The world is nowhere close to being done with rail transport, but it can be argued that it plays a more minor role today than it did a hundred years ago. French design studio HeHe envisioned what it would look like if rail transport became obsolete and industrialized nations were left with millions of miles of unused railroad tracks.

Their vision: the Métronome. The tiny, solar-powered, dual-rider capsule is simple and kind of futuristic. It is basically a platform with wheels, enclosed in a plastic bubble. Solar power moves it along at a rate much slower than just walking the tracks, but for cruising along and enjoying the scenery the pace is nice and relaxing.

The prototype vehicle is an exploration into the use of temporary vehicles on obsolete railroad tracks in Paris. It is the exact opposite of traditional rail transport: it is light, small, slow, and not fit for large numbers of people.

HeHe built the vehicle as part of their “train project,” a larger exploration of potential future uses for a specific area of unused railroad tracks. It’s an intriguing mix of past and future: the railroad no longer operates here, so will we one day repurpose the tracks for recreational sightseeing use? If we had to guess, we’d say that a project like the Métronome could breathe new life into run-down segments of railroad infrastructure – not just the tracks, but abandoned stations and platforms, as well.

The post Transport Cylinder Glides Along Abandoned Railroad Tracks first appeared on Gajitz.

Although we’re living in a pretty incredible futuristic world, we still don’t have a lot of the awesome gadgets promised to us by The Jetsons. Which, frankly, is a huge disappointment. But we’re getting a little closer to the ideal future with this real, working hoverbike. It’s no flying car, but at least it lets humans overcome the pesky bonds of gravity for a little while.

The hoverbike, created by aerospace firm Aerofex, uses two high-powered fans to lift it off of the ground. It picks up on the small balancing movements people make when riding a bike or motorcycle, letting anyone drive it without any special training – provided you already know how to ride a bike or motorcycle.

Early versions of the bike could go as fast as a helicopter, but for safety’s sake the hoverbike is being tested at 30 MPH and 15 feet off of the ground. Aerofex doesn’t anticipate their awesome speederbike-like invention hitting the streets for us regular people anytime soon; instead, they are working on unmanned versions for the military. So while we’re pleased the thing exists, we’re still pretty disappointed we can’t get our hands on one.

The post Fan-Powered Future Bike: Video of A Working Hoverbike first appeared on Gajitz.

Will this be the invention to finally quiet our indignant calls for flying cars and jetpacks? The Hoverbike, invented by Australian Chris Malloy, is a prototype that was built in a garage over the course of two and a half years. Its twin propellers are powered by an 1170 cc engine and according to Malloy would be able to lift the bike to heights of over 10,000 feet.

The incredible Hoverbike would take adventurous bikers on a high-speed sky ride, reaching speeds of up to 173 miles an hour. The body of the bike is made of carbon fiber reinforced with Kevlar, while the propellers are strong Tasmanian oak. The bike looks almost like a standard motorcycle, but with the “wheels” turned sideways. So far it’s only been tested while tethered to the ground, but Malloy hopes to start full-on testing within a couple of months.

Like a dual-rotor Chinook helicopter, the two propellers spin in opposite directions and negate one another’s torque reaction. The driver controls the massive airborne beast with a set of rather small-looking handlebars. According to the inventor, the Hoverbike will be able to do almost anything a helicopter would do. But because it’s classed as an ultra-light flying vehicle you wouldn’t even need a pilot’s license to fly one.

Although visions of Jetsons-type commutes might be dancing in your head right now, Malloy actually intends the bike to be used as a working vehicle. He envisions it being used to herd animals, aid in search-and-rescue missions, or even provide aerial film crews with a new platform. The first production run of the vehicle could be underway by late 2012, with the expected price point around $40,000. With a high number of pre-orders the price could come down significantly to make it comparable to a high-end land motorcycle.

The post Don’t Look Down! Propellor-Driven Hoverbike Really Flies first appeared on Gajitz.