Phones, Planes, Cars and More Harness Energy From the Sun
Imagine a world without steering wheels. Well it's not here yet, but the ATNMBL is on its way.
This futuristic electric car sports rooftop solar panels that support the four motors underneath. But the ATNMBL isn't just "green;" it's intelligent. ATNMBL, which is still in development, will rely on GPS and sophisticated sensor systems to navigate infrastructure that is already in place.
The only problem is speed: normal drivers will dread getting stuck behind one of these. Because ATNMBL is being developed for simple travel, it won't travel very fast. As the vehicle's Web site says, "It's time to look at performance in a new way."
Aside from the advanced driving capabilities, the project will also sport a flat panel console, using mobile communication technology. The display will not only help navigate through traffic, but will also let passengers surf the Internet from the road.
The car's designers, Maaike Evers and Mike Simonian, have been involved in a number of futuristic design projects, including Microsoft's Xbox 360 and the T-Mobile G1 -- the first phone to sport Google's Android operating system.
Evers and Simonian have introduced their ahead-of-the-curve design as a future alternative to transportation, though there's no word yet on a release date.
"The ATNMBL project is meant to provoke a broader conversation about the future of cars and to promote a shift from styling cars to redefining the entire experience. Emerging technologies will create a new measure of performance: one of time-saving, quality of life, smart exploration, efficiency and accessibility for all," Simonian said in an email.
But the ATNMBL isn't the only imagination-stretching device out there trying to harness the power of the sun.
source: abcnews.go
