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Home | Green Cars News | Concepts | Mike and Maaike Designs Self-Driving Electric Concept Car

Mike and Maaike Designs Self-Driving Electric Concept Car

08 July, 2009 10:50:00

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Mike and Maaike, the pair of designers who created Google's G1 phone has created the Autonomobile (ATNMBL), a concept for a self-driving, low-speed electric vehicle.

”ATNMBL is our vision of a concept car for 2040 that represents the end of driving. Upon entering ATNMBL, passengers are presented with the question: Where can I take you?", said Mike and Maaike in their press release.

There is no steering wheel, brake pedal or drivers seat. ATNMBL drives by itself. About the size of that parking space you couldn't fit into, electric powered with wrap-around seating for seven, ATNMBL offers living comfort, views, conversations, entertainment, and social connectedness. The vehicle is designed from the inside out with elements influenced by architecture and domestic interior spaces.

From the outside, ATNMBL looks like micro-architecture. Large windows, a pitched roof and asymmetrical from every view, it is designed without any reference to automobiles of the past. In contrast to today's automobiles, where much of the car's space is reserved for engine and drive train, ATNMBL's mechanical components are densely packed and simplified, providing dramatically more interior space in a vehicle that is shorter than most cars on the road today. Electric motors in each wheel provide all-wheel drive. Electric power is stored underneath the seating and floor with additional power provided by solar panels on the roof. Within a gridded pattern on the front and rear is an array of headlights, tail lights and sensors.

Passengers enter ATNMBL from the curb side through an electric glass sliding door into a standing-height entryway. Inside, the seating arrangement is a direct reference to the familiar living-room setting of a couch, side chair and low table. Riders are oriented towards each other and to the view outside through the large floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides. Centrally oriented is a large flat display that features live trip information, maps, and entertainment. The display can slide up to reveal a bar behind. A new and comprehensive sense of control is introduced through voice recognition and a touch screen remote control (or one's personal phone), offering riders a wide range of trip planning, ride sharing and performance settings that can be very detailed for those who want elaborate control or extremely simple for those who would rather just relax and enjoy the ride.

Summary of Features:
- fully electric powered plus solar assist
- driverless navigation via GPS, Lidar, radar, stereo camera, accelerometers
- wrap-around seating for 7
- voice recognition and remote for real-time control/ input
- large display for info, searches, browsing, communication
- open-source software with downloadable apps for carpool and carshare through social networking, pre-loaded trips, city tours, virtual drivers, etc.
- live trip info on mini display
- electric door, standing height entryway
- all wheel drive with motors in each wheel
- very few mechanical parts (drive by wire)
- bar

The list of life-enriching benefits is long: accessibility for young, old, and disabled (no drivers licenses), no searching for parking (it will drop you off and park itself), fewer cars will serve more people, less energy use, people will save hours each day (think autonomous check-ups and grocery pickups). Most importantly, there will be far fewer fatalities and there will always be a designated driver.

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