Dictionary of Vehicle Terms in Science Fiction
(Technovelgy items at top: skip down to News)

Name

Author (Publication Date)

Aerocab (Aeroflyer)
A electric flying taxi, or car.

Hugo Gernsback (1911)
Aerocar - first use of idea?
A personal flying vehicle.

Fred C. Smale (1900)
Aerocycle (Ærocycle)
An aerial bicycle, human powered.

Arthur Bird (1899)
Aerodrome (Ærodromes)
Flying machines.

Arthur Bird (1899)
Air Scooter
A flying personal vehicle.

Nat Schachner (1940)
Air Speedster
Highly maneuverable air vehicle for hunting.

Isaac Asimov (1951)
Aircycle
Motorcycle for the air with gravimetric coils instead of wheels.

Philip Nowlan (w/D. Calkins) (1929)
Air-Freighter Cargo Plane
An enormous airplane used for transporting cargo across the country.

Ed Earl Repp (1929)
Airjeep
A small military air vehicle.

H. Beam Piper (1952)
Alcohol-Sensing System
A vehicle subsystem that detected alcohol use in the driver, and then took control of the car away from the driver.

Philip K. Dick (1963)
Alterable License Number
A device which permits a driver to alter the license plate without leaving the vehicle.

Robert Heinlein (1941)
Anacronopete (Time Machine)
A flying electric-powered time machine.

Enrique Gaspar (1887)
Anemopter
Special craft for journeys through the atmosphere of a gas giant planet.

David Moles (2007)
Atoplane
An airplane powered by nuclear energy, capable of tremendous speed and distance.

Earl L. Bell (1928)
Auto Course-Finding Pilot
A device that not only pilots the craft, but will also plot out a course for you.

Philip K. Dick (1964)
Auto-Driven Auto (Spinner) - it drives itself
A vehicle that accepts coordinates and proceeds to its destination automatically.

Roger Zelazny (1966)
AutoM8
A remote-controlled automobile.

Daniel Suarez (2009)
Automatic Car (Autonomous)
A car that drives itself; an autonomous vehicle.

Miles J. Breuer (1930)
Automatic Control Car
An autonomous vehicle.

Arthur C. Clarke (1976)
Automatic Ore Cart
An autonomous truck for raw ore processing.

Philip K. Dick (1955)
Automatic Parking
Vehicle autonomously heads for a public hangar.

John W. Campbell (1934)
Automatic Refueling Screen
Repels objects that are too big, and gathers small ones for fuel.

Theodore Sturgeon (1941)
Automatic Toll Payment
An automated car that pays its own toll.

David H. Keller (1935)
Automatic Truck
A cargo-carrying vehicle that autonomously drives to the selected destination.

Miles J. Breuer (1932)
Automatobile
An autonomous private car.

Isaac Asimov (1953)
Automatobus
An autonomous or self-driving bus seating a number of people.

Isaac Asimov (1953)
Auto-Navigation
Automatic car navigation, provided on a video console in the dashboard.

Roger Zelazny (1966)
Autonomous Car Intercommunication
Automatic cars talk to each other about everything.

Isaac Asimov (1953)
Autonomous Truck
A truck that drives itself and unloads itself.

Philip K. Dick (1955)
Ball-Taxi
A floating, spherical cab.

Henry J. Kostkos (1935)
Bee Wing
A flapping wing aircraft in use on Mars.

Malcolm Jameson (1941)
Buggaroo
Martian creature for transportation.

Clifton B. Kruse (1938)
Camden Speedster - compare this to an SUV
A super sports utility vehicle (SUV); it drives on the highway, the water and jumps into the air for short periods.

Robert Heinlein (1941)
Car Sound Tape - what does a hybrid sound like?
Otherwise silent vehicle uses a recorded engine sound.

Robert Heinlein (1985)
Carryall - giant ornithopter
A flying wing (aircraft); used to pick up a sandcrawler (harvester factory)

Frank Herbert (1965)
Caterwheel
A uniquely styled ground vehicle with fat, splayed out tires.

Murray Leinster (1955)
Centipede
Perfect craft for crawling through slushy, frozen lakes - on Titan.

Greg Bear (2015)
Centipede-Machine
Multi-legged transport.

Edmond Hamilton (1931)
Commute Disk
Flying autonomous commuter vehicle.

Philip K. Dick (1955)
Deliverator Car - pizza on the edge
The vehicle for edgy pizza delivery.

Neal Stephenson (1992)
Diaheliper
Offers delivery of diapers by air.

E.B. White (1950)
Disabler
A device that drains power quickly from an electric vehicle.

Alan Dean Foster (2010)
Dormancy Switch
Essential device 'switches off' your cyborg animal, causing it to quickly drop off to sleep.

Thomas A. Easton (1990)
Driverless Drones - AIs assist
One remote supervisor can drive a half-dozen drones, with some computer assistance.

Charles Stross (2007)
Electric Bicycle
A two-wheeled device utilizing stored electricity as motive power.

George Parsons Lathrop (1897)
Electric Boat
A surface vessel powered by electricity.

S.P. Meek (1932)
Electric Car Recharging Station
A public place for recharging electric cars.

John Jacob Astor IV (1894)
Electric Phaetons (Electric Cars)
Vehicles whose motive power is entirely derived from electricity.

John Jacob Astor IV (1894)
Electric Plane
An airplane powered entirely by electricity.

Charles Cloukey (1930)
Electric-Yacht
A surface vessel powered entirely by electricity.

John Baker Hopkins (1885)
Electrotruck
An autonomous, electric truck.

Poul Anderson (1956)
Empty Man - a body ready for a mind
A fully-functioning body, the personality of which had been wiped clean.

Larry Niven (1976)
Engineless Automobile Hover
No engine, no steering wheel, yet it runs.

Francis Flagg (1930)
Flight Stick
A personal flying vehicle, stripped down to the basics.

Larry Niven (1969)
Flitter
A small craft used for short-range journeys.

E.E. 'Doc' Smith (1941)
Floater
A device that allows the user to literally float in the air

Philip Frances Nowlan (1928)
Floater (Vehicle)
A conveyance distinguished primarily by antigravity power.

John W. Campbell (1935)
Flying Car
Flying police car has VTOL.

Ridley Scott (1982)
Flying Platform
Simple black squares that fly and hover.

Edmond Hamilton (1929)
Flywheel Cycle
A motorcycle powered by a flywheel.

Harry Harrison (1970)
General Bodies Tortoise - terrapin fast
A passenger vehicle genetically engineered from tortoise DNA and controlled by implanted electronics.

Thomas A. Easton (1990)
Groundcar (or Ground Car) - the old-fashioned present
A non-skimming, non-flying vehicle.

E.E. 'Doc' Smith (1937)
Guide-Beam
A wireless means of controlling and directing the movement of a passenger vehicle.

Philip K. Dick (1954)
Gyro Two-Wheeled Truck - a Segway truck
A gyroscopically-stabilized truck with just two wheels.

Alan Nourse (w/Meyer) (1958)
Gyrocar
A two-wheeled, self-balancing automobile.

Kenneth Brown (1911)
Gyrocar (Gyro)
A gyroscopically stabilized car; a one-wheeled vehicle.

Piers Anthony (w/R. Margroff) (1969)
Gyrotomic
A small gyrostabilized hovercraft.

John Victor Peterson (1938)
Helicops
Small, private flyers for business commuting.

John W. Campbell (1930)
Helicoptomic
A hovering craft used by referees in rocket polo.

John Victor Peterson (1938)
Heliocar
Ground vehicle that can also lift off like a helicopter.

Jack Williamson (1931)
High Kavalaan Aircar - superbad SUV of the air
Flying SUV equipped with laser weapons.

George RR Martin (1977)
Hopper
A vehicle with a single leg and rotors to enhance 'hang time.'

Isaac Asimov (1954)
Hovercraft - rides on a cushion of air
A vehicle that moves about on a cushion of air.

William Gibson (1988)
Jet-Powered Aquaplane
Overpowered surface boat.

Jack Vance (1964)
Jumper - float free
Inertron belt results in effective weightlessness.

Philip Frances Nowlan (1928)
Kite-Copter Car
An observation car suspended below a device that supplies lift.

Jack Vance (1952)
Landspeeder - the future of hovercraft
A small repulsion-based hovercraft capable of high speeds over flat terrain.

George Lucas (1976)
Laws Against Human Drivers
The idea that autonomous vehicles should be the only cars on the road, for safety.

Bernard Brown (1934)
Magnus-Effect Ambulance - sidewise force
A vehicle that can hover and fly using the Magnus Effect.

David Brin (1990)
Marine Spider (Hydrofoil)
A very early mention of the hydrofoil concept.

John Jacob Astor IV (1894)
Martian Perambulator
A mechanized transport for heavy gravity environments for beings born in lower gravity environments.

Robert Heinlein (1951)
Metal Worms
Huge wriggling metal war engines.

- Marius (1928)
No Steering Wheel Autonomous Car
An autonomous vehicle without a wheel for human drivers.

