Texas Gets $15 million for Houston-DFW High Speed Rail Line (Dallas: house, closing)

[L210]

Do the skycars drive themselves? All I can do is imagine all the drunk people who will be in them.

[Lucidus]

Originally Posted by L210

Do the skycars drive themselves? All I can do is imagine all the drunk people who will be in them.

For the most part yes. Skycar operators will drive the skycars on the ground but the flying will done by computers coordinated with air traffic control. They will probably be more safe than regular cars in this respect because an intoxicated driver of a skycar will only be driving short distances to and from the nearest VTOL area. Most of the trip will be handled by a completely sober computer.

[GlobalistPotato]

Originally Posted by Lucidus

For the most part yes. Skycar operators will drive the skycars on the ground but the flying will done by computers coordinated with air traffic control. They will probably be more safe than regular cars in this respect because an intoxicated driver of a skycar will only be driving short distances to and from the nearest VTOL area. Most of the trip will be handled by a completely sober computer.

Kinda like an airplane?

But really, I see HSR more likely to happen than a FLYING CAR, or a driverless computer controlled car, or something along those lines.
After all, true HSR is a proven technology in revenue-making operations around the world. Flying cars are still conceptual (aka a fantasy ), and driverless cars are apparently in Google's prototype stage.
Even though comparing HSR to flying cars is like comparing a boat to a plane.

[Lucidus]

Originally Posted by GlobalistPotato

Kinda like an airplane?

But really, I see HSR more likely to happen than a FLYING CAR, or a driverless computer controlled car, or something along those lines.
After all, true HSR is a proven technology in revenue-making operations around the world. Flying cars are still conceptual (aka a fantasy ), and driverless cars are apparently in Google's prototype stage.
Even though comparing HSR to flying cars is like comparing a boat to a plane.

Yes, it is the same technology that modern passenger aircraft already use.

I agree that trains are a proven technology, they should be by now. In fact that is the basis of my argument against them. Trains were once the primary means of intercity travel in the U.S. but improving automobile and avaiation technology has made them much less useful.

And even the best HSR won't solve our traffic problems. Most of our traffic congestion is caused by people going from a nearby suburb to the city or from one suburb to another. HSR is designed to carry people from one city to another. Simply put, HSR "solves" a problem that doesn't exist; airplanes already handle that job much better than trains can. Planes are faster obviously than trains and more flexible ( for example, when New Orleans was flooded the airlines were able to divert flights to Baton Rouge for a while since many of New Orleans' residents where there. HSR would not have that option, it can only run where there are railroad tracks suitable for it already in place.) HSR will have most of the same issues as air travel, like getting to and from the train station and going through security. (some people argue that HSR will not have the same security as planes but I don't see why it wouldn't since terrorist can bomb trains just as easily as they can bomb planes.) The only advantage for the passenger of HSR over planes is that all baggage can be carry-on so you can skip the baggage claim, but that advantage comes with its own security concerns.

The skycar, if it can be developed, will make enormous improvements to transportation where they are most needed, suburb to city and suburb to suburb. And it will be developed, there are about 10 companies now working on a skycar prototype. The question is, will it be developed in the U.S. so that we benefit from its development and manufacture, or will be developed by the Israelis (x-Hawk) or the Brits (Parajet Skycar)?

[Bideshi]

15 million won't even get you a second rank ball player.

[Lucidus]

Originally Posted by Bideshi

15 million won't even get you a second rank ball player.

No, but it will buy 1.5 million copies of Railroad Tycoon 3, if you simply must play with trains.

[FastFerrari]

I hope they are gonna use some of those hi-tech Japanese or French style 180mph trains. Or we might be looking at 80mph this....


I believe a more useful route would have been up the I-35 corridor, SA to Dallas. Then again Houston has way more billionaires both SA and Austin, as well as more commerce.

[Willsson]

Originally Posted by FastFerrari

I hope they are gonna use some of those hi-tech Japanese or French style 180mph trains. Or we might be looking at 80mph this....


I believe a more useful route would have been up the I-35 corridor, SA to Dallas. Then again Houston has way more billionaires both SA and Austin, as well as more commerce.

Yeah, that's the thing about Houston. It's where it needs to be. SA and Dallas'ites are always trying to get somewhere.

[Lucidus]

Originally Posted by GlobalistPotato

Kinda like an airplane?

Flying cars are still conceptual (aka a fantasy )

Maybe not for much longer. I found this today:

Moller International (OTCBB: MLER) ("The Company") is pleased to announce that they have scheduled a demonstration flight of its ethanol-fueled M400 Skycar volantor. This invitation-only media event is scheduled to take place on October 11, 2011 in Vacaville, CA. Over 250 members of the domestic and international press have already indicated an interest in attending this historic flight.

Moller must be pretty confident to invite 250 members of the press to watch the Skycar fly.

Skycar Manufacturer Moller International Announces Scheduled Test Flight: Market Wire Business News - MSN Money

[kenshi]

What about fuel? It takes more energy to fly than to roll. And what happens if the engine craps out in the air? Is the computer programmed to make an emergency landing?