Science Fiction?

Not so much.

Progressive Insurance has come up with a contest called the X Prize. The Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize (PIAXP) is designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles. Teams from across the world are invited to race for a $10 million prize purse. Vehicle entries must be able to be mass-produced, have low emissions levels and get a minimum of 100 miles per gallon or its equivalent (some cars might not be fueled strictly by gasoline and need to produce a gasoline equivalent of 100 MPG). They will compete in a series of rigorous stage races that test real-world driving conditions.

Heres the link: http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/auto/prize-details

A number of companies and organizations have already signed letters of intent in entering the contest, even though this contest was only announced on 03/20/08. Here is the list of who has already signed the letters of intent along with a brief synopsis of what they are all about. Some have links to web sites that offer more info.

http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/auto/prize-details/teams

They all seem fascinating but one company in particular has caught my eye, the AirShip Technologies Group of Portland, Oregon. Remember the land speeder of Star Wars fame?

I was always fasinated by it as a kid and thought it would be cool to drive one. Well now it looks like that bit of science fiction has com close to science reality, courtesy of the AirShip Technologies Group.

Very cool technology. Here's the link:

http://www.airshiptg.org/

The science of the track sphere:

http://www.airshiptg.org/businessscienceoverview.htm

-Jim