[obermd]

Why do concept car designers feel the uglier the better? The unfortunate thing is some of those ugly designs make it to manufacturing (I'm looking at you Pontiac Aztec and BMW i3).

 

[Jackson]

Bicycle helmet with wheels? Squashed bowling ball? People-mover, maybe; and you're clearly not meant to see traffic through those goofy windows. Consider the styling consequences of auto-drive. Will future versions look more like the cargo version above? And if you can't see out (or out very well), what happens to signage? Formal entryways? With universal adoption, will businesses depend solely on electronic media and set up shop in unmarked buildings? Things look the the way they do, in large part, because of a century plus of human-driven automobiles.

 

[Jackson]

Why doesn't someone build a skateboard/transporter to carry single shipping containers around town? They'd go from trucking depots or rail yards to a commercial destination; or containers could be carried to and from container ships in port cities. That sounds like a job for Tesla or Nicola. Of course it would just look like a container going down the street, not some goof-ball wad.

 

[bboaze]

Hey, if it gets me where I need to go as quick or quicker than driving myself, I don't care what it looks like. I can't help but think about the time when I lived in Miami Lakes, FL that I needed to go to downtown Miami to the Passport office. I decided to try the relatively new MetroRail and drove to Hialeah to catch the train. After waiting 30 minutes for the next train and stopping every 50 ft, I returned home and found it only took me about 2 hours longer than driving in the I95 traffic.

 

[Demetrius]

The future is all CGI...

 

[Raymondjram]

The grilles are copies of Chevy's design. Seems like M-B wants to use Chevy's appeal at their huge prices. Maybe their fans will go for that change.

Raymond

 

[Raymondjram]

Eco_Turbo :
Hey, if it gets me where I need to go as quick or quicker than driving myself, I don’t care what it looks like. I can’t help but think about the time when I lived in Miami Lakes, FL that I needed to go to downtown Miami to the Passport office. I decided to try the relatively new MetroRail and drove to Hialeah to catch the train. After waiting 30 minutes for the next train and stopping every 50 ft, I returned home and found it only took me about 2 hours longer than driving in the I95 traffic.
I lived in NYC and took trains often, even when visiting that city, and I still prefer the subways and trains instead of driving. You are not appreciating the ride and relaxation while someone or something else is driving, and you can read, talk, or even take a nap.

Any electric train is more efficient than any private vehicle (even if it is a Chevy Bolt EV) because they cost much less per passenger-mile. Owning a vehicle is always a loss because you are driving yourself for only a few hours a day and probably paying to park it for many hours, while trains carry thousands of passengers for many hours a day, and park at night.

No matter how you see it, trains are still better. But if you are in a hurry, you have to spend more traveling by yourself. The only permanent and cheaper solution is the Mass Transporter, which we will see by the 23rd century.

Raymond

 

[Raymondjram]

Jackson : Why doesn’t someone build a skateboard/transporter to carry single shipping containers around town?They’d go from trucking depots or rail yards to a commercial destination; or containers could be carried to and from container ships in port cities.That sounds like a job for Tesla or Nicola.Of course it would just look like a container going down the street, not some goof-ball wad.
What would you do if you encounter such a weird moving box facing you in traffic? Federal and State laws require safety devices on each vehicle on public roads, so they must be as safe as present trucks. So the real solution is an AT (Autonomous Truck). I suspect GM and Cruise is working on that, probably running some Chevy Silverado "mules" as potential ATs.

Raymond

 

[Jackson]

Raymond Ramirez : What would you do if you encounter such a weird moving box facing you in traffic? Federal and State laws require safety devices on each vehicle on public roads, so they must be as safe as present trucks.

The MB cargo AT is already a weird box (albeit a more aesthetic one). I have no doubt that there will be structures on the front of my 'skateboard' to hold sensors, etc; and it would, when you think about it, be like the back end of a truck but in the front. You could add amber and white flashing lights. I don't see why safety devices (for AT) couldn't be used.

Unloading standard cargo containers to load a separate vehicle system will add an unnecessary step. You have to do that for the 'last mile' delivery MB is targeting; but that's not what I'm talking about.

 

[Raymondjram]

Jackson : The MB cargo AT is already a weird box (albeit a more aesthetic one).I have no doubt that there will be structures on the front of my ‘skateboard’ to hold sensors, etc; and it would, when you think about it, be like the back end of a truck but in the front.You could add amber and white flashing lights.I don’t see why safety devices (for AT) couldn’t be used.


Unloading standard cargo containers to load a separate vehicle system will add an unnecessary step.You have to do that for the ‘last mile’ delivery MB is targeting; but that’s not what I’m talking about.
A better solution is a modification of what tractor trailers are using. The cargo can be a unified type of box and the truck platform designed to carry the box as one piece on or inside it. Electric lifts can move the whole box in and out (or off and on) the tractor part which holds the power train, controls, and necessary safety devices (bumpers, lights, sensors, etc) for an AT or a cabin for human drivers. If the box is an industry standard size (as the present trailers are for truck and cargo ships), then the concept will be complete. With such an industry size, any truck manufacture can compete and fulfill that cargo need with human driven or autonomous trucks. Maybe the box standard can allow different lengths and just keep height and width fixed.

Raymond

 

[Jackson]

Raymond Ramirez ,

The cargo container is the unified type of box. That's what I am trying to describe. I'm talking about moving those around from ships trucks and trains, to businesses who receive them, within 50 miles. As far as I know, there is no AT version, and such would have no need of a cab. It would mainly look like the container. Load/unload capability comparable to a present-day trailer would doubtless be provided. (Looking at these pictures, it would probably be only the short box, below).

... and now, we can post pictures again!

 

[Jackson]

 

[bboaze]

I like GM's idea of a vehicle that changes shape better. Although this iteration seems to only allow vehicle to be more aerodynamic when empty or partially empty.

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1116769_gm-imagines-real-transformers-with-shape-shifting-car-design-patents

 

[Sean11]

Uh I couldn't help want to avoid this article like the article said this is the ugliest car I've ever seen in my life it's like a cockroach on steroids!

 

[Loboc]

As AI starts designing and redesigning, we will see more organic shapes for all the things we use. Including vehicles and TARDIS. Humans are not boxy. Why should vehicles be boxy?

CGI indeed. Having an avatar do our physical or virtual work and play may not be that far fetched. See Surrogates the movie.

 

[Tim_Hart]

I'm with Sean and definitely hope I never see one on the road! It could cause an accident!

 

[Streetlight]

This creation looks like something out of the movie "Soylent Green". These ID guys gotta come up with the most outlandish. Sure you all remember the 1947 Studebaker.

AV note: SAE updated its SAE J3016 released July 2018. Simply, each of the six levels (0-5) are further explained in straightforward language so that buyers can better understand how AV options apply to their car.

Should not impact state legislation or NHTSA guidelines. (California adopted J3016. So this update is applicable to its legislation.)

Be that as it may, I think now makers (yes even TESLA) will now need to better define their ADAS options. (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.)