Miles J. Breuer (1930)
One-Man Car
A small transport vehicle.

Jack Vance (1954)
Ornithopter - flies like a bird
Also called a 'thopter, it had adjustable wings and was jet-powered. Describes any plane capable of wing-beat flight in the manner of birds.

Frank Herbert (1965)
Parent Drone
A drone platform that launches smaller drones.

Daniel Suarez (2012)
Photosight - sees the highway
An automotive device that automatically follows a painted white line on the roadway, letting the car drive itself.

Alan Nourse (w/Meyer) (1958)
Planetruck
Huge vehicle for planetary surface transport.

Ross Rocklynne (1951)
Platform Flyer
A small craft suitable for journeys close to the ground.

Jack Vance (1964)
Pneumatic Bumpers
An inflatable bumper system for ground-based motor vehicles.

John W. Campbell (1938)
Pocket Scanner
A device that scans for the codes that will open a vehicle's door on command.

Alan Dean Foster (2006)
Police Control-Override
A device that allows police officers to take control of an otherwise normal vehicle.

Keith Laumer (1964)
Radson Skimmer
A small vehicle designed for a small number of passengers; capable of low, slow flight.

Roger Zelazny (1966)
Roachster
A genetically-engineered vehicle based on arthropod DNA; uses implanted control structures.

Thomas A. Easton (1990)
Robot Bus
An autonomous vehicle to transport groups of people.

Henry Kuttner (1946)
Rocket Racing
Use of reaction mass vehicles for races held within the solar system.

Lester del Rey (1939)
Roller
Two passenger vehicle designed for off-road use on alien planets.

Clifford Simak (1957)
Saddle
A comfortable riding saddle - minus the horse.

Clifford Simak (1959)
Sand-Yacht (Land Schooner)
A vehicle that used wind power upon its sails to move on the land.

J.G. Ballard (1966)
Self-Cleaning Autonomous Car
An automatic vehicle that keeps itself clean.

Isaac Asimov (1953)
Single Seat Scooter
A self-service monocycle.

Jack Vance (1964)
Skimmer
Low-flying, hovering vehicle.

W.L. Bade (1949)
Skitter - electric carts on Dosadi
A small passenger vehicle, for two beings, which uses a steering bar. It is parked in a structure that parks and releases vehicles automatically.

Frank Herbert (1977)
Skrode
A small mobile platform designed for a legless race.

Vernor Vinge (1992)
Skycar
A personal means of transportation that flies.

Bernard Brown (1931)
Skycycle
A flying Harley; motorcycle of the skies.

Larry Niven (1967)
Sky-Scoot - flying foils
A patch of antigravity foil used for flying.

George RR Martin (1977)
Smart Piston Spokes
A car that uses a set of pistons that feels and reacts to the surface to move around.

Bruce Sterling (1994)
Snake Boring Truck
A long thin truck like a snake, with a boring tip.

Philip K. Dick (1954)
Solar Car
A car the energy for which comes from the sun.

Polton Cross (1941)
Solar-Powered Electric Runabout
A vehicle powered from the sun.

Lyle Monroe (1940)
Spherical Tires
Tires that are shaped like balls, rather than like squat cylinders.

Neil R. Jones (1930)
Squib
A simple form of ground transportation.

Philip K. Dick (1970)
Steam Horse
A remarkable mechanical beast.

Emile Souvestre (1846)
Steel Tortoise - the original ATV
An all-terrain vehicle, grandfather to the four-wheeler.

Robert Heinlein (1940)
- Marius (1928)
Stratocar
A vehicle intended for use in traveling through the upper atmosphere.

Leo Zagat (1937)
Suitcase Airplane
A diminutive, collapsible, two-passenger biplane.

E.D. Skinner (1929)
Surface Car
A specialized vehicle for traveling on a planetary surface.

Arthur K. Barnes (1938)
Surface Slider
A small, lightweight craft.

Jack Vance (1964)
Teleradio Control (Hand Flash)
A device that can call a vehicle to a driver; it drives itself in a near-autonomous fashion to the caller.

Nat Schachner (w. AL Zagat) (1931)
The Terror
An amazing vehicle capable of attaining tremendous speeds - in many different ways.

Jules Verne (1904)
Tin Cabby (Flying Robotic Taxi) - mechacab
An autonomously controlled flying taxi cab.

James Blish (1957)
Torpoon
Clever portmanteau of "torpedo" and "harpoon", an underwater whaling craft.

H.G. Winter (1932)
Tracked Vehicle - better than Hummer
A heavily armored vehicle, typical of those in use, with a remarkable agility.

Frank Herbert (1977)
Transparent Car Roof
You can see through the roof of the car.

Eric Frank Russell (1939)
Transport Walkers
Multilegged transport vehicles big enough to carry one person.

George M. Ewing (1987)
Two-Wheeled Car
A small passenger vehicle with two centerline wheels.

Robert Heinlein (1940)
Two-Wheeled Ground Car - gyro-stabilized
A gyro-stabilized vehicle like an enclosed motorcycle.

E.E. 'Doc' Smith (1950)
Vehicle Sleep Sensor
Better stay awake, the machines know if you're sleeping.

Harry Harrison (1956)
Vision-Based Autonomous Cars
A vehicle that uses a visual sensor to gather information sufficient to safely drive.

Miles J. Breuer (1930)
Walker Wagon
Robotic vehicle with a trough-like body and many mechanical legs.

Robert Heinlein (1950)
Whale Waldo
An electromechanical whale "suit" that obeys and amplifies your body's motions.

David Brin (1979)

