Automakers preparing for RoboCar 2057

 Technology has recently brought us artificial intelligence allowing hands-free parking, multi-media applications and electronic stability control on our vehicles. Imagine what it would be like 50 years from now?

I’ll help you visualize. Eight automotive design studies of different automaker based in California created their own state of the art technology designs that will make the envisioned RoboCar of 2057. The Robocar 2057 might just be the car that can move to any direction, drive and navigate robotically and possibly have morphologic capabilities that can adjust to passenger needs.

The designs presented by Audi, GM, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Honda (maker of original Honda oxygen sensor) Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen are as part of the fourth Annual Los Angeles Auto Show’s RoboCar Design Challenge. From autospectator.com, here they are:

– Audi of America Design Center California: The Audi Virtuea Quattro is a hydrogen-powered vehicle that functions as a solid unit at its core, while providing a myriad of possible holographic exteriors.

– General Motors Advanced Design: The GM-Onstar ANT features vehicle-to-vehicle communication to optimize traffic flow along with omni-directional propulsion provided by three independent Nanorb wheel systems.

– Honda Research and Development, North America: One to the Power of Four is a solar-hybrid powered robotic commuter that allows carpoolers to use HOV lanes and once near final destinations, transforms from one into four separate vehicles.

– Mazda R&D of North America: The Motonari RX integrates the driver with the vehicle allowing the driver to experience the road psycho-somatically and also has 360 degree movement capability.

– Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America: The Silverflow utilizes micro-metallic particles that can be arranged via magnetic fields in many different forms based on pre-selected models and then be completely dissembled into a pool of ferromagnetic material.

– Nissan Design America: The Nissan OneOne is guided by a real-time GPS network and acts as both transportation and personal assistant with the ability to run errands or take children safely to school. It also adapts from performance car to city car by lying down for speed or standing up for better visibility.

– Toyota's Calty Design Research: The Biomobile Mecha can extract pollutants in the air and utilize it as an energy source. Nanotechnology also enables the structure of the vehicle to expand and contract horizontally and vertically for multiple uses.

– Volkswagen of America Design Center: The Slipstream adapts for city and freeway driving. These two-wheeled, teardrop shaped pods travel in an upright orientation that occupies one-fifth the size of a traditional vehicle and when on the freeway, tilts horizontally to be more aerodynamic.

Among the judges are Tom Matano from San Francisco’s Academy of Art University, Imre Molner from Detroit’s College for Creative Studies and Stewart Reed of Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design. The well known robotics expert, Chris Myers is also a special part of the board of judges. Mr. Myers is an independent design consultant specializing in remote telepresence robotics and had been a writer of robotic topics contributing entries for robotic and hobby magazines, Servo and Robot. He is also a faculty at San Francisco’s Academy of Art University teaching design.

"Much how the Transformers toys and the more recent Transformers movie have captivated millions of imaginations, the question of how artificial intelligence will evolve in the service of humanity is a topic of almost universal fascination," said Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc.