The YEE Flying Car Concept: New Paradigm for Future Transportation

Flying cars might still be a long way from becoming a commercial reality, but that doesn’t stop designers letting their imaginations run wild when it comes to envisioning the airborne automobiles of the future… and they sure make for some gorgeous conceptual art.

I know this looks straight out of a science fiction movie but this car called “Yee” (designed by Zhu Wenxi) not only could run on the ground, but also can fly in the air! In order to maximize the use of space and provide motive power for your flight, its propellers are installed on the back wheels, when on land, they serve as wheels; when you are flying away, its front wheels will open toward both sides while back wheels will bend back, so in no time, it turns into a flying machine. Thus the special amphibious feature of the YEE Flying car allows the car to easily transform into a flying car just by changing its operating system.

YEE is designed by South China University of Technology (SCUT) industrial design students Pan Jiazhi, Zhu Wenxi and Lai Zexin. The concept of the YEE Flying car is based on the fact that in the future, the mode of transport will be switched from land to air due to congested traffic in major cities. Last month, their creation won the Gold Award for Best Creative Future at the First International Concept Car Design Contest in Beijing. Take a look at it, and it’s easy to see why.

This concept car could be turned into a plane once the operation is switched to the flying mode through transformation. This is made possible by upturning two front wheels sideways and two back wheels outside allowing people to fly over the overcrowded roads to reach their destination on time. Also, the integration of the propeller into the back wheels endues the vehicle with two distinct mobile modes. YEE’s two different mobile modes are courtesy of the propeller fixed into the back wheels. On the road, the YEE is one amazing racing car and when in the flying mode, it’s a real treat for those who want to soar high in the sky.

So basically, when it went into flight mode, the YEE’s two back wheels would swing forward and their rather styling spokes would reveal themselves to be the propeller blades that they actually were. Pretty clever. But this question comes to mind, though — when the car was taking off and its outriggers folded upwards to become wings, wouldn’t it just fall down on the road? And likewise, how would it maintain take-off speed or hold its back end up when its wheels folded forward? Just asking…

source :http://techchunks.com

Read more »

Top 5 Latest and Best in-car Technology to Drive You Wild

Over recent years; the world has seen technology have an ever-expanding impact upon how we live out our lives on a day to day basis, with millions of new products hitting the shelves every day.  It has hit us with such an impact that the majority of people now-a-days would be unable to function efficiently or at all without some sort of technology being ever present.

Personally I am a huge fan and follower of technology and whenever possible attempt to regularly keep up to date with the latest installments and products, such as the brand newiPhone 4 set to be released late 2010.

But I’ll have to admit my main following of technology for which I am most interested is interior technology within different varieties of vehicles such as modern cars and vans.  As there are so many different aspects to be released and have already been publicly showcased, an example of this is the all new ‘Jabra SP200 Bluetooth Speakerphone’ which allows you to carefully drive with caution and avoid losing calls when you’re on the road. The new Bluetooth speakerphone SP200 by Jabra enables also you to make hands-free calls. It does this by connecting wirelessly to your phone and needs no installation, so to operate; simply clip it onto the visor.

Another breath taking gadget that has hit the shelves recently is the all new iPhone/ iPodcompatible dock, which allows the driver/ user of the vehicle to simply connect their iPhone/ iPod into the vehicle via a small USB cable and are then able to listen to their favorite tracks available on their device whilst playing through the vehicles indoor speakers, and also depending on the type of vehicle the dock is located; the user is also able to select a different track from the dashboard screen. Do you remember the 1969 Pontiac GTO that was controlled via an iPod Touch, by the way?

There are many other features that technology has brought into the modern world such as,heated window screens and programmable features; “this is when the vehicle allows you to use electronics to express your choice of vehicle you wish to drive”, says Stanford professor of mechanical engineering Chris Gerdes. “You can have it be as sporty or luxurious, as you choose.”Drivers of the new Audi A8, for example can change the car’s ride by raising and lowering road clearance.

source :http://techchunks.com

Read more »