Related Science Fiction in the News

Cheap Drunk Driver Detection From UofM
"Look, I can drive... Start, darn it!" - Philip K. Dick, 1963.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 3/4/2024 )
More Like A Tumblebug Than A Motorcycle
'It is about the size and shape of a kitchen stool, gyro-stabilized on a single wheel...'- Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 2/10/2024 )
Tesla Camera-Only Vision Predicted In 1930's SF
'By its means, the machine can see.' - Miles J. Breuer, 1930.
(re: Miles J. Breuer, 2/8/2024 )
Aptera Solar EV More Stylish Than Heinlein Steel Tortoise
'When confronted by hills, or rough terrain, it did not stop, but simply slowed until the task demanded equaled its steady power output.' - Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 2/4/2024 )
Arma Lunchbox-Sized Folding Electric Scooter
'You will notice that it is folded and telescoped into a compact mass which fits the suitcase nicely...' - E.D. Skinner, 1929.
(re: ED Skinner, 12/7/2023 )
Yamaha Motoroid 2 No Handlebars Self-Balancing Motorcycle
'He rode the bike with an intense lack of physical grace...' - Bruce Sterling, 1998.
(re: Bruce Sterling, 11/5/2023 )
Should Your Car Decide If You Can Drive?
'Okay. Maybe the car was right...' - Philip K. Dick, 1963.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 11/1/2023 )
Honda UNI-ONE Hands-Free Wheelchair Follows 100 Year-Old Design
'Noiselessly, on rubber-tired wheels, they journeyed...' - David H. Keller, 1928.
(re: David H. Keller, 10/27/2023 )
18 Wheels Mutant Centipede Vehicle
'If a centipede were a dinosaur and made of metal to boot...' - Robert Heinlein, 1950.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 9/29/2023 )
Vendetta 2023 All-Terrain Skateboard Could Use Neal Stephenson's Smartwheels
'If you surf over a bump... If you surf over a pothole...' - Neal Stephenson, 1992.
(re: Neal Stephenson, 9/9/2023 )
The Electric Balance Bicycle And The Decline Of Western Civilization
'Noiselessly, on rubber-tired wheels, they journeyed...' - David H. Keller, 1928.
(re: David H. Keller, 9/5/2023 )
HOVER Scorpion Speeder Bike!
'I see them! Wait, Leia!' - George Lucas, 1983.
(re: George Lucas, 7/23/2023 )
CAVForth Autonomous Bus Of Scotland
'Buses without drivers moved close to the curb and stopped...' - Henry Kuttner, 1946.
(re: Henry Kuttner, 4/13/2023 )
Seoul Self-Driving 42dot Bus Unveiled
'Buses without drivers moved close to the curb and stopped at intervals.' - Henry Kuttner, 1946.
(re: Henry Kuttner, 11/17/2022 )
Electric Jet Boats From Enevate and Sealence Collab
An interesting application for batteries; pushing a heavy boat through a fluid like water will be difficult.
(re: Capt. S.P. Meek, 10/7/2022 )
Alcohol-Sensing Cars - NTSB Catches Up With Philip K. Dick (1963)
'Mr. Garden, you are in no condition to drive....' - Philip K. Dick, 1963.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 9/11/2022 )
Tianjin Solar Vehicle From Hanergy (2022) Looking Like Heinlein's (1940)
'When confronted by hills, or rough terrain, it did not stop, but simply slowed until the task demanded equaled its steady power output.' - Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 7/9/2022 )
Sky Cruise Nuclear Powered Flying Hotel Concept
'... the huge air-freighter Jupiter.' - Ed Earl Repp, 1929.
(re: Ed Earl Repp, 7/5/2022 )
Lightyear 0 World's First Production-Ready Solar Car
'It could maintain a steady six miles per hour...' Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 6/29/2022 )
Elon Musk: Production Of Robotaxis In 2024
'The car had no steering wheel, and no one drove!' - Miles Breuer, 1930
(re: David Keller, 4/17/2022 )
Autonomous Waymo Jaguar I-PACEs In San Francisco
'... just one more reason why the average human being should not be allowed to drive such a powerful machine!' - Dr. David H. Keller, 1935.
(re: Dr. David H. Keller, 3/25/2022 )
When Will I Get My Unipod Gyro Balanced Personal Vehicle
'It had been a long time since the Chief Engineer had ridden one of these silly-looking little vehicles, and he felt awkward.' - Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 3/13/2022 )
Einride Remote Pod Operators Control Multiple Pods
'...some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre has got your life - and half a dozen other lives - in his hands.' - Charles Stross, 2007.
(re: Charles Stross, 3/9/2022 )
Rivian Actually Making Electric Self-Driving Trucks
'... there was no driver's cabin.' - Philip K Dick, 1955.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 2/21/2022 )
Rolls Royce Electric Airplane Breaks Records
'A white electric plane approached at great speed...' - Charles Cloukey, 1930.
(re: Charles Cloukey, 1/7/2022 )
A Kill Switch For Your Car?
'The car faltered as the external command came to brake...' - Keith Laumer, 1965.
(re: Keith Laumer, 1/1/2022 )
Yamaha MOTOROiD Living Motorcycle Experiment
'He had never ridden any motorized device that lacked onboard steering and balance systems.' - Bruce Sterling, 1998.
(re: Bruce Sterling, 12/11/2021 )
Solar Power Camper Van, As Predicted By Robert Heinlein in 1940
'It could maintain a steady six miles per hour on smooth, level pavement.' - Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 12/7/2021 )
Omni Hoverboard Envy Of Green Goblin
'I brought it back to the ship, charged it up, reprogrammed the inertia chips and voila!' - Dan Simmons, 1989.
(re: Dan Simmons, 11/15/2021 )
Jetson ONE Speeds Through The Forest
'Over there! Two more of them!' - George Lucas, 1983.
(re: George Lucas, 11/13/2021 )
Jetson ONE Personal Electric Aerial Vehicle
Who says you can't have your flying car?
(re: Various, 10/7/2021 )
Sono Motor's Sion Sun-Powered Car
'...six square yards of sunpower screens on its low curved roof.' - Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 9/25/2021 )
Adorable One-Seater Electric Car From Wuxi Sinotech
'Noiselessly, on rubber-tired wheels, they journeyed...' - David H. Keller, 1928.
(re: David H. Keller, 9/11/2021 )
Carver EV Single Person Microcar Leans In
'Farr paid his fare, summoned a one-man car...' - Jack Vance, 1954.
(re: Jack Vance, 8/29/2021 )
Tesla Vs... Domino's? The Race For Autonomous Vehicles
'...some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre has got your life - and half a dozen other lives - in his hands.' - Charles Stross, 2007.
(re: Charles Stross, 7/13/2021 )
Musk Claims Sublimity For Future Summon Feature
'Once we move summon... to a single FSD stack, it will be sublime.' - Elon Musk, 2021.
(re: John Campbell, 6/29/2021 )
AirCar Completes Flight, Transforms Into Groundcar
'... straight ahead stood a row of transparent objects that had to be the air-cars.' - Harry Bates, 1934
(re: Harry Bates, 6/25/2021 )
IconicSounds Electric - BMW EV Scored By Hans Zimmer
'...and a sound tape to supply the noise.' - Robert Heinlein, 1985.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 4/25/2021 )
Electric Monocyle Tumblebug Available On Alibaba
'... it is about the size and shape of a kitchen stool, gyro-stabilized on a single wheel.' - Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 3/1/2021 )
China's Self-Driving Electric Trucks Are Poul Anderson's Electrotrucks
'... the trucks gulped packages and scurried like beetles..' - Poul Anderson, 1956.
(re: Poul Anderson, 2/27/2021 )
Elon Musk STILL Wants To Make Heinlein's 1940's Speedster
'As she neared the barrier the car surged and lifted...' - Robert Heinlein, 1941.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 2/15/2021 )
Electric Vehicle Prices Will Drop To $2,890
'the human seats took up two-thirds of the room in each'
(re: Niven and Pournelle, 2/3/2021 )
Tesla Model S And X Moves Toward KITT Knight Rider Styling
Now, that was a Pontiac Trans Am with some real style.
(re: Various, 1/23/2021 )
Gyro-X Self-Balancing Two-Wheeler Car
'Indeed, the gyrocar was a sight to make a man look twice.' - Kenneth Brown, 1911.
(re: Kenneth Brown, 9/9/2020 )
InMotion V11 Electric Unicycle Gets Air (Video)
'A tumblebug does not give a man dignity...' - Robert Heinlein, 1941.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 8/27/2020 )
Ford's SafeCap, Opposite Of Niven and Barnes' Napcap
'In the napcap a client became an instant yoga master' - Niven and Barnes, 2000.
(re: Niven and Barnes, 6/29/2020 )
Tesla Roadster Plus SpaceX Thrusters Equals Rocket Car
'The car surged and lifted...' - Robert Heinlein, 1941.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 5/29/2020 )
Sono Sion Electric Car Charges As You Drive
'It drew its power from six square yards of sunpower screens on its low curved roof.' - Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 5/1/2020 )
Cruise Autonomous Car Drives Aimlessly For An Hour
Convincing video shows progress (and limitations).
(re: David Keller, 1/20/2020 )
Fast Charging A Bus In 20 Seconds
'... in almost every town and village.' - John Jacob Astory, 1894.
(re: John Jacob Astor IV, 1/19/2020 )
Segway S-Pod Fulfills Dire 1928 SciFi Prophecy
'Noiselessly, on rubber-tired wheels, they journeyed down the long aisles...' - Dr. David Keller, 1928.
(re: David H. Keller, 1/7/2020 )
Drone-Based Aerial Hammock
