These futuristic vehicles are going to change the roads as we know them

There are a lot of futuristic vehicles in the pipeline that we could be seeing on our roads (or in some cases, above our roads) in the near future. The way that we utilise our vehicles is changing rapidly and the possibilities are endless. Here are some vehicles that we could be using sooner than you think.

Drones

Drones are now starting to become a staple in normal homes, the everyday person now able to film amazing footage from the comfort of their own back garden. But what if we told you that drones could be replacing some of the services you use? Amazon have already rolled out plans to replace delivery drivers with drones, and in America you may even find a new robot called “Amazon Scout” roaming the streets. Delivery drivers could become a thing of the past as drones take care of your next purchase.

This technology has the potential to replace more than just your next parcel delivery, however. Drones are already used in militaries across the globe, with the British Ministry of Defence aiming for a third of the Royal Air Force to be remotely piloted aircraft by 2030. But the future can see these commercialised, with the ability to drop medical supplies to rural areas and to accidents that are hard to access. Soon, they could be used to transport medical supplies and deal with natural disasters.

Flying ‘Cars’

It’s a stereotypical film trope – in the future, we’ll have a sky full of flying cars. But can it actually happen? Boeing has been testing a prototype which might just bring this to life. Looking more like a helicopter than a car, this vehicle takes off and lands vertically so in theory it could be flown from your own back garden. The aim is to work almost like a bus; flying autonomously, the vehicle can shuttle people across cities, flying above busy roads. With no pilot needed, this really is a vehicle of the future.

Boeing isn’t the only company to suggest flying cars, with Uber also working on their own ideas, but this prototype marks the start of a plausible flying car future.

Multipurpose Vehicles

In 2019, Honda is going to reveal their Autonomous Work Vehicle. A driverless vehicle, it features attachments that can be swapped out to suit the job in hand. It can tackle wildfires in a pinch, but it doesn’t stop there. It can be used commercially or domestically, able to remove snow, landscape gardens, carry heavy objects, and has potential to take over your chores for you.

Hyundai are also revealing their futuristic prototype this year, the ‘Elevate’. A car with legs, its purpose is to be able to get across a variety of terrains, climb up walls and cross areas that a normal car would be unable to. It keeps itself level so that its passengers aren’t disturbed by the changing environment. It’s the perfect vehicle for responding to disaster situations as it would able to cross debris and any other roadblocks that a traditional vehicle could not.