Design Challenge, Robocar 2057: GM OnStar ANT

By  Mike Spinelli

With its entry in Design Los Angeles this year, GM's projecting the future of its OnStar service, on which the company just introduced new perp-thwarting gear. Apparently, in 2057, the telematics service will facilitate a vast network of embedded intelligence, enabling cars (i.e., foldable rolling pyramids) to communicate with each other. That, they say, will maximize traffic flow and prevent accidents, though some believe it may cause the formation of unhealthy attachments, a result of the futuristic machines' narcissistic sense of entitlement. The cars themselves, will be reconfigurable, by way of single-walled, carbon-polymer nanocomposites that form flat surface panels. The panels will incorporate the carbon nanotube battery that powers their e-motors. That settles it, in 50 years we're totally shorting jiffy lube stock. [Design Los Angeles]

Press Release:

GM-Onstar ANT
Much like the self-regulating traffic system found in nature's best commuter, the ant, OnStar enabled vehicle-to-vehicle communication and ubiquitously embedded intelligence allow GM's ANT to act independently yet communicate with other vehicles to optimize traffic flow. Quantum computing power also allows each ANT to virtually recreate a highly personalized space for any occasion or personal need.

Omni-directional propulsion, provided by three independent Nanorb wheel systems, operate as independent robots and can arrange themselves in different configurations, turning virtually anything into a mobile device. Layered, environmentally friendly, single-walled, carbon-polymer nanocomposites form the flat surface panels, which incorporate the carbon nanotube battery.

All body panels are connected with electro-active polymer actuators (a.k.a. artificial muscles), allowing the easy and silent reconfiguration of body panels, depending on their optimal street use.

General Motors Advanced Design, California Design Team:
Frank Saucedo
Steve Anderson
Jussi Timonen
Jose Paris
Lorne Kulesus
Tony Liu
Jay Bernard
Phil Tanioka

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