'The observation vehicle... was suspended by a pair of cables from the kite-copter.' - Jack Vance, 1952.
(re: Jack Vance, 12/13/2019 )
Autonomous Wheelchairs Improve Airport Mobility
'Noiselessly, on rubber-tired wheels, they journeyed down the long aisles...' - David H. Keller, 1928.
(re: David H. Keller, 11/19/2019 )
Cybertruck The Solar-Powered Steel Tortoise
'It drew its power from... sunpower screens on its low curved roof.' - Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 11/11/2019 )
Vantablack BMW X6 Is Douglas Adams Approved
'It's so... black!' said Ford Prefect. - Douglas Adams, 1980.
(re: Douglas Adams, 8/21/2019 )
Jet-Powered Hoverboard Works!
L'audace, l'audace, toujours l'audace!
(re: Clifford Simak, 7/11/2019 )
Nobe 3-Wheel Electric Vehicle Parking Like I, Robot
Spidercar, Spidercar, does whatever a spidercar does.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 7/9/2019 )
Mojipic Smart Voice Vehicle Emojis
KITT, your move!
(re: Various, 7/1/2019 )
AVAS Noisemakers Required For EVs By EU
'...a sound tape to supply the noise of a soi-disant "[internal combustion]" engine...'- Robert Heinlein, 1985.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 6/25/2019 )
Lightyear One Solar-Powered Electric Car (Design By Heinlein)
'It drew its power from six square yards of sunpower screens on its low curved roof.' - Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 6/19/2019 )
Swedes Premiere T-Pod Driverless Electric Truck
'the trucks gulped packages and scurried like beetles...' - Frederik Pohl, 1956.
(re: 2695, 5/5/2019 )
Elon Musk Foretells Tesla Sans Steering Wheel
'The car had no steering wheel, and no one drove!' - Miles Breuer, 1930
(re: David Keller, 4/13/2019 )
'Young Razorbacks Before Their Katanas Grow In'
'Twin robotic arms with gleaming three-foot sword blades unfolded from the forward hydraulic assemblies...' - Daniel Suarez, 2009.
(re: Daniel Suarez, 4/3/2019 )
Get Your Speeder Flying Motorcycle From Jetpack Aviation
'The flycycles were miracles of compact design.' - Larry Niven, 1970.
(re: Larry Niven, 3/13/2019 )
Dockworkers Protest Driverless Trucks
'It resembled conventional human-operated transportation vehicles, but with one exception -- there was no driver's cabin.' - Philip K. Dick, 1955.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 3/9/2019 )
Flying Car Concept By Kash Sirinanda
'Each one consists of a hub with many tiny spokes... On the end is a squat foot, rubber tread on the bottom...' - Neal Stephenson, 1992.
(re: Neal Stephenson, 3/7/2019 )
Tesla Driver Caught Napping Behind The Wheel
'Mary Risling settled back for a little nap...' - Robert Heinlein, 1941.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 2/9/2019 )
Rplate Digital License Plates Now Legal In Michigan
'Gragg's digital ink license plates ...' - Daniel Suarez, 2009.
(re: Daniel Suarez, 1/23/2019 )
Yandex Self-Driving Taxi Is Very Smooth
'The big car was slowing down, its computer brain sensing an exit ahead.' - Arthur C. Clarke, 1976.
(re: Arthur C. Clarke, 1/7/2019 )
Tesla Model 3 Has Outside Speaker Grille
Robert Heinlein does it again.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 1/1/2019 )
Audi Pop.Up Autonomous Electric Flying Car
'The cab was an egg-shaped bubble of light metals and plastics...' - James Blish, 1957.
(re: James Blish, 11/26/2018 )
InMotion Glide 3 Electric Unicycle For The Last Mile
'...gyro-stabilized on a single wheel.' - Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 11/22/2018 )
Soon, Your Tesla Will Follow You Like A Pet
'... follow him as faithfully as a well-trained hound.' - John Brunner, 1975.
(re: John Brunner, 11/9/2018 )
Jaguar I-Pace Audible Vehicle Alert System For EVs
'Of course not a vehicle moved by means of internal explosions of a derivative of rock oil...' - Robert Heinlein, 1985.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 10/12/2018 )
IONITY Opens First 10 Fast-Charging Stations
'Recharge the batteries... in almost every town and village...'- John Jacob Astor IV, 1894.
(re: John Jacob Astor IV, 9/21/2018 )
Sion Electric Car Covered With Solar Panels
'It drew its power from six square yards of sunpower screens on its low curved roof.' - Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 8/15/2018 )
PAL-V Liberty Flying Helicopter Car
'...lifted themselves to skimming flight upon whirling helicopters." - Jack Williamson, 1931.
(re: Jack Williamson, 8/13/2018 )
Ancient Russian Walking Excavator Would Be Perfect RV
I don't need it to go fast, it just needs to amble along.
(re: Jack Vance, 8/10/2018 )
Quiet Electric Cars Law Finalized By US Transportation Department
'... a sound tape to supply the noise'- Robert Heinlein, 1985.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 8/1/2018 )
Embark Autonomous Trucks Still Need Humans
'...it resembled conventional human-operated transportation vehicles, but with one exception -- there was no driver's cabin.' - Philip K. Dick, 1955.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 7/15/2018 )
Rolls Royce eVTOL Flying Car
'The cab came floating down out of the sky at the intersection.' - James Blish, 1955.
(re: James Blish, 7/7/2018 )
Elon Musk Seeks To Create 1941 Heinlein Speedster
'The car surged and lifted, clearing its top by a negligible margin.' - Robert Heinlein, 1941.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 6/16/2018 )
Have I Seen The Tesla Roadster Story Before?
'Only it wasn't a vessel. It was an automobile...' - Theodore Sturgeon, 1941.
(re: Theodore Sturgeon, 4/2/2018 )
Self-Driving Car Ticketed
This just missed making my day.
(re: Various, 3/30/2018 )
Loomo Mini Transporter Robot Companion You Ride On
'Slowly the [robot] horse raised its head, wiggled its ears, blinked twice, gave a tentative whinny.' - Christopher Stasheff, 1969.
(re: Christopher Stasheff, 3/13/2018 )
Tesla Semi Truck Now At Work
Why wait? Tesla Semi now hard at work.
(re: Poul Anderson, 3/1/2018 )
Cool Tinsley Lunar Unicycle Update
Great update of a timeless classic.
(re: Various, 2/20/2018 )
Drunk Driver Of Tesla Claims Autopilot Was In Charge
'Mr. Garden, you are in no condition to drive.' - Philip K. Dick, 1963.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 1/16/2018 )
GM Introduces Cruise AV With No Steering Wheel
'The car had no steering wheel, and no one drove!' - Miles Breuer, 1930
(re: David H Keller, 1/11/2018 )
Earth-1 Transformer Gundam Car
Is it a Gundam? Or maybe a Transformer.
(re: Various, 1/5/2018 )
When Will The Feds Ban Human Drivers?
'The first laws came out forcing the old machines off the highways...' - Isaac Asimov, 1953.
(re: Isaac Asimov, 1/2/2018 )
Tesla Semi 'Electrotruck' Unveiled
Elon Musk unveils yet another technological marvel.
(re: Poul Anderson, 11/10/2017 )
Audi Traffic Jam Pilot Knows If You're Sleeping
'Even here, riding a garbage truck to eternity, the machine watched him...' - Harry Harrison, 1956.
(re: Harry Harrison, 11/5/2017 )
Ionity Ultra-fast Charging Station Network
'Recharge the batteries... in almost every town and village...'- John Jacob Astor IV, 1894.
(re: John Jacob Astor IV, 11/3/2017 )
E-Fuso eCanter Electric eTruck
I prefer the 'electro' prefix, personally.
(re: Poul Anderson, 10/22/2017 )
Pegasus, Nvidia Supercomputer For Autonomous Driving
'...a 2045 convertible with a Hennis-Carleton positronic motor and an Armat chassis.' - Isaac Asimov, 1953.
(re: Isaac Asimov, 10/15/2017 )
Dubai Scorpion Police Hoverbike Ready To Pull Young Kirk Over
'Is there a problem, officer?'
(re: Gene Roddenberry, 10/10/2017 )
Korean Tesla Model S Video 'Excelsior' Is Indeed Our Motto
'Improving man by bringing him close to Nature, while they combine the sensations of coasting with the interest of seeing the country well...'
(re: John Jacob Astor IV, 10/8/2017 )
Autonomous Cars Talk To Each Other At MCity
'My cars talk to one another.' - Isaac Asimov, 1953.
(re: Isaac Asimov, 10/4/2017 )
U of M's MCity To Feature Asimov's Automatobuses
Should you turn autonomous buses off?
(re: Isaac Asimov, 9/30/2017 )
Meet Assist-e Honda's Self-Balancing Motorcycle
'He had never ridden any motorized device that lacked onboard steering and balance systems...'- Bruce Sterling, 1998.
(re: Bruce Sterling, 9/22/2017 )
Kalashnikov's One-Seater Hovercraft
Not for windy days.
(re: Various, 9/20/2017 )
Clever Electric Truck Generates More Power Than It Uses
Better than a fictional electrotruck!
(re: Poul Anderson, 9/14/2017 )
CNH Industrial Autonomous Tractor Concept Video
'...the tiny red glints of self-guided tractors.' - Larry Niven, 1966.
(re: Larry Niven, 8/17/2017 )
Cattle Avoidance Feature In Indian Autonomous Cars
'The driver went about the business of gently slipping the teflon-coated metal scoop beneath the first animal...' - Allan Dean Foster, 2006.
(re: Allan Dean Foster, 4/6/2017 )
Tesla Autopilot's 40 Percent Crash Reduction
''I hope all those other cars are on automatic,' he said anxiously.' - Arthur C. Clarke, 1976
(re: Arthur C. Clarke, 1/18/2017 )
Cormorant Flying Car
'The cab came floating down out of the sky...' - James Blish, 1957.
(re: James Blish, 1/14/2017 )
Star Wars Speeder Bikes! On Water, By Jetovator
