The Flake
By Ben on Wed Aug 10 2011
The Flake
Car  |  Concept
The Flake, Da Feng's latest design, is covered in hinged carbon-fiber pieces. Each one is connected by carbon nanotubes to tiny solenoids that can make them stand up or lay flat, like an angry cat puffing up its fur. Each "flake", is made of carbon fiber, and can go from perfectly flat and streamlined to standing up nearly vertically. So if you want to go fast, all the flakes lie flat, but when you turn, all the flakes on one side of the car will stand up, helping lock the car down to the road. The Flake car, its wheels are made out of twelve independently extendable leg-things, allowing for an adjustable contact surface. Their 12 “legs” extend and contract in response to the road surface and vehicle speed, the bottom part of the “wheel” flattens at high speeds, turning the circle into a D-shape, so Feng calls them D-wheels.




Via dvice, wired, pretendingpretentious
  
#1 Post by Durahl, on Wed Aug 10 2011 10:16 PM
Looks interesting but I can't see any of this beeing usefull.

If you'd want large contact area you'd go with either another pair tires or tracks but not something that needs to realign each and every piece of equipment to ensure a smooth contact surface resulting in a smooth ride.

Same goes for the hull with its moving parts. They'll take way too much space to be reasonable rigid enough in countering the force of air once deployed at high speeds.
Not to mention the noise from the clattering it'll produce.

Like I said, interesting idea but not feasible.
#2 Post by Drew, on Thu Aug 11 2011 1:52 AM
I wouldn't want to hit by that thing, would be very messy
#3 Post by Sam, on Thu Aug 11 2011 12:43 AM
Obviously extremely conceptual so Im not going to be too critical, but, the first image seems to show the car on the wrong side of the road? :)
#4 Post by JohnnyS, on Thu Aug 11 2011 2:5 PM
Very modern and hitech
#5 Post by taylor, on Thu Aug 11 2011 2:32 PM
this would be totally impractical for a street car. but if it could be pulled off it would make an excellent race car if all of the solenoids and extra mechanics were light enough. the wheels don't make sense though, you don't need more traction when your going fast in a straight line and if the wheels flatten out in a corner they will slide and create unnecessary friction.
Your Name: (* required)
Your Email: (never displayed, * required):
Your Message: