Hovercar
Encyclopedia
A hovercar is a transport vehicle appearing in works of fiction. It is used for personal transportation in the same way a modern automobile
is employed. You must steer it, like you would a normal vehicle. The only difference is the "flying" effect.
It is capable of flying and elevates itself some distance from the ground through some repulsion technology, presumably exploiting some short range anti-gravity
principle so as to eliminate most friction forces which act against conventional vehicles. Unlike an air cushion vehicle, this does not produce a dust cloud.
Another similar real-world device is the hovercraft
, which elevates itself above a water or level hard surface using a cushion of air retained by a flexible skirt. Such devices are not considered to be hover cars, however—that term is used only for the fictional device. Examples of hover cars can be found in science fiction films or television series such as Star Wars
and Blade Runner
and, and in futuristic
racing
video games, such as the F-Zero series, and the wipEout series.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
is employed. You must steer it, like you would a normal vehicle. The only difference is the "flying" effect.
It is capable of flying and elevates itself some distance from the ground through some repulsion technology, presumably exploiting some short range anti-gravity
Anti-gravity
Anti-gravity is the idea of creating a place or object that is free from the force of gravity. It does not refer to the lack of weight under gravity experienced in free fall or orbit, or to balancing the force of gravity with some other force, such as electromagnetism or aerodynamic lift...
principle so as to eliminate most friction forces which act against conventional vehicles. Unlike an air cushion vehicle, this does not produce a dust cloud.
Another similar real-world device is the hovercraft
Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
, which elevates itself above a water or level hard surface using a cushion of air retained by a flexible skirt. Such devices are not considered to be hover cars, however—that term is used only for the fictional device. Examples of hover cars can be found in science fiction films or television series such as Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
and Blade Runner
Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K...
and, and in futuristic
Future
The future is the indefinite time period after the present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the nature of the reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently exists and will exist is temporary and will come...
racing
Racing game
A racing video game is a genre of video games, either in the first-person or third-person perspective, in which the player partakes in a racing competition with any type of land, air, or sea vehicles. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to entirely fantastical settings...
video games, such as the F-Zero series, and the wipEout series.
Real-world hovercars and hoverbikes
- There's a hoverbikeHoverbikeA Hoverbike is a VTOL airborne vehicle, based on the same principles as a conventional Helicopter and Ducted fan, whilst its basic design is that of an earth bound motorcycle .- Real-world hoverbikes :* There's a hoverbike currently in the prototype phase...
currently in the prototype phase. It was built by an New Zealand engineer Christopher Malloy as a personal project. - Avro Canada VZ-9 Avrocar, prototype "flying jeep" for the US Army (flying saucer shaped hover car)
See also
- HoverbikeHoverbikeA Hoverbike is a VTOL airborne vehicle, based on the same principles as a conventional Helicopter and Ducted fan, whilst its basic design is that of an earth bound motorcycle .- Real-world hoverbikes :* There's a hoverbike currently in the prototype phase...
- Avrocar
- Flying car (fiction)Flying car (fiction)In fiction, a flying car is a car that can be flown in much the same way as a car may be driven. In some cases such flying cars can also be driven on roads....
- Ground effect vehicle
- HoverboardHoverboardA Hoverboard is a fictional hovering board used for personal transportation in the films Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III. Hoverboards resemble a skateboard without wheels. Through special effects the filmmakers depicted the boards hovering above the ground...
- HelicopterHelicopterA helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
- HovercraftHovercraftA hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
- HovertrainHovertrainA hovertrain is a type of high-speed train that replaces conventional steel wheels with hovercraft lift pads, and the conventional railway bed with a paved road-like surface, known as the "track" or "guideway"...
- Tracked HovercraftTracked HovercraftTracked Hovercraft was an experimental high speed train developed in the United Kingdom during the 1960s. It combined two British inventions, the hovercraft and linear induction motor, in an effort to produce a train system that would provide 250 mph inter-city service with lowered capital...
External links
- Jetson-Like Flying Car in Production, ABCNews.com