'Hey, wait!' Now, you don't need to say that.
(re: George Lucas, 12/19/2016 )
Honda To Offer Car With Emotions
'All the doors in this spaceship have a cheerful and sunny disposition.' - Douglas Adams, 1979.
(re: Douglas Adams, 12/1/2016 )
The Point Of View Of An Autonomous Car
'It is safe to say that the new model almost revolutionized America in more ways than one...' - David H. Keller, 1935.
(re: David H. Keller, 11/27/2016 )
Otto Self-Driving Truck Kit Delivers Budweiser Beer
'Trucks gulped packages and scurried like beetles...' - Poul Anderson, 1956.
(re: Poul Anderson, 10/17/2016 )
BMW Self-Balancing Motorcycle - Never Put Feet On Road
'He had never ridden any motorized device that lacked onboard steering and balance systems...'- Bruce Sterling, 1998.
(re: Bruce Sterling, 10/4/2016 )
3D Printed Car Can Launch POV Drone
Just the thing for the Runaway squad - and you and me.
(re: Michael Crichton, 9/25/2016 )
NVIDIA's DAVE2 Autonomous Car Learns From Drivers
'So we took pictures of Guzub making a Three Planets...' - Anthony Boucher, 1943.
(re: Anthony Boucher, 9/14/2016 )
Superior Morals For Autonomous Cars
Exemplars of military and civic virtue.
(re: Keith Laumer, 8/8/2016 )
Tesla To Eye Future With New Sensors?
'I want to show you something new in the way of an automobile.' - David H. Keller, 1935.
(re: David H. Keller, 7/28/2016 )
Mobility Scooters Go Offroad
'Noiselessly, on rubber-tired wheels, they journeyed down the long aisles...' - David H. Keller, 1928.
(re: David H. Keller, 7/12/2016 )
Graphene Ultracapacitor Airships For Heavy Lifting
'The war-balloons were to be kept for purposes of transportation of heavy articles...' - George Griffith, 1893
(re: George Griffith, 6/24/2016 )
Tesla Model S Is Also A Boat (Sort Of)
'This Dick Dare contraption of yours...' - Robert Heinlein, 1941.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 6/10/2016 )
Autonomous Cars: The Year Of Driving Dangerously
'The Lincoln was weaving from side to side...' - Daniel Suarez,
(re: Daniel Suarez, 5/24/2016 )
Man Filmed Sleeping In Tesla On Autopilot
'Mary Risling settled back for a little nap...' - Robert Heinlein, 1941.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 5/18/2016 )
Otto Self-Driving Truck Kits
'Trucks gulped packages and scurried like beetles...' - Poul Anderson, 1956.
(re: Poul Anderson, 5/17/2016 )
Baby Boomers Will LOVE Autonomous Cars (Trust Me!)
'Old people began to cross the continent in their own cars....' - David H. Keller, 1935.
(re: David H. Keller, 5/7/2016 )
DIY Method To Summon Tesla With Amazon Echo
'Thomas focussed the violet beam of a hand flash on a plate...' - Schachner and Zagat, 1931.
(re: Schachner and Zagat, 5/5/2016 )
A Baker's Dozen Of Autonomous Car-Related Revolutions
'Old people began to cross the continent in their own cars.' - David H. Keller, 1935.
(re: David H. Keller, 4/27/2016 )
Chris Brewer Speaks at Michigan Robotics
'As the beautiful old car cruised in almost perfect silence under the guidance of its automatic controls...' - Arthur C. Clarke, 1976.
(re: Arthur C. Clarke, 4/5/2016 )
Tesla Unveils Affordable Model 3 Electric Car
'They can therefore roam over the roads of the entire hemisphere [combining] the sensations of coasting with the interest of seeing the country well.'- John Jacob Astor IV, 1894.
(re: John Jacob Astor, 4/1/2016 )
Lit Motors C-1 Gyro-Stabilized 2-Person Motorbike
'It was a small affair, ovoid in shape, and poised on two centerline wheels…' - Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 3/28/2016 )
Eagle-360 Spherical Wheel Concept
"AAAAaaargh!" - Will Smith, I, Robot (2004)
(re: Various, 2/28/2016 )
Ready For Your Halting State Driverless Drone Future?
'You hate the whole idea that some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre has got your life... in his hands.' - Charles Stross, 2007.
(re: Charles Stross, 2/22/2016 )
Snow Crash And Domino's DXP Pizza Delivery Vehicle
'The electromechanical hatch on the flank of his car is already opening to reveal his empty pizza slots...' - Neil Stephenson, 1992.
(re: Neal Stephenson, 2/21/2016 )
Pothole Detection Technology Expands
'It would adapt its shape and diameter to the terrain...' - Arthur C. Clarke, 1968.
(re: Arthur C. Clarke, 2/9/2016 )
Patented! Google's Autonomous Delivery Trucks
I hope Google's trucks can find my house!
(re: Miles J. Breuer, 2/3/2016 )
Self-Driving Trucks For Netherlands' Ports
'Trucks gulped packages and scurried like beetles...' - Poul Anderson, 1956.
(re: Poul Anderson, 1/18/2016 )
Google Should Name Roads After Science Fiction Authors
Heinlein, DIck, Niven - and more!
(re: Miles J. Breuer, 1/17/2016 )
EHang 184 AAV Passenger Drone Future Of Commuting?
'The cab was an egg-shaped bubble...' - James Blish, 1957.
(re: James Blish, 1/11/2016 )
Autonomous Cars In Snow? Ford, University Of Michigan Say Yes!
'Under the guidance of its automatic controls...' - Arthur C. Clarke, 1976
(re: Arthur C. Clarke, 1/9/2016 )
Fully Autonomous Vehicles In 2 Years - Musk
'The beautiful old car cruised... under the guidance of its automatic controls...' - Arthur C. Clarke, 1976
(re: Arthur C. Clarke, 12/16/2015 )
Mattel Bug Racer Driven By Live Cricket
'With wheels they could move along... and manipulate with their fronds and tendrils.' - Vernor Vinge, 1992.
(re: Vernor Vinge, 12/14/2015 )
Do You Really Want Your Car To Talk To Pedestrians?
'Robots have worse problems than anybody' - Philip K. Dick, 1952.
(re: Philip K Dick, 12/12/2015 )
California Proposes Ban On Driverless Vehicles
'She gestured him ahead of her, toward a bubble-car...'- Larry Niven, 1976.
(re: Larry Niven, 12/7/2015 )
Active Wellness Smart Car Seat
'Maybe the car was right...' - Philip K. Dick, 1963.
(re: Philip K Dick, 11/13/2015 )
Tesla Autopilot Road Trip 2995 Miles, 57 Hours
'The beautiful old car cruised ... under the guidance of its automatic controls...' - Arthur C. Clarke, 1976.
(re: Arthur C. Clarke, 11/5/2015 )
Tesla's New Autopilot, With Test Drive Video
'As the beautiful old car cruised in almost perfect silence under the guidance of its automatic controls...'
(re: Arthur C. Clarke, 10/12/2015 )
Will The Dashboard Disappear From Autonomous Cars?
'No controls and no instruments...' - James Blish, 1957.
(re: James Blish, 10/6/2015 )
Tesla Promises Fully Autonomous Cars By 2018
It's been a criminal offense for at least a hundred years to drive manually on a public highway.- Arthur C. Clarke, 1976.
(re: Arthur C. Clarke, 9/26/2015 )
Hackers Can Take Control Of Cars From Anywhere In The World
'The car faltered as the external command came to brake...' - Keith Laumer, 1965.
(re: Keith Laumer, 7/17/2015 )
Would Robot Taxis Ease Carbon Emissions?
'He emerged and flagged down a robot taxi...'- Philip K. Dick, 1955,
(re: Philip K. Dick, 6/24/2015 )
Autonomous Cars: Who Is Responsible For Driving?
It's been a criminal offense for at least a hundred years to drive manually on a public highway.- Arthur C. Clarke, 1976.
(re: Arthur C. Clarke, 5/27/2015 )
Will Google Autonomous Cars Have Advertisements?
'He groaned and shook his head to clear it.'- Philip K.Dick
(re: Philip K. Dick, 3/24/2015 )
Autonomous Vehicle By Delphi Goes Coast-to-Coast
''All right, sir or madam,' the MacMillan robot answered...' - Philip K. Dick, 1954.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 3/22/2015 )
Volvo's 'Drive Me' Program Offers Autonomous Cars In 2017
'She woke just before the signal from the car which would have called her...'- Robert Heinlein, 1941.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 2/21/2015 )
Autonomous Car Outperforms Professional Race Driver
'Khan grinned. 'It's alive! Bu-wahhahahah!''- Daniel Suarez, 2009.
(re: Daniel Suarez, 2/13/2015 )
Vroom! Your Car Or Truck's Engine Noise Might Be Fake
'... a sound tape to supply the noise'- Robert Heinlein, 1985.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 1/25/2015 )
VW Golf R Touch With Gesture Control
'All you had to do was wave your hand...'- Douglas Adams,
(re: Douglas Adams, 1/7/2015 )
BMW's Remote Valet Parking Assistant
'Mary... claimed her car from the robopark...'- Robert Heinlein, 1941.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 12/21/2014 )
Lit Motors Self-Balancing Motorcycle
'He had never ridden any motorized device that lacked onboard steering and balance systems...'- Bruce Sterling, 1998.
(re: Bruce Sterling, 11/7/2014 )
Robert Heinlein, Your Self-Driving Car Is Almost Ready!
'Mary Risling settled back for a little nap...'-= Robert Heinlein, 1941.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 10/16/2014 )
Tesla 90 Percent Autonomous Car By 2015 - Elon Musk
'It cut her out of the stream of vehicles and reduced the speed of her car...'- Robert Heinlein, 1941
(re: Robert Heinlein, 10/1/2014 )
Google Lobbies For Autonomous Motorcycles
'He had never ridden any motorized device that lacked onboard steering and balance systems.'- Bruce Sterling, 1988.
(re: Bruce Sterling, 8/9/2014 )
Cruise Automation's 'Highway Autopilot' For $10K
'It cut her out of the stream of vehicles and reduced the speed of her car...'- Robert Heinlein, 1941
(re: Robert Heinlein, 7/15/2014 )
