February 24, 2010

More Flying Car Interior

Things are starting to shape up around here. Using elements of the sofa, I've cobbled together two matching chairs set on circular swivel bases. Between them is a side table/storage cabinet. Speaking of storage, I worked some small cabinets into the frame of the entrance way, complete with sliding glass doors. I've sort of followed the guidelines of designing nautical cabins, where every effort is made to prevent injury by securing and containing loose items in case of a hard turn or capsizing. (click on images to view full size.)

The doofus on the sofa is my lame attempt at "futuristic" fashion, because in the future we will all be wearing cheesy "Logan's Run" style jumpsuits. However, in front of him is my floating coffee table which turned out way cooler than I had anticipated.

A comment by a fellow blogger got me thinking. If anti-gravity is ever developed, it won't just be limited to transportation. It'll be applied across the board, conceivably replacing the wheel in even the most mundane circumstances. Here, it replaces table legs. The two glass inserts bookend a wooden frame section. The four dots in the top are the hardware that connects the tabletop to the "gravity cancelator" (patent pending) suspended below.

Another view from underneath. The cancelator device contains an internal gyroscope which maintains a level surface and compensates for the weight of an object placed on the tabletop. This does NOT mean you can stand on it or try to use it to get away from Biff's great grandson. Hellooooo, McFly!!

February 14, 2010

Flying Car Interior

Here's my first wild stab at furnishing this flying vehicle. Again, I'm assuming a future where manufacturing methods have improved and new light weight, yet durable materials have been developed to allow a piece like this to function properly. It's an L shaped sofa with a definite 60's "Mod" influence (click on images to view full size.)

I knew I wanted something with open spaces and nice organic curves and this seems to fit the bill pretty well. By the way, don't get attached to any of these colors. That's supposed to be wood grain on the walls and entry hatch. The carpet is just thrown down to set off the sofa. Below is the sofa by itself with shadows turned off to give a sense of how the curves work.

And finally, another view from a different angle. Notice the C shaped curve of the base. That's what I mean about developing new materials. Whatever that's made of will need to have enormous tensile strength to be so thin and still support both the seat components and occupants.

The nice part is, now that I've made this, I'll be able to chop up the armrests to make a pair of matching chairs and, hopefully this will turn into a swinging little lounge area. See ya soon.

February 8, 2010

Another Flying Car Update

Although it sure doesn't feel like it, I guess work has progressed enough to warrant a visit to the flying vehicle (click on images to view full size.) Here's an outside shot showing the addition of a transparent domed canopy and towards the rear, two access hatches (turns out you need some way to get in and out of this thing.)

Next, an inside view of the entry hatch. In true sci-fi fashion, the hatch slides open horizontally into the bulky looking cabinet also containing a small control pad and recessed view screen. The two rectangular panel doors could provide storage and access to the electronics and mechanics of the hatch.

Here's an exterior close-up of the hatch in a half open position. The extreme angled look of the hatch was just by trying to fit it to the contours of the vehicle and maintain some kind of aerodynamic shape. It wasn't intentional, but I think it has a nifty, early 80's "Buck Rogers" vibe.


Finally, a close-up of the touch screen control panel. Not trying to get too in-depth here, I just want to give a sense of functionality with a simple user interface. I'll probably do something similar with the view screen above it.


 
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SketchUp/Screw-up by Timothy P. Butler is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.