Hasta La Ideas

The PLC28 is a futuristic quadrocopter concept specifically designed to aid in the dangerous task of maintaining power lines. No more truck and ladder adventures— the piloted multi-rotor design provides stability for technicians to work from a safe platform to make repairs or complete general maintenance. It’s easier for workers and quicker recovery from power outages!

The PLC28 has 4 ducted fans including two coaxial rotors which drastically reduce noise while increasing safety. In the event of a rotor drop out, the helicopter is still able to fly. The multiple rotors create an extremely stable flight position based on a fly-by-wire system which is supported by GPS positioning. Ducted fans also prevent the possibility of contact between rotors and cable wires.

Designer: Felix Schumacher & Lino Lehner

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs – Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
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(Powerline Chopper of the Future was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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3. Rethinking the Chopper Control

Volvo’s recently introduced a trio of concept cars: The Concept Coupe, the Concept XC Coupe and the Concept Estate. It is the latter that has most caught our eye because it is, quite oddly to us Yanks, a two-door station wagon. In America, the station wagon has always been about families, but by omitting rear doors, Volvo seems to be aiming this concept at the childless couple that likes to ski.

The Concept Estate brings with it Volvo’s bold new styling direction, both inside and out, that’s a million miles (er, kilometers) away from the Swedish carmaker’s designed-by-Etch-a-Sketch look that we grew up with:

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One of the most satisfying things in an NYC motorist’s life is coming over the Queensboro Bridge and heading south on 2nd Avenue late on a weekday night. Through proper timing and judicious use of the accelerator, you can catch a wave of green lights for three miles, from 59th Street all the way down to Houston.

Audi’s Smart City Traffic Light Assistance System, if realized, could convey this sensation to millions—while cutting a car’s emissions by some 15%. While it’s not designed to let you beat lights per se, what the system does is receive information beamed from surrounding traffic lights, then crunches that data with your car’s location and speed to present the precise timing between lights. Check it out:

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HeliGraphix is the name of a Germany-based collective of RC helicopter enthusiasts who document their stunts online. The group’s latest project, H.U.L.C.—that’s “Heavy Ultra-Lifter Crane”F—sought to achieve what no one yet had: The ability to lift and carry a human being around using two small RC copters. I am so deathly afraid of heights that just watching this video made me want to get off of my office chair and lie down on the floor to feel safe.

While they make it look simple, it’s hard to overstate how complicated it is to pull something like this off. The ‘copters have to be strong enough to carry the woman (not to mention those crazy boots), and it’s not like they’re just lifting straight up; since there’s two of them, they’ve got to pull sideways as well. Not to mention the pilots have to be precise enough to avoid dropping or jerking their payload. You’d think they’d try this over a body of water or something soft, so it’s a testament to their skills and preparation that they did this over a concrete patio.

The group isn’t shy about their accomplishment, having spent four months and “several thousand Euros” in preparation: They’re touting it as “Clearly a world-record and one of the most monumental actions in the history of R/C model aviation: THE WORLD’S FIRST MANNED R/C FLIGHT!”

For tech geeks who are interested in the hardware, it’s all documented in painstaking detail right here; for those with a passing interest in how they pulled this off, hit the jump to see the explanatory video.

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The Uniblock automated vehicle is actually a modular 3-cars-in-1! The clever design splits up to tackle different scenarios. In single car mode, it’s beneficial for short distances or using narrow roads. Expanded to two or three, Uniblock becomes the perfect caravan for making long journeys on the wider open road. Best of all, it will drive itself so you can sit back and relax inside the comfy reconfigurable cabin!

Designer: Jungu Lee

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Yanko Design
Timeless Designs – Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
Shop CKIE – We are more than just concepts. See what’s hot at the CKIE store by Yanko Design!
(Awesomely Autonomous Auto was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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