myCopter Personal Aerial Vehicle (PAV)
Not quite as freewheeling as the sfnal version, but it might work.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 6/22/2014 )
Spam Autonomous Cars And Philip K. Dick
'The news vending machine, being homotropic, headed toward them...'- Philip K. Dick, 1963.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 6/20/2014 )
Toyota's Camatte Has William Gibson's Digital Hood
'That's a nice car out there," Rydell said...'- William Gibson, 1993.
(re: William Gibson, 6/16/2014 )
Pinwheel Battery-Powered Unicycle Is Segway In Your Price Range
'A tumblebug does not give a man dignity...'- Robert Heinlein, 1941
(re: Robert Heinlein, 6/9/2014 )
Google Developing 'KITT' Functionality For Android?
Ah, but when will they develop the 'Hasselhoff' functionality?
(re: Various, 6/2/2014 )
Brainflight Brain-Controlled Airplane
Mr Gant, you must think in Russian. Can you do that?
(re: Various, 6/1/2014 )
Google Autonomous Electric Car Prototype Unveiled
'She gestured him ahead of her, toward a bubble-car...'- Larry Niven, 1976.
(re: Larry Niven, 5/27/2014 )
Tesla's 100th Supercharger Station!
'Recharge the batteries, which can be done in almost every town and village..'- John Jacob Astor IV. 1894.
(re: John Jacob Astor IV, 5/23/2014 )
GPS Bullets Legal For Cops In Hot Pursuit?
OTOH, the Jedi homing beacon tracking device allows Obiwan to follow Fett through both hyperspace and heavy asteroid fields.
(re: George Lucas, 4/30/2014 )
Should Autonomous Cars Have Feelings About Crashes?
'Robots have worse problems than anybody.'- Philip K. Dick, 1952.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 4/15/2014 )
Auto Emotion Detector Lets Your Car Know Your Mood
'Why don't you take a stress pill and get some rest?'- Arthur C. Clarke, 1968.
(re: Arthur C. Clarke, 3/23/2014 )
RYNO To Heinlein - Your Tumblebug Is Ready!
'It is about the size and shape of a kitchen stool, gyro-stabilized on a single wheel...'- Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 2/11/2014 )
RF Safe-Stop Shuts Cars Off
'...a police control-override.'- Keith Laumer, 1965.
(re: Keith Laumer, 12/4/2013 )
Honda's Tumblebug - The UNI-CUB beta
'A tumblebug does not give a man dignity…'- Robert Heinlein, 1940.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 12/1/2013 )
Robert Heinlein, Your Personal Electric Helicopter Will Be Ready In 2016
"They were half way home when a single flyer, hopping free in a copter harness, approached the little parade."- Robert Heinlein, 1954.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 11/10/2013 )
Electronic License Plates For California By Smart Plate Mobile
Another science fiction prediction come to life!
(re: Daniel Suarez, 9/8/2013 )
Lawmaker License Plates Invisible To Traffic Cams
'Gragg's digital ink license plates flicked from California to Oregon vanity tags that read GECCO...'- Daniel Suarez, 2009.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 8/10/2013 )
The F-Bike Flies!
'The flycycles... a pair of four foot spheres joined by the constriction that held the saddle.'- Larry Niven, 1970.
(re: Larry Niven, 6/21/2013 )
Tesla's Supercharger Station Plan
'To recharge the batteries, which can be done in almost every town and village...'- John Jacob Astor IV, 1894.
(re: John Jacob Astor IV, 5/31/2013 )
BMW Plans Fully Autonomous Cars By 2025
'She woke just before the signal from the car which would have called her... '- Robert Heinlein, 1941.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 3/2/2013 )
EU Parliament Requires Electric Cars To Make Noise
'...a sound tape to supply the noise of a soi-disant "[internal combustion]" engine...'- Robert Heinlein, 1985.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 2/13/2013 )
Pepper The Parrot's Bird Buggy
'Someone had put them on mobile platforms, the skrodes.'- Vernor Vinge, 1992.
(re: Vernor Vinge, 12/8/2012 )
Tesla Model S Declared Car Of The Year By Motor Trend
'They can therefore roam over the roads of the entire hemisphere [combining] the sensations of coasting with the interest of seeing the country well.'- John Jacob Astor IV, 1894.
(re: John Jacob Astor IV, 11/13/2012 )
'See-Through Prius' Demoed in Japan
You'll think you're driving a glass car!
(re: Robert Heinlein, 10/10/2012 )
Self-Driving Cars Ready To Buy In 5 Years Says Sergey Brin
Your autonomous car will drive itself off the lot by 2017!
(re: Robert Heinlein, 9/27/2012 )
Hover Bike Like Star Wars Landspeeder - With Video!
This could be the speeder you're looking for.
(re: George Lucas, 8/28/2012 )
Google Self-Driving Car Now Commuter-Ready
'The car slid up the ramp... then joined the high-speed northbound stream. Mary Risling settled back for a little nap...'
(re: Robert Heinlein, 8/24/2012 )
Ford Smart Car Stops Your Texting
'Okay,' he said, feeling humiliated. Maybe the car was right...
(re: Philip K. Dick, 7/3/2012 )
Transcontinental Flight By Solar-Powered Plane
'...Placed in the wings of a plane to generate power from the light falling on that surface...'
(re: John W. Campbell, 6/7/2012 )
C1 - The Gyro-Stabilized Two-Wheeled Ground Car
'Motorcycle-wise, but automatically, the "Dilly" leaned against its gyroscopes at precisely the correct angle...'
(re: Robert Heinlein, 5/31/2012 )
Cadillac Super Cruise Self-Driving Car
Cadillac luxury, in an autonomous vehicle.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 5/6/2012 )
BYD Qin Car Has Dashboard 'i' Robot
Don't fly your X-wing without one.
(re: George Lucas, 4/22/2012 )
Audi E-Sound Gives Electric Cars A Voice
I seem to recall this idea from a Heinlein novel.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 4/16/2012 )
Hoverbike Is Stuff SF Dreams Are Made Of
Perhaps this reminds you of other sf favorites?
(re: George Lucas, 1/5/2012 )
Self-Balancing Electric Unicycle By MIT Student
'A tumblebug does not give a man dignity...' but it's a great idea for college students!
(re: Robert Heinlein, 1/1/2012 )
Princeton's Magic Carpet
I never thought I'd be writing a story about this one.
(re: Dan Simmons, 10/4/2011 )
Don't Drive Your Self-Driving Car
Don't try to drive your self-driving car, Googlers. Lesson learned.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 8/5/2011 )
D-Dalus Aircraft Has Contra-Rotating Cylindrical Turbines
The aircraft can move in any direction, or hover, or glue itself to the deck of a ship upon landing.
(re: Victor Appleton II, 6/23/2011 )
Autonomous Cars In Nevada?
'A person is not required to actively drive an autonomous vehicle.'
(re: Robert Heinlein, 4/29/2011 )
Take Control Of Cars Wirelessly
You think you have complete control over your car - but for how long?
(re: Keith Laumer, 3/20/2011 )
Google Cars Drive Faster, Safer Than You
This car reminds me of a predatory automobile from a recent story.
(re: Daniel Suarez, 3/4/2011 )
Geremin Gesture-Controlled Dashboard
Better than buttons on the steering wheel? You be the judge.
(re: Douglas Adams, 2/8/2011 )
Hamster Powers, Controls Strandbeest Walking Robot
This project is good practice for humanity, who may someday be able to help aliens get around in strange environments (like Earth).
(re: Vernor Vinge, 2/7/2011 )
Driver Alcohol Detection Systems for Safety By QinetiQ (And PKD)
Unfortunately, we cannot simply recline in the back seat and let the 'auto-auto mech' drive the car.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 1/30/2011 )
Uno By BPG Motors Transformer Like RIDEBACK
Is this the first real transformer vehicle?
(re: Tetsuro Kasahara, 1/11/2011 )
Land Crawler eXtreme Ready For Humma Kavula
If you are looking for a unique, child-sized riding robot, look no further.
(re: Various, 11/24/2010 )
Boeing Sixth Gen Fighter Needs No Pilot
How can pilots survive the high-gee maneuvers of the 21st century?
(re: Various, 11/9/2010 )
AutoNOMOS Robotic Taxi Called By iPad App
This modified VW Passat can be called and controlled with an iPad.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 10/14/2010 )
SBU Self Balancing Unicycle Perfected In V2.0
Revolutionary device now in its second iteration; comfortable, fast and environmentally responsible transportation is ready today.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 10/13/2010 )
Google's Autonomous Robotic Car
Self-driving cars have put over 140,000 miles on the road.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 10/9/2010 )
Ignition Interlock Required For NY Drunk Drivers
'It had been a bad night, and when he tried to drive home he had a terrible argument with his car.'
(re: Philip K. Dick, 8/13/2010 )
Buy Martin Jetpack This Fall
Ah, how long we've been waiting for a usable jetpack. Remember those sf ideas of yesteryear?
(re: John W. Campbell, 3/11/2010 )
'HPEMS' Means 'STOP' In Cop Speak
It induces strong disabling currents in vehicle ignition and control systems.
(re: Various, 1/21/2010 )
AirMule - A Star Wars Landspeeder By Urban Aeronautics
An interesting vehicle with multiple uses - one day, it might be just the thing for speeding around on desert planets.
(re: George Lucas, 1/12/2010 )
Parajet SkyCar Adventure
Unlike most flying cars, you can actually place an order for one of these right now.
