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Despite considerable concerns about the safety of flying cars, two-thirds of Americans say they would like to ride in or operate their own airborne vehicle.
A new study by researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute shows that 41 percent of adult respondents to an online survey are "very interested" in riding in a fully autonomous (self-driving and self-flying) flying car. That compares to 26 percent of those who are "very interested" in operating the aerocar themselves after obtaining an appropriate pilot license.
"Until recently, flying cars have existed primarily in the realm of science fiction, although patents for such vehicles extend to the early years of aviation," said Michael Sivak, a research professor at UMTRI. "However, recently there has been a rapid increase in interest in flying cars from companies ranging from large, international manufacturers to a variety of startups.
"In addition to major technological, traffic-control and licensing issues that still will need to be addressed, a big unknown is what consumers think of the concept of flying cars, and what the desirable parameters are for such a novel approach to mobility."
We already had flying cars in the 70's. Some of them sported the Stars and Bars, others were driven by a man named Evel.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 21 2017, @09:18PM (1 child)
"Where's My Flying Car?" Right Here, Dude [soylentnews.org]
That appeared to be more of a taxi service-type thing rather than a private vehicle.
If you specify your origin point and your destination and that can't be changed once airborne, that could work (with a central authority/database to manage the airspace).
...and the Dukes of Hazzard car didn't have the "Stars and Bars" on it.
It had The Southern Cross AKA the Confederate Battle Flag.
Note also that that flag was typically square, not round.
It was the Confederate Naval Jack that was rectangular.
The Stars and Bars was a different thing that looked like a re-thinking of Old Glory. [google.com]
8-( The S/N comments engine is still needlessly stripping out quote marks from URLs.
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 21 2017, @09:21PM
s/round/rectangular
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]