Posted on 10/12/2019 2:51:36 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
German motorhome manufacturer Hymer introduced a concept named Galileo that argues autonomous technology will make motels obsolete in a distant future. The boxy, glass-walled design study drives itself so its occupants can enjoy the view without needing to keep an eye on the road ahead, and get a full night's sleep without stopping when they're ready to call it a day.
From the outside, Hymer's Galileo looks a lot like the dozens of box-shaped concept shuttles we've seen at major auto and tech shows in recent years. It has the proportions of a toaster oven, sliding side doors, and wheels pushed as far out as possible. It's very city bus-like, in other words. This configuration makes even more sense here than it does in urban-dwelling robo-taxis, because it allowed designers to create a generously-sized living space within a relatively small footprint.
The Galileo concept rides on a skateboard chassis that integrates the battery pack, the electric motors, electronic components, and structural parts. Hymer explained this configuration allows it to build a wide range of motorhomes on one basic platform. The chassis can accommodate a two-person luxury loft on wheels, or a family-friendly snow chalet with bunk beds at least theoretically. It's still a concept at this stage, and one that exists solely in computer-generated images. That's why its maximum driving range and other technical specifications haven't been released yet.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Perhaps something was lost in translation from German to English.
...although I do see a family resemblance...
So you will know what to look for and avoid close interaction. 8>)
I don’t know if I could do that. I’ve been a passenger in a car on some very long car trips (straight through from PA to SC and PA to FL with only a pee or two and a quick meal break), with someone driving who I trusted and was an excellent driver, my dad and my ex-husband, and I can never go to sleep in the car. Never could even as a kid on long car trips when it was legal to lay across the back seat without a seat belt. : )
I cant sleep on airplanes either, even on long flights, overnight flights like when I flew to the UK on a red-eye a 10-hour flight. Sure they dimmed the lights and it was quiet and the seat fairly comfortable and I closed my eyes for a time but I couldnt sleep I read and I watched a movie with my headphones plugged in.
I dont even like using cruise control, I still hover my foot over the brake and just dont like not being in control so Im not sure Id go for a self-driving car. Although my nephew has a Mercedes SUV that has all sorts of safety features like active lane and blind spot assist, braking and distance assist and something that can detect if the driver is getting sleepy that I think are really cool and wouldnt mind having. My 2017 Nissan Sentra has a backup camera and while it took a while to get used to it and I still use my mirrors and turn my head, I wouldnt have another car without it or the newer safety features. So Im not against new technology.
As for motels, Ive had some good experiences and some bad, and I often cant sleep very soundly in a hotel room or for that matter, any unfamiliar place, at least for the first couple of nights, I just dont see myself sleeping in my car, live alone as it is autonomously speeding down the highway.
Well, that used to be true. I suppose it depends on jurisdiction, or state, but some areas from what I’ve read, if the car keys are in your pocket, fair game. Sometimes people might hide their keys. Another thing we hear is they are called “driverless cars”, well they aren’t driverless, somebody programmed the software. I’d think the insurance liability angle would be pretty stout. I suppose the setup is to slowly get people accustomed to the robots wiping out innocent motorists on a regular basis. Kind of creeping totalitarian thing, in a way. Roughly similar to the way the internet started innocuous enough, though now visiting a single website installs about 150 “cookies” that tracks your every move, financial data, uploads all your pics, and gets the coffee pot to listen in on your conversations. Orwell would be amazed, I bet.
That’s Wagon Queen Family Truckster.
That was my immediate thought too. The chariot was the only thing on that show which wasn’t cheesy.
Yes it does actually. 8>)
I travel a lot towing a fifth wheel camper. Typical trip 500-800 miles each way. I would LOVE to have a truly reliable autonomous driving system...just don’t see it happening any time soon for that type of vehicle.
LMAO!
The Windex mobile..........
This isn’t going to make more motels obsolete. How many people would be able to afford it? How many people drive RVs now? Even if I could afford it, I wouldn’t buy it. I like doing my own driving, and I like stopping at motels. It gives me a chance to experience roadside culture, which can be interesting. For me, that is as much a part of the trip as arriving at my destination. When I was a kid, we took a trip to Yellowstone. One night we stopped in a little town and ate dinner at a place loaded with cowboys. Or at least they all looked like cowboys. It was like being in Dodge City and dining at Demonico’s. That was 50 years ago and it still stays in my memory as much as the wonders of Yellowstone.
Looks like you would cook in there on a sunny day.
The claim that you could go to sleep and continue on your to your destination is ludicrous, in an electric vehicle. Especially one that sized as the range probably would be less than 200 miles. It would stop operating and end up sitting still on the freeway causing an accident for sure. In heat you would definitely have to use your air conditioning draining the batteries even faster.
That would be an Airstream Interstate. It uses a Mercedes Sprinter van as a base. Some are quite nice, particularly the Tommy Bahama edition.
You think you hate it now, wait until you drive it.
I will say one thing for the Wagon Queen Family Truckster.
It took a licking and kept on ticking.
Look for a Winnebago Lesharo but don’t get the one with a Reanault front end....They are pretty unique and have a great design .
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