(re: Jack Vance, 12/23/2009 )
Self-Balancing Unicycle Mythbuster Video
Fun video shows Mythbusters Adam Savage enjoying his new SBU.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 12/22/2009 )
OnStar Stolen Vehicle Slowdown Foils Carjacker
Predicted by several science fiction writers starting in the 1960's, this device has been tested in the field. And it works.
(re: Keith Laumer, 11/17/2009 )
iPhone App To Drive Your Car
Watch movie then and German engineering now videos of this iPhone app that lets you drive your car by remote control.
(re: Various, 10/31/2009 )
AIDA Affective Intelligent Driving Agent
This cute little 'dashboard droid' should be familiar to sf movie fans everywhere.
(re: George Lucas, 10/31/2009 )
Autonomous Valet Parking By Volkswagen
Imagine leaving your car at the curb of the restaurant, pushing the 'park' button and just walking in for dinner. Watch the video.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 10/26/2009 )
WaterCar Python Not Your Father's Amphicar
This is not a slow boat and it's not a slow car, either. I'd like to try driving one of these. With video.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 10/12/2009 )
In-Road Electric Vehicle Charger
Intriguing patent surfaces (with video) for an in-road electric vehicle charging system; you can move on or off the charging strip at will.
(re: Hugo Gernsback, 10/11/2009 )
Honda U3-X Self-Balancing Unicycle Video
With video. What's that you're saying? Another attempt to bring Heinlein's tumblebug to life? That's right.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 9/24/2009 )
Toyota Ignition Breathalyzer Lock
Philip K. Dick told us this was coming almost fifty years ago. Like so many other things.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 9/7/2009 )
eniCycle Self-Balancing Tumblebug
Just the thing for engineers - if they're working on the rolling roads.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 8/22/2009 )
Life-Size Tachikoma Robot Vehicle
This is a pretty nice implementation of the Tachikoma tank, even if it doesn't climb buildings or turn invisible.
(re: Various, 8/15/2009 )
Wooden Helicopter Personal Transportation
The do-it-yourself spirit is alive and well in China; this farmer used materials at hand to construct a personal flying vehicle.
(re: John W. Campbell, 8/9/2009 )
Toyota i-Real Personal Transport Now In Use
Sit up straight if you want to look pedestrians in the eye, then recline for speed. With video.
(re: Various, 6/25/2009 )
Ripsaw MS1 Like Laumer's Bolo
This unmanned tank can do speedy maneuvers and zip along at up to sixty mph. It's not autonomous - yet.
(re: Keith Laumer, 5/13/2009 )
Electric Cars To Make Noise By Law?
A quarter-century ago, an SF writer thought that it might be cool to give silent cars real engine sounds. Now, you might be forced to - and no way to turn it off.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 5/12/2009 )
Tesla Model S Not Your Grandfather's Electric Phaeton
Tesla has finally unveiled their electric car for the rest of us; take a look at the future of the electric Phaeton.
(re: John Jacob Astor IV, 3/27/2009 )
Cajun Crawler Like Segway With Legs - Lots Of Legs
This unique vehicle has the creepiest locomotion I've seen in a while.
(re: Various, 3/20/2009 )
Dynamic Augmented Wheel System Eight-Part Wheel
Interesting concept seems to work as prototype, but despite similarity to smartwheels, I think there is a traditional solution that works better
(re: Neal Stephenson, 3/13/2009 )
Deep Flight Super Falcon Luxury Submarine
Try flying underwater with this unique submersible from Graham Hawke.
(re: Various, 3/10/2009 )
Global Comm Net May Reduce Emissions
Interesting idea for (among other things) reducing emissions of the earthly vehicle fleet.
(re: Doctor Who, 3/8/2009 )
Katana Mono-Wing Rotorcraft Nano Air Vehicle
DARPA is financing this coin-sized flying machine; take a look at four imagined futures as well.
(re: Raymond Z. Gallun, 3/6/2009 )
Hamster Controls iRobot Create Vehicle
This hamster knows where he's going; the next step is to soup up this iRobot hobby robot for some real speed.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 3/5/2009 )
Chrysler To Help Battle Skynet
Hopefully, they won't be saying 'I'll be back - for more money' anytime soon.
(re: Various, 1/27/2009 )
Texting UK Police May Control Your Car
This technology may be familiar to fans of Greg Bear.
(re: Keith Laumer, 1/25/2009 )
Lrry-1 Fire-Breathing, Riding MechaDog Video
You'll need to look at the video before you decide what this thing really is; from the Mutoid Waste Company.
(re: Anthony Boucher, 12/12/2008 )
Moller M400 SkyCar Taking Too Long
What exactly is keeping this guy? Don't we all want skycars? Robert Heinlein certainly did.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 11/25/2008 )
'Mycodiesel' From Patagonian Tree Fungus
Interesting find in the rainforests of Patagonia; the only organism that produces ready-to-use fuel. Put a fungus in your tank.
(re: Neal Stephenson, 11/10/2008 )
Yamaha Deus Ex Wearable Motorcycle Concept
Although only a concept, the 'Deus Ex' may remind you of another vision of the wearable motorcycle.
(re: Various, 11/10/2008 )
Hover Chair Like Star Wars Landspeeder
Keith Dixon makes himself a hover chair - it's like floating on a cloud. For $9,600 I was hoping to go find some droids...
(re: George Lucas, 10/30/2008 )
Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Like Thunderbirds' Fireflash?
Nuclear-powered aircraft could make a comeback after being given the axe in the 1950's.
(re: Earl L. Bell, 10/30/2008 )
Self-Balancing Unicycle - Heinlein's Tumblebug
Nifty cycle looks a lot like what Heinlein described in the 1940's.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 10/23/2008 )
PlantBot: Humans Provide Gift Of Greater Mobility With 'Skrodes'
Unusual work by an unusual group gives us a glimpse of what Vernor Vinge had in mind fifteen years ago. With interview and moving image.
(re: Vernor Vinge, 10/19/2008 )
Rocket Races Approved For Earth Only, Unfortunately
I'm certainly in favor of rocket racing and this is a good start. However, I can recall at least one sf work that offered rocket racing on somewhat larger scale.
(re: Lester del Rey, 10/17/2008 )
Submersible Aircraft - DARPA's Flying Sub?
I really think that everyone who watched TV in the Sixties knows what they want; and what have those DARPA guys left out of their spec?
(re: Irwin Allen, 10/6/2008 )
Shape-Shifting Bomber In Need Of Plowsharing
Unfortunate budget cuts for DARPA may signal an opportunity for the rest of us to think of peacetime uses for cool military stuff.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 10/5/2008 )
4Moms Stroller: Death Cab For Cutie?
I'm thinking that I must have something in my database under the category of collapsible vehicle, but anyway.
(re: Various, 9/23/2008 )
Satellites To Limit Your Driving Speed
This will make you long for the days when Big Brother contented Himself with merely watching you.
(re: Nat Schachner, 9/18/2008 )
Pribot Robotic Prius Tours 'Frisco
New entry in self-driving sweepstakes comes not from a huge team but from one very determined engineer; you may recall his self-driving motorcycle from four years ago.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 9/17/2008 )
Jetpack From New Zealand Takes Off
Pretty nifty DIY jetpack from New Zealander Glenn Martin; includes better video than that provided by the New York Times.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 7/29/2008 )
Who First Thought About Solar Powered Cars?
The earliest reference I can think of is from 1940. But there are some cool hybrids with solar panels that will be available soon.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 7/11/2008 )
Robot Teddy Bear Chats With Drunk Drivers
If you think that getting into an argument with your car over drinking and driving is a bit surreal, you're right. But, bear knows best.
(re: Philip K. Dick, 6/18/2008 )
Gina Cloth-Covered Car From BMW
Watch the video to see how much this prototype car acts like a mammal with skin; I think we need to talk about exactly what sfnal properties the skin should have.
(re: Neal Stephenson, 6/14/2008 )
Superconducting Electric Motor Car
Now that gas costs $4 per gallon in the States, superconductivity in a car seems like a good idea.
(re: Various, 6/13/2008 )
Self-Repairing Aircraft Mimic Borg Cubes
It may be possible for aircraft to repair structural damage in flight - kind of like a Borg cube, but with no offers to assimilate passengers. Yet.
(re: Raymond Z. Gallun, 5/19/2008 )
Pinta The Robot Sailboat
'How was the ship piloted? Who was watching the course?' - Miles J. Breuer, 1930.
(re: Miles J. Breuer, 5/13/2008 )
Audi Snook One-Wheel Concept Gyrocar Updated
Updated with RAH tumblebug picture from June, 1940 Astounding! If you're wondering how much fun it will be to drive, read what Piers Anthony and Robert Margroff wrote forty years earlier.
(re: Anthony/w R. Margroff, 4/17/2008 )
Rocket Racing League Almost Podracing
