The
Future of Travel:
Planes,
Trains and Automobiles
If you're
one of the individuals who is really bummed that the whole Jetsons
theory of the 21st Century never panned out
(come on, admit it) then we have got the list for you. The
future of travel is promising. While many still
fantasize about conceptual flying cars and supersonic
vehicles, there is also a strong focus on making the journey
from point A to point B more pleasing for the average traveler.
Although, safety comes first - so buckle up and
enjoy the ride.
For
the commute… 
TREV
(Two-Seater Renewable Energy Vehicle)
The University
of Southern Australia (UniSA) is thinking beyond our current
Peak Oil problem, and into a time when fossil fuels simply won't
get us around anymore. The Trev (Two-seater Renewable Energy
Vehicle) is a solar racing car capable of traveling highway
speeds for up to 750km every day using the power of sunlight.
Designed specifically for the daily commute, this car makes
none of the noise and pollution associated with traditional
petroleum engine vehicles. Compliant with road safety regulations,
even tires, brakes, and suspension in this 300 kg vehicle are
energy-efficient.
 Skycar
Moller International
has developed the first and only practical, individually affordable,
vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle in the world. The
Skycar can cruise comfortably at 275 miles per hour, making
your commute to the office just a bit faster. The Skycar features
fuel-efficient engines, low noise emissions, and can accommodate
up to 4 passengers. At roughly 700K a piece, the Skycar is relatively
affordable - compared the cost of owning a private jet or purchasing
a Bentley.
Urban
Light Transport Pod
If you'd
rather avoid parking lots and meters, personal rapid transit
(PRT) may be more to your liking. ULTra (urban light transport)
provides on-demand, driverless low-cost and sustainable travel
for cities, airports, and other special developments. The pods
of the ULTra system travel on their own along a guideway network
(at ground level or on elevated tracks), allowing up to 4 passengers
per battery-operated pod. Each pod runs on an average of 2KW
of motive power, allowing you to travel one mile in approximately
3 minutes. The batteries recharge themselves when the pods are
stationary. The cost is surprisingly low at less than one dollar
per trip.
 SolarSailor
Ferries
SolarSailor
green ferries offer hybrid marine power, which means that conventional
engines are boosted by environmentally friendly sun and wind
energy. This allows for exceptional fuel savings, passenger
comfort, and reduced environmental emissions, which means a
strong return on investment. The hybrid system is optimized
and controlled by an onboard computer, just as is the case with
today's hybrid car. The SolarSailor motors are highly reliable
and have backups and redundancies to prevent all-out failure
in the series. Acceleration, handling, and emergency stopping
are quick and easy, and will not stall. Fuel and maintenance
costs are dramatically lower than the traditional urban ferry,
as is downtime.
For
personal mobility once you arrive…
 Toyota
i-REAL
Look out
Segway, there's a new personal mobility device making its way
onto the market! The Toyota i-REAL (based on previous Toyota
concepts such as the i-swing, i-unit, and PM) has three wheels
(one at the back, two at the front) with a low-speed mode and
high-speed mode to get you there in time without breaking a
sweat. The low-speed mode naturally shortens the i-REAL's wheelbase
so that maneuvering among pedestrians and other obstacles is
easy, without taking up much space and keeping you at eyesight
height. The high-speed mode lengthens the wheelbase for greater
stability, better driving performance, and a lower center of
gravity.
When
you're ready for that vacation…
 Aeroscraft
One day
soon we may be able to 'vacation' with out even disembarking
the aircraft. The Aeroscraft is a futuristic project that fuses
airplane and hotel - viola! - a flying hotel! The flying hotel,
with an area equal to two football fields will be powered by
helium, travel at a speed of 174 miles per hour up to 6,000
miles and soar 8,000 feet above in the air. Essentially, the
Aeroscraft is a massive 400-ton blimp designed to transport
up to 250 passengers in luxurious style. With casinos, retail
shops, and entertainment on board, it is much like a cruise
ship vacation set high above the seas.
 The
Manned Cloud
Ever dream
of floating on a cloud? How about vacationing there! The Manned
Cloud is a floating hotel which has a whale-shaped conception
proposed by French designer Jean-Marie Massaud and developed
through the French national aerospace research organization
ONERA. The Manned Cloud will be able to accommodate up to 40
guests along with 15 staff members for a three day voyage traveling
at about 170 km/h. Even the most exotic places can be traveled
without intrusion or exploitation of noise and typical touristic
damage. Passengers enjoy a restaurant, lounge, library, and
fitness center on the first floor, and their guest rooms, a
spa, terraces, and a bar on the second floor.
 Himiko
Water Bus
Already
completed and running, the Himiko Water Bus was designed and
created by Leiji Matsumoto - a famous Japanese cartoonist. The
Himiko's current route is between Asakusa and Odaiba Seaside
park, then to Hinode Pier and back to Asakusa once more. The
Himiko is unique due to its 3D windows (for a 360 degree panoramic
view) and flattened, streamlined teardrop shape. The water bus
can carry 171 passengers and travel at a speed of 12 knots.
Traveling from point A to point B has never before allowed for
such luxury, sophistication, and beauty.
 Verdier
If you
prefer to take your vacations on land, instead of in the air
or on the sea, the future has an option for you, too. The Verdier
is a solar powered "hippy van" offers green caravanning with
sun tracker solar panels that allow for optimal solar energy
using an onboard GPS system. When stopped, the van-like vehicle
converts into a self-sufficient home, which allows for indoor
and outdoor cooking, as well as a canopy and small exterior
dining area. The passenger seat becomes stairs to the raised
upper area which contains a compact bedroom with surround windows
to enjoy the sunset or wake to the sunrise.
 Virgin
Galactic
For the
truly adventurous who want an out-of-this-world vacation, Virgin
Galactic offers the world's first spaceline. Now, non-professional
astronauts will be able to leave the earth on one of Virgin's
privately owned and operated spaceships based on SpaceShipOne's
design. Virgin guarantees the height of luxury and cutting-edge
design for a truly unique and unforgettable experience. Based
in Mojave, California, even the most experienced traveler will
be awed by a sub-orbital touristic encounter.
Coming
home to the future…
 The
Magellan
Residential
Cruise Line Ltd's future looks to the most luxurious residential
cruise ship ever developed, the Magellan. Its construction should
take around 3 years (anticipated completion in 2010), to create
a 860 foot-long by 106 foot-wide ship with a crew of 500 people
serving 15 decks. The ship will include several luxurious amenities
such as two executive helicopters (for the 24/7 all-weather
heliport), signature restaurants, indoor tennis courts and golf
simulators, onboard marina, and observatory. The ship will house
1100 residents who can either lease or own their residences.
No matter what your interests or tastes may be, the future will
be ready to provide, in style, environmental friendliness, and
luxury.
No matter
what your interests or tastes may be, the future will be ready
to provide, in style, environmental friendliness, and luxury.
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