Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Nissan OneOne]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/12/l-a-auto-show-robocar-2057-nissan-oneone/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/12/l-a-auto-show-robocar-2057-nissan-oneone/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/12/l-a-auto-show-robocar-2057-nissan-oneone/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above image for more views of the 2057 Nissan OneOne

The Car: The 2057 Nissan OneOne is billed by the Japanese automaker as a "family pet". Like Fido goes and fetches the paper, the OneOne can go off and ferry the kids to soccer practice, pick up the groceries and do other chores without the owner's supervision. It moves around by flexing synthetic muscles in its leg to create a skating motion much like rollerblading. When traveling fast the OneOne hunkers down low to the ground, but can raise itself for better maneuverability in congested areas.

The Future According to Nissan: Natural selection has chosen the Aibo to survive and thrive at the expense of numerous robot pets that were introduced at the turn of the century. Nissan, known for its love of dogs, has seen that the Aibo evolve into an autonomous robot it can sell as a family pet. Named the OneOne (code for Aibo v11.0), this new human companion comes with synthetic muscles that will scurry it along roadways guided by GPS with your most precious cargo aboard. Kids and adults both love the OneOne because it doesn't shed or spring a leak on the carpet, it comes when you call and, well... domestic canines went extinct in 2018 from a botched recall of accidentally poisoned Kibbles 'N Bits, so this is all we've got.

Weirdness Factor (1 - I could buy that today, 10 - OMG WTF): 6

Gallery: 2007 LA Design Challenge: 2057 Nissan OneOne

Continue reading L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Nissan OneOne

L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Nissan OneOne originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2007 Design Challenge2007 LA Design Challenge2007DesignChallenge2007LaDesignChallengeNissanNissan OneOneNissanOneoneOneOnerobocarFri, 12 Oct 2007 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/12/l-a-auto-show-robocar-2057-mercedes-benz-silverflow/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/12/l-a-auto-show-robocar-2057-mercedes-benz-silverflow/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/12/l-a-auto-show-robocar-2057-mercedes-benz-silverflow/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above image for more views of the 2057 Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow

The Car: The 2057 Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow is the most traditional shape we've seen so far of the 2007 Design Challenge entrants. It looks like a futuristic car with a super sleek designed inspired by Merc racers of yore. The designers, however, didn't leave their imaginations at the door, having crafted the SilverArrow from micro-metallic particles that can be arranged by magnetic fields into pre-selected forms kept on the car's key fob. For easy storage, the entire car can melt into a puddle of metallic goop, only to be reassembled by the power of magnets when you're ready to drive again.

The Future According to Mercedes-Benz: After the market was flooded with cheap carbon fiber from China in the early 2020s, Mercedes-Benz engineers went on the hunt for a new material that would be exclusive enough for automobiles crowned with the silver star. They found their ingredient when downloading the classic film Terminator 2: Judgment Day into their brains via the NetFlix neural delivery service. Inspired by the T-1000 character's liquid metal form, Benz engineers went about reverse engineering the technology that came back from 2029 to 1991. Because of their efforts, the world was blessed with liquid metal a few years before it was supposed to be developed by Skynet. Take that future computer overlord!

Weirdness Factor (1 - I can buy that today, 10 - OMG WTF): 4

Gallery: 2007 LA Design Challenge: 2057 Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow


Continue reading L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow

L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2007 LA Design Challenge2007LaDesignChallengeMercedes-Benz SilverFlowMercedes-benzSilverflowrobocarFri, 12 Oct 2007 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Mazda MotoNari RX]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/12/l-a-auto-show-robocar-2057-mazda-motonari-rx/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/12/l-a-auto-show-robocar-2057-mazda-motonari-rx/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/12/l-a-auto-show-robocar-2057-mazda-motonari-rx/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above image for full gallery of the 2057 Mazda MotoNari RX

The Car: The 2057 Mazda MotoNari RX is not so much a car you drive as a mobile suit you wear. Once the driver dons the MotoNari RX, he and the car become virtually indistinguishable. A suit worn by the driver is one interface through which the MotoNari RX can be controlled, while acceleration and turning are handled by two "armrest mounted control points". Handling appears to be influenced also by the driver's own body, which can lean into turns like a street luge racer. Mazda claims four omni-wheels can turn the MotoNari RX in any direction.

The Future According to Mazda: Cars in the future will be designed by Michael Bay and will look like limbs that have been blow off of a Transformer. The Mazda MotoNari RX, for instance, was inspired by Megatron's foot.

Weirdness Factor (1 - I could buy that today, 10 - OMG WTF): 9

Gallery: 2007 LA Design Challenge: 2057 Mazda MotoNari

Continue reading L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Mazda MotoNari RX

L.A. Auto Show Robocar: 2057 Mazda MotoNari RX originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2007 LA Design Challenge2007LaDesignChallengeLA Design ChallengeLaDesignChallengeMazda MotoNari RXMazdaMotonariRxrobocarRoboCars 2057Robocars2057Fri, 12 Oct 2007 14:28:00 EST