Take a look at these two videos, and tell me if you think that this exhibition event taking place this summer looks like a good step towards podracing.
(re: George Lucas, 4/16/2008 )
Aptera Electric Vehicle So Cool It's On Star Trek
Just the kind of flivver James Tiberius Kirk would need to be BMOSAC - big man on Starfleet Academy campus.
(re: John Jacob Astor, 3/22/2008 )
DARPA Vulture Five Year Flying Wing
DARPA sets yet another ambitious goal; I don't understand why nobody remembers the amazing prototype aircraft that reached 100,000 feet on solar power alone a few years ago.
(re: E.E. 'Doc' Smith, 3/4/2008 )
MDI OneCat AirCar Breezes Toward Consumers
The AirCar concept still seems to be sound; the Tatas don't put their money in products that don't work.
(re: Various, 2/18/2008 )
Robotic Flying Saucer Drones
This company also has big plans for this little unmanned aerial vehicle.
(re: Michael Crichton, 2/13/2008 )
Ginormous Mech Animals Only Way To Travel
You may not make it all the way to the planet of the Overlords, but you can seriously ride on these animals.
(re: Arthur C. Clarke, 1/29/2008 )
Australasian Intelligent Speed Adaptation Initiative - Big Road Brother
Surveillance is one thing; automated ticketing another. But actually stopping a vehicle automatically?
(re: Keith Laumer, 1/12/2008 )
GM Betting On Driverless Cars
When GM says it thinks that autonomous vehicles will be commercially available in ten years, you're starting to get mainstream.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 1/9/2008 )
Dub Pimpstar Rims LED Wheel Display
Forget driving while talking on a cell phone - this takes distracted driving to a whole new level.
(re: Various, 1/8/2008 )
PAL-V Personal Air And Land Vehicle
The flying car concept is born again for the new year; is this the world's first practical flying car?
(re: Fred Smale, 1/2/2008 )
Disappearing Car Door Perfect For Your Motor Coach
You'll forget all about that gull-wing door nonsense after you've seen this one.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 12/14/2007 )
VertiPod From Air Buoyant: Segway Of The Sky
This is a classic single-person flying machine; you steer it by leaning where you want to go.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 12/11/2007 )
PhantomPark Secret Agent Parking System
I'm pretty sure I saw the idea in the sixties - maybe in a James Bond film. Anyway, you can get one now, if you like.
(re: Various, 11/29/2007 )
Volitan Solar 'Sail' Yacht
The Volitan looks good in this conceptual video; I like the idea of a boat powered by sun and sail only.
(re: Jules Verne, 11/27/2007 )
Waterspout Helicopter Designed To Take Off Underwater
Here's a cool design from a team of American and Israeli students; a submarine-based helicopter that can take off while the sub is still submerged.
(re: Various, 10/31/2007 )
Nissan Pivo 2 Concept Car With R2D2 Companion Robot
You've gotta love this bug-like buggy, but you'll have to watch the tire wear.
(re: George Lucas, 10/5/2007 )
Nano Air Vehicle Floats Like Maple Seed
Next time you crunch through the maple seeds in the spring, be careful where you step.
(re: Various, 9/25/2007 )
X-Hawk Concept Video Vs. Bladerunner Flying Car Video
That's right - you pick the future.
(re: Ridley Scott, 9/7/2007 )
Underwater Express - High Speed Troop-Carrying Torpedo
This remarkable development has at least been foreshadowed by elements of computer games.
(re: Hideo Kojima, 9/5/2007 )
Tribal Pizza Carputer For Snow Crash Deliverator
It's just the first generation, but I can almost smell that fresh 'za gliding silently to my house.
(re: Neal Stephenson, 8/18/2007 )
Tango Motorcycle Monocycle Like Heinlein's Tumblebug
This looks like great fun to ride, way more fun than a Segway, anyway.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 8/3/2007 )
Front Runner Hydrofoil Like Star Wars Podracer
Who knew that Boonta Eve races were held in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
(re: George Lucas, 6/22/2007 )
Smart Wheels Are Artificially Intelligent
Looks like the old 'Tiger Paws' advertisement will finally come true - not the tires, but the wheels themselves.
(re: Neal Stephenson, 6/19/2007 )
GEN H-4 Looks Like Heinlein's Copter Harness
John Thomas really wanted one of these, and so do I.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 4/4/2007 )
Blimp Swims Through Air Like A Fish
Yet another use for electroactive polymers, helping non-rigid airships swim like fish.
(re: Various, 3/24/2007 )
MiniC.A.T Urban Air Car
This remarkable car is on the verge of mass production in India; it runs entirely on air.
(re: , 3/20/2007 )
Car Seat Prototype Knows When You Are Sleepy
This smart car seat will wake you up when you get sleepy behind the wheel - but will it get to market fast enough?
(re: Harry Harrison, 3/5/2007 )
X-Hawk Fancraft Like Blade Runner Flying Car?
Interesting working prototype of a flying car-style VTOL aircraft.
(re: Ridley Scott, 2/6/2007 )
Drivemocion More Expressive Than KITT
I hope this thing offers more than just the smiley face.
(re: Various, 1/23/2007 )
HyperBike - NASA-Supported Heinlein Lunocycle?
This unique bicycle combines elements of old-fashioned big wheels and racing wheelchairs. NASA's interested, too.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 1/22/2007 )
Peter Robbins' Alicia, Tom Swift's Jetmarine
Remarkable homebrew submersible allows builder to live his Tom Swift-inspired fantasy.
(re: Victor Appleton, 12/28/2006 )
First Jetpowered Flying Man
Apparently, the first successful jet-pack; it looks pretty good on YouTube.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 12/25/2006 )
Innespace Dolphin Boat Breaks The Surface
This is another cool dolphin boat - closer to a product this time.
(re: David Brin, 12/11/2006 )
Bionic Dolphins And Whale Waldoes
Amazing prototype submersible is not your father's water toy; this baby's got a Corvette engine.
(re: David Brin, 10/29/2006 )
Shiva The Riding Mechanical Lion
This retro mechanical lion has at least one feature that DARPA's BigDog robot doesn't have...
(re: Various, 10/18/2006 )
DARPA Urban Challenge For Autonomous Vehicles
Cars that can really drive themselves in traffic? DARPA sets the Urban Challenge.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 10/4/2006 )
Rinspeed 'Splash' English Channel Crossing
Amphibious cars are almost speedy enough for sci-fi.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 8/12/2006 )
Hyanide Motorcycle Snowmobile Eyecandy
Part tank, part motorcycle - the Hyanide design prototype looks promising.
(re: , 7/25/2006 )
DARPA Urban Challenge - KITT, Put Up Or Shut Up
Okay, KITT - it's time to come out of retirement and win this thing for Knight Industries.
(re: Various, 5/2/2006 )
CLEVER Car One Meter Wide
The CLEVER car is a zippy little prototype vehicle just one meter wide
(re: Frank Herbert, 4/25/2006 )
Eunicycle Single-Wheel Gyro-Stabilized Scooter
Dr. Trevor Blackwell has constructed a self-balancing, powered unicycle he calls the Eunicycle. It's pretty close to what Robert Heinlein had in mind in 1940 in The Roads Must Roll.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 1/31/2005 )
Mac Mini and KITT The Knight Rider
the 6.5"x2" Apple Mac Mini is just the right size to fit into a car stereo single-DIN compartment. Let the Mac Mini custom auto conversions begin!
(re: Neal Stephenson, 1/13/2005 )
Ornithopters In Fact And Fiction
An ornithopter (a flapping wing aircraft) under development at the University of Toronto's Institute for Aerospace Studies may yet make Leonardo da Vinci's dream a reality. Frank Herbert fully visualized them in Dune.
(re: Frank Herbert, 12/2/2004 )
Animaris Rhinoceros Transport
The Animaris Rhinoceros Transport is - well, I don't know what it is. It stands about 4.7 meters tall, and is constructed with a steel skeleton covered with a polyester skin.
(re: George Lucas, 9/29/2004 )
SubjuGator: Flying Sub From Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea
The SubjuGator is an autonomous underwater vehicle based on the design of the Flying Sub
(re: Irwin Allen, 9/20/2004 )
Springtail EFV-4B Personal Air Vehicle From Trek Aerospace
The Springtail EFV-4B Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) is a fourth-generation vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) craft powered by a single engine.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 6/15/2004 )
VolksVegan - Biodiesel Powered Vehicles
The VolksVegan biodiesel is a great little car; any diesel vehicle can be converted to run on vegetable oil. Rudolph Diesel would have approved!
(re: William Gibson, 4/12/2004 )
Skyray Human Glider Flight
Tired of dawdling along at one hundred and twenty miles an hour, a typical terminal velocity for human-shaped skydivers? Can you go faster? and farther?
(re: Robert Heinlein, 12/17/2003 )
EMBRIO Embodies The Tumblebug
Bombardier recently came up with a new concept vehicle that "promises a whole new experience on the road." The EMBRIO would be a single-wheeled vehicle that used gyroscopes and sensors to maintain proper attitude.
(re: Robert Heinlein, 11/30/2003 )

 

 

 

 

 

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