their minds around it. The same paradigm shift happened 100 years ago as horse transitioned to auto, and required a generation to die off before it was fully accepted. We went through a much faster similar transition in computing 30 years ago, with people thinking that small computers would have no role or feasibility in our daily lifes. Thanks for the great story! A very accurate story, one of the best I have seen from a reporter about this topic.

I understand public sketicism based on bad driving experiences, and the fear of the unknown consequences of having small aircaft much more plentiful in the skies.

However, with the technologies that were discussed, the is the real possibility of safety being even better than automobile travel. In autos we are often traveling just 4′ away from each other at closure speeds of 90 to 130 mph. Any sane person 100 years ago whould say that is absolutely crazy. In future PAVs, you would be traveling with separation distances of at least 500 ft, with highly organized digital pathways in the sky, without close proximity obstacles being a concern (ie dogs, children, bicycles in the roads). A diversification, and distribution of travel will help to clear things up – with short trips roadboard, but longer trips out of the traffic and traveling at the high speeds that provide better efficiency and use of time.

I know many have trouble getting their minds about this topic, because they envision crazy Jetson-like vehicles and can't relate because we have been indoctrinated the past 100 years to an auto dominated world. The technology is close to achieving this goal – the real question is whether the public can wrap their minds around it. The same paradigm shift happened 100 years ago as horse transitioned to auto, and required a generation to die off before it was fully accepted. We went through a much faster similar transition in computing 30 years ago, with people thinking that small computers would have no role or feasibility in our daily lifes.

Thanks for the great story!

]]> By: Don Gerimonte http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/08/23/nasa-flying-car-challenge-future-or-flight-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-11756 Don Gerimonte Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:03:00 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/08/23/nasa-flying-car-challenge-future-or-flight-of-fancy/#comment-11756 It hardly seems rational to allow persons into the air with flying cars when they can't even keep an SUV upright, on the ground. I don't want to see people and planes falling out of the sky, into a place in which I'm living. It hardly seems rational to allow persons into the air with flying cars when they can't even keep an SUV upright, on the ground. I don't want to see people and planes falling out of the sky, into a place in which I'm living.

]]> By: al juodikis http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/08/23/nasa-flying-car-challenge-future-or-flight-of-fancy/comment-page-1/#comment-11741 al juodikis Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:13:25 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2007/08/23/nasa-flying-car-challenge-future-or-flight-of-fancy/#comment-11741 Very timely article and news report. WCA will be hosting an event October 16, 2007 which address the commercialization of UAV technology used by government agencies and military for various unmannned missions. The UAV technology is directly applicable to flying cars since key wireless components include; navigation - GPS, communications, radar - collision avaoidance, and other. perhaps this might be of interest to KQED audience and NPR. About WCA Founded in 1993, the Wireless Communications Alliance (aka "WCA") is a Silicon Valley-based, nonprofit corporation dedicated to the mutual benefit of Northern California companies and organizations involved in wireless communication technologies. WCA reaches over 2,200 individuals and more than 350 companies and organizations. The goals of the WCA are to promote education, networking and exchange of knowledge; increase awareness of Northern California's vast wireless capabilities; support development and growth of companies in our region; and serve as a bridge between business and academia. The WCA organizes monthly General Session and Special Interest Group events with presentations by experts and leaders from around the world on a wide spectrum of topics including; the technical and marketing aspects of wireless products and services, regulatory issues, wireless standards and investor-driven wireless market analysis. The WCA is run by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. Very timely article and news report. WCA will be hosting an event October 16, 2007 which address the commercialization of UAV technology used by government agencies and military for various unmannned missions. The UAV technology is directly applicable to flying cars since key wireless components include; navigation – GPS, communications, radar – collision avaoidance, and other. perhaps this might be of interest to KQED audience and NPR.

About WCA
Founded in 1993, the Wireless Communications Alliance (aka "WCA") is a Silicon Valley-based, nonprofit corporation dedicated to the mutual benefit of Northern California companies and organizations involved in wireless communication technologies. WCA reaches over 2,200 individuals and more than 350 companies and organizations. The goals of the WCA are to promote education, networking and exchange of knowledge; increase awareness of Northern California's vast wireless capabilities; support development and growth of companies in our region; and serve as a bridge between business and academia. The WCA organizes monthly General Session and Special Interest Group events with presentations by experts and leaders from around the world on a wide spectrum of topics including; the technical and marketing aspects of wireless products and services, regulatory issues, wireless standards and investor-driven wireless market analysis. The WCA is run by an all-volunteer Board